Fight SOPA! Do Your Bit Now. Here Is How from Bikes in the Fast Lane

Custom Search

Fight SOPA! Do Your Bit Now. Here Is How

January
2012

  File under Protests Web Opinion
  Author: Mike Werner
  Location: Normandy, France

Unless you have been living in a cave, cut off from the internet, you'll have heard of SOPA, the current bill that the American politicians are trying to pass through the House.

What Does SOPA Do?
SOPA

will give some organizations an enormous power over the internet. These powers can be used with almost no control or oversight. Typically the Hollywood movie industry and the record companies, but also software companies will have the power to shut down any web site out there, with practically no protection for the site.

They will have the ability to shutdown the financial payments (like PayPal or Visa, or even stop Google or others from placing ads on the site). All these in a very simple way, and with no ability for the targeted site to defend itself.

What Does SOPA Mean To You Day-To-Day?
SOPA will make it impossible for many sites to run properly. I'm not talking about pirate sites that share illegal software or movies, I'm talking normal sites, like this one.

Let's take an example. A motorcycle manufacturer has a new motorcycle, and they are getting ready to launch it. Let's say we get lucky, and find some pre-release images in a folder some employee has left in a bar. We immediately put the images on the internet to show you what the new motorcycle will look like.

Under SOPA, the manufacturer can shut us down, and remove our advertisers, since the image is copyrighted. And since we're talking human beings, the manufacturers will have sites they prefer, and the sites they do not like. So you can guess which sites will go off the air....

It can also give some website the chance to get rid of competitors. In other words, the only winners for SOPA are the lawyers, who stand a chance to make fortunes.

So there's goes your news site, there goes many of your favorite web sites, or at least, their interesting content.

If You Live In The USA, What Can You Do?
If you live in the USA, you need to act NOW. Click here to access sopastrike

, and follow the instructions. You will be presented with a form, which you fill in, and that gets sent to congress.

If You Live Abroad, What Can You Do?
Just because you live in another country, doesn't mean you can't do anything. Click here to access petition the State Department via the sopastrike

, fill in your email address, and a petition will be created and sent to the State Department.

Remember, that even if you live abroad, SOPA will influence your internet life.

Alternatively, you will fill in the form below:

WARNING: Do not leave the fight to others! It's our problem, and the problem is worldwide. Everyone needs to do something to fight this evil, unless of course you do not care about the internet.

This site will not update today any further so everyone can see this message.