SOPA and PIPA - what is this ...

[Silur]

"Simtropolis.com has gone dark today to show our support for the protest of SOPA and PIPA. The U.S. Congress is about to censor the Internet, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed. ..."
Help me about it ...
Nicks.

[mike3775]

They are anti piracy bills under consideration in the US, that would effectively give the US Govt the power to shut off sites that even speak of piracy.  They claim it will be only used to block piracy sites themselves, but provisions deep within the bills themselves, would give the Govt those powers I spoke of

An example of what could happen with those as laws would be this:  If I started a thread in the off topic forum, asking if anyone knows of a good streaming site for baseball games, and someone posted a link, this site then could be blocked because its condoning piracy, even though the administrators may delete or edit the post and mention it is against the rules to mention such a thing, but if it happens many times, the Govt could say they are not doing enough and block the site.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIPA

(oh those links to wiki are cached, which is a workaround to todays english version of wiki blackout)

[AcoG000]

Basically, it's a bill that will threaten our internet freedom. Any site that hosts content that is considered 'infringing' can be shut down. As far as I know, this could shut down Youtube and many other gaming communities.

[Silur]

Well - if my SC4 City named "Zeppelin" - I am pirate
Where is German master - "Zeppelin" , and where is Fantastic group - "Led Zeppelin" ...

[mike3775]

Basically, it's a bill that will threaten our internet freedom. Any site that hosts content that is considered 'infringing' can be shut down. As far as I know, this could shut down Youtube and many other gaming communities.

And just think if a falling out occurs between a site with a crapload of lots made by someone, and they want that stuff pulled down and demand it when no one is online that can do it, and then 5 hours later the site gets yanked because they made a complaint online.

[tag_one]

Basically, it's a bill that will threaten our internet freedom. Any site that hosts content that is considered 'infringing' can be shut down. As far as I know, this could shut down Youtube and many other gaming communities.

Indeed. It's what you get when large corporations have to much (political) power...

[Terring7]

Who can ensure us that this stuff is only against piracy? Who can ensure us that only the American government will start banning sites for nothing? A world-wide dictatorship is coming on. Will you accept it?

[Aaron Graham]

I do not like this SOPA and PIPA, This is nothing but bad news.

[BarbyW]

Can we keep this to a discussion about the two acts. please? No need for speculation or political rants. If this thread gets out of hand it will be closed.

[carlfatal]

And interesting: only one senator voted against this strange bills, a republican: he said it´s against the bill of rights and marks a point on the way to a ditatorship.
The biggest problem is: it needs no court to condemn something as illegal. It´s disposal, and the way to handle this technically is the same like China does - the most democratic nation as i know...   
But here in Germany i hear the same statements from a lot of politicians: China would do the right thing. I only hope these laws will be stopped but i really don´t believe. Anyway: as there shows up  the dark side there also is a lot of democratic atmosphere of departure in the USA. Occupy isn´t stopped by clubs, too much people loosed their homes and work. 

[RickD]

On an international level not only SOPA and PIPA are threatening our freedom. Fight against ACTA:

http://www.stopp-acta.info/english/home/home.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-ACTA/147563691923612
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/feb/03/act-acta-democracy-free-speech

Respect to our friends in Poland who are protesting against this assault on democracy and free speech. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrdNKcUpJPg

Join the protests in Germany on February 11th:

http://wiki.stoppacta-protest.info/DE:Uebersicht_Demos

I am a proud member of the Pirate Party in Germany.

http://www.pp-international.net/
http://www.piratenpartei.de/

Klarmachen zum Ändern!

[mike3775]

On an international level not only SOPA and PIPA are threatening our freedom. Fight against ACTA:

http://www.stopp-acta.info/english/home/home.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-ACTA/147563691923612
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/feb/03/act-acta-democracy-free-speech

Respect to our friends in Poland who are protesting against this assault on democracy and free speech. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrdNKcUpJPg

Join the protests in Germany on February 11th:

http://wiki.stoppacta-protest.info/DE:Uebersicht_Demos

I am a proud member of the Pirate Party in Germany.

http://www.pp-international.net/
http://www.piratenpartei.de/

Klarmachen zum Ändern!

which sadly never got picked up in the US until it was to late.  Many countries have signed onto ACTA already. 

[WC_EEND]

Yup, so has Belgium (unfortunately).