SOPA/PIPA - INFORMATIVE MATERIAL =============================================================================== H.R.3261 SOPA --> US House of Representatives S.968 PIPA --> US Senate ## VIDEO * SOPA/PIPA on MSNBC, UP with Chris Hayes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWAmWysxLV8 * SOPA/PIPA on RT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EsiT2YRwM8 * SOPA/PIPA on Attack of the Show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EsiT2YRwM8 ## READING MATERIAL * A technical examination of SOPA and PROTECT IP http://blog.reddit.com/2012/01/technical-examination-of-sopa-and.html * How PIPA and SOPA Violate White House Principles Supporting Free Speech and Innovation https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/01/how-pipa-and-sopa-violate-white-house-principles-supporting-free-speech * How SOPA Will Be (Ab)Used http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20111217/22291717116/how-sopa-will-be-abused.shtml ## KEY POINTS (I OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE....) * removal of safe harbor -guilt presumed of host, action taken without due process -any site allowing visitor comments is open to sabotage -abuse on this point alone can be used for net censorship (political, commercial) EXAMPLE > a random visitor or competitor under a masked IP posts a torrent or link to infringing material in a comments section. This individual or group reports the same link to US authorities. The site is removed from the internet without due process allowing the host to remove the infringing material. * dns blacklisting -entire domains could be blocked, even if a violation occurs on a subdomain -NETSEC > blacklisting will encourage de-centralized dns and fast migration away from .com, .net, .org top level domains (TLD) under ICANN control. TRANSLATION: The us will lose control of dns. * payment processing blacklisting -due to presumption of guilt without due process, financial resources are cut-off automatically by payment processors, which could easily bankrupt start-ups and small businesses which fully rely on e-commerce to survive. * criminalization of the proletariat (proles) -increased costs on the justice system -americans lose their voting rights -copyright infringement moves from a civil tort to felony conviction for most internet users. Government expands to police the internet. The war on copyright will result in an increasing number of the American public burdening an over-populated prison system that only benefits the private prison industry. ## PRIOR ABUSES (DMCA) * "Over 30% of DMCA takedown notices have been deemed improper and potentially illegal." http://web.archive.org/web/20060425170640/http://lawweb.usc.edu/news/releases/2005/legalFlaws.html -FULL REPORT http://web.archive.org/web/20060502025505/http://mylaw.usc.edu/documents/512Rep/