The censors are coming: SOPA and Protect IP

[submessenger]

Hey, American Bullies, you should get excited about these bills in Congress, right now. Those idiots want to give the Department of Justice the power to censor content on this site. http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s968/show

Establishes a system for taking down websites that the Justice Department determines to be "dedicated to infringing activities." The DoJ or the copyright owner would be able to commence a legal action against the alleged infringer and the DoJ would be allowed to demand that search engines, social networking sites and domain name services block access to the targeted site. In some cases, action could be taken to block sites without first allowing the alleged infringer to defend themselves in court.

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/show

This bill would establish a system for taking down websites that the Justice Department determines to be dedicated to copyright infringment. The DoJ or the copyright owner would be able to commence a legal action against any site they deem to have "only limited purpose or use other than infringement," and the DoJ would be allowed to demand that search engines, social networking sites and domain name services block access to the targeted site. It would also make unauthorized web streaming of copyrighted content a felony with a possible penalty up to five years in prison.

Stop occupying the Occupy threads and call your representative and senators and let them know in no uncertain terms that these proposed laws are unacceptable.

[Diesel_tke]

In some cases, action could be taken to block sites without first allowing the alleged infringer to defend themselves in court.

.

This is pretty fucked up!

It would also make unauthorized web streaming of copyrighted content a felony with a possible penalty up to five years in prison.

This one has been in the works for a while.

[W. Rabbit]

What about the proposed legislation is unacceptable to you?

[It is Fake]

What about the proposed legislation is unacceptable to you?

The past and how they do things when they get this type of power.

[W. Rabbit]

I'll agree that could be said of any legislation ever, but in this particular case the bill is very transparent and is, imho, a good example of a decent stab piece of internet legislation, compared the the poor history of that.

I have read the entire language of this bill in both it's original draft and as it was submitted to the floor (it doubled in size). It is not perfect and this is how bills are made, kiddies! They get debated and modified. Quite possibly dropped like DATA or smacked down COPA and DMCA.

The core target of Protect IP are rogue, overseas fraudulent sites. The pharmaceutical grey market, also the reason why we get so much fake viagra and cyalis spam, is why this legislation is needed.

Considering internet power grabs of the past, this one is ho-hum.

A couple of key sections on what this bill is really about, for all the FUD.

ENHANCING ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ROGUE WEBSITES OPERATED AND REGISTERED OVERSEAS.

ELIMINATING THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO STEAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ONLINE.

VOLUNTARY ACTION AGAINST WEBSITES STEALING AMERICAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

Also, the reporting section of the bill ensures a review after one year to address "unintended effects".

(1) REPORT ON EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN MEASURES- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, shall conduct a study and report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives on the following:

(A) An assessment of the effects, if any, of the implementation of section 3(d)(2)(A) on the accessibility of Internet sites dedicated to infringing activity.

(B) An assessment of the effects, if any, of the implementation of section 3(d)(2)(A) on the deployment, security, and reliability of the domain name system and associated Internet processes, including Domain Name System Security Extensions.

(C) Recommendations, if any, for modifying or amending this Act to increase effectiveness or ameliorate any unintended effects of section 3(d)(2)(A).

[W. Rabbit]

It's also true that, today, the DOJ can easily get your website shut down if it is in the domestic US.

They don't need Congressional approval for that, just the phone.

[It is Fake]

Well, using your argument any Enforcement agency can do that and they have Ruby Ridge, Waco, so called drug kingpin laws etc etc etc with a phone call and a suggestion.

Putting a bill, that can become a law, in place makes it easier. We will disagree on transparency as their is a ton of double speak in that bill.

As to the one year thing? LOL.

You do know TSA has a two year opt out at every airport? You do know that only a few have used it even though a large number of travelers complain? Once in place reports don't stop anything,

[It is Fake]

Yes, I read the Bill:
http://leahy.senate.gov/imo/media/do...OTECTIPAct.pdf
No, I didn't sign any petitions. They need to pin some things down before I would want it passed. It is to broad and then specific in certain areas. I can see it being used to hurt smaller companies because they aren't up to speed.
I can see it being used to suspend internet sites like youtube and other video based websites the way it is currently written.

[W. Rabbit]

Well first, while I won't argue against the potentials for abuse, I don't see many avenues for abuse in this law because the scope is very narrow...overseas sites devoted to counterfeiting. I'd be blown away if this law was ever used to censor any kind of popular, public site. But you never know...still, we need the laws. There is just so much lawlessness here already.

Second, I think in this case Protect IP and SOPA are important pieces of legislation because the targets of the law are not Bullshido (not sure where daddykata got that), but a billion+ dollar international black market of counterfeit goods.

The law authorizes DOJ action against non-US sites and is designed to allow a sort of virtual expansion of DOJ authority on the internet by giving them legal authority to force carriers, for example, to blacklist certain sites. IF this law is a burden on anyone, it would be on the ISPs and big sites like Facebook who would be forced to comply with the law on an ongoing, operational basis. That will be costly for sure.

So daddykata why don't you answer my original question, I would love to hear why YOU are so concerned about Bullshido being identified as a trader in fake viagra and utilizing hacker services to hijack freemail and Facebook accounts in order to spambomb clueless victims into visiting their fake viagra websites run out of China and Russia?

[It is Fake]

Well first, while I won't argue against the potentials for abuse, I don't see many avenues for abuse in this law because the scope is very narrow...overseas sites devoted to counterfeiting. I'd be blown away if this law was ever used to censor any kind of popular, public site. But you never know...still, we need the laws. There is just so much lawlessness here already.

Yes, but what I read is they are going to investigate US sites and give immunity for helping. IMO That's coercion help us or else.

Second, I think in this case Protect IP and SOPA are important pieces of legislation because the targets of the law are not Bullshido (not sure where daddykata got that), but a billion+ dollar international black market of counterfeit goods.

No, not Bullshido that was a scare tactic used on all websites about this bill. Unlike most I did read the bill. Still the wording bothers me because US site can get in trouble. The money spent defending bullshido in a round about way could get ridiculous.