Here’s the thing: I write. I write in a public forum: this blog. I have a copyright notice on display but, really, anyone could lift anything from my blog, use it elsewhere, claim it as their own, and I would never know.
SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act, the US bill aiming to stop copyright infringement, sounded like a good idea to me. And to a lot of other people, until I thought about it. Read this article for a clear explanation:
http://www.copyblogger.com/sopa/
Here’s the thing: if it becomes law, the cartoons, videos, jokes, news items and links I share with you – in spite of the fact that I acknowledge the source – will all be so well protected by SOPA that my blog could be shut down forever, and I could be prosecuted. US citizens could face up to five years in jail.
Here’s another thing: I don’t have to do anything wrong myself: a reader could leave a comment with a link to You Tube and I could be punished.
I am not even a small fish in a big pond; I am decomposing fish poo at the bottom of the pool, unnoticed by all but my few loyal (and much appreciated) regulars, but it’s people like me they’ll come after.
I don’t like copyright infringement or online piracy, but I appear to be inadvertently guilty of it. Sorry about that. Have one of my posts as compensation.
Here’s one more thing: I abhor censorship. I hate some of the stuff that’s available on the web, but it is the price we pay for the freedom to say what we like. I would rather you stole every one of my posts and claimed them as your own than shut even one of you down for telling a joke that you (or I) didn’t invent.
SOPA so good? No. It will have the ether tied up faster than you can say Chinese Government.
Don’t let them get away with it – blog about it, petition about it, protest about it. Use the freedom of the internet to make your voice heard. While you still can.
Related articles
- SOPA / PIPA Will Destroy PC Gaming (gametwonk.com)
- WebHostingBuzz to Blackout on January 18th in Protest of SOPA and PIPA (prweb.com)
- Catching up with SOPA (and Hello, IPKat Readers!) (ipkitten.blogspot.com)
- What is SOPA? (telegraph.co.uk)
- SOPA / PIPA Blackout (secondmode.wordpress.com)
- SOPA Breaks the Internet (trommetter.com)
The Laughing Housewife 
There’s good and bad in that bill. It tries to correct a wrong but goes too far. It isn;t well thought out. I understand Wikipedia’s point of view but this is not good for regular bloggers like us.
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So often these things are rushed into. If the people who write these bills would only consult ALL concerned parties, a decent act protecting everyone could be created.
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My thoughts are confused on this: Yes, protect copyright. Yes keep Tillybud doing what she does best. Yes, protect minors from grooming, bullying etc. No, don’t prevent freedom of speech. Yes, consult widely, yes use common sense when drafting legislation.
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As with most important issues, there are no easy answers; but punishing everyone isn’t a solution.
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excellent post — will be busy reading your articles today.
So agree with Viv too — where is the common sense?
Yes, make a law that allows my detetive husband to shut down an online child porn site, and easy access to address of website owner who actually has 4 year old boy captive as his “star” (yes, actually happened)
Yes – leave non criminals who brighten our day with humour and tease us with Maltesers, like Tillybud; basically making the world a more enjoyable place to be — alone.
If I know the difference – shouldn’t they?
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Well done to your Hub for the great work he does.
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Speak up. Speak out. Be heard.
Thanks, Tilly.
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Same to you, Nancy.
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All it comes down to is the money, you are absolutely correct that it is more important to keep and maintain our internet freedoms than to pass an ill-conceived bill that goes way too far. The lobbyists in this country are duking it out on Capital Hill and I hope that the sites such as Wikipedia, WordPress and their compadres win the day. Thanks Tilly
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I would like to say something very eloquent and to the point, but if I said what exactly was on my mind that, and any number of mildly inflammatory things I’ve said on my own blog, would likely be enough to make me a public nuisance. So I’ll simply say, I agree with what you’ve said Tilly, 100%.
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I’m surprised you referenced the Telegraph article – it had typos! As I understand it, however, they seem really to be targetting films. That having been said, I’m against censorship and I agree with what you say above.
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Forget all that! I’m now in a total panic having looked at the video posted on Nancy’s site. Censorship is just round the corner apparently.
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My typo prejudice had to be set aside for the greater good.
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But it was hard.
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Mmm – you have me thinking!
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I’m totally against this bill. It’s really important to watch the video and see what it actually means.
Freedom of speech is a basic human right. We ALL need to stand together on this one and make our voices heard.
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The only thing that law does is protect large entertainment corporations…turning this country into the Evil Empire…I signed the petition…hope others will.
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hmmm. Very interesting. I never thought of it that way. You have a point, Tilly.
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Co-incidentally, poet Mark Wyndham has just posted a similar post at http://awakenedwords.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/censorship/
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Well said
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Oops – just commented on your post and realised I parroted your comment here. Sorry 🙂
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Good explanation. I’m with you.
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Oh, and I don’t think your post resembles that Mark Wyndham post at all. He’s a right wing libertarian.
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I don’t think it matters what we are; what matters is what we do.
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nice one. sopa to them.
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Wikipedia is one of my favorite sites. Each student in one of my history classes wrote two articles for Wiki. These articles were scholarly: sourced, footnoted and edited for quality content. By citing books, articles, etc. we gave them free publicity. Why should commercial interests support SOPA. Very weird!!
Wiki is having a blackout today to protest SOPA.
Censorship is BAD. Besides, anything Grover Norquist supports I tend to be on the opposite side. Grover Norquist supports SOPA. Dianne
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Excellent article Tilly Bud. You can be my advocate any time!
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Like the damn secrecy bill they are busy pushing through in this country!!!!
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Reblogged this on Emotfit's Blog and commented:
Said I was going to black out today. Okay, so Cranky Old Lady is a Liar, liar, panties on fire. This was just too good not to reblog. At the same time, part of my cranky contrary self still thinks limits on freedom of expression are necessay ala the calling fire in a crowded public place. But Sopa as I understand it is more about protecting the big money makers, not the little guys and wives. So there. Stay black–it is a lovely color.
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You said it on my blog today, Tilly, solidarity indeed!
I tried to post this comment a moment ago and my internet connection went down. Conspiracy, perhaps?
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I’m as guilty as the most of us–almost all my photos are from Google Images. Imagine me in jail. At least I have my Kindle Fire. I bought all of those books, you know….
If it helps, I’ve already contacted my Congress people and asked them to vote NO!
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I’m glad many are rallying behind the effort to have SOPA/PIPA set aside. 😉 I’ve added their video to all of my main social media sites and have the ribbon on my blog…
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Go, Tilly! Let’s tell them where to stuff the SOPA!
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Totally agree. Even though I do my own doodles I like to videos on Youtube, I would be shut down most seriously!
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For some reason my site is being stubborn about being shared!
http://viciously-sweet.com/
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Got it!
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It is heartening to see the support for the protest. Thank you to everyone who commented, posted, complained and shared.
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