SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) has been stopped, for now.
We win!
Right?
While my last post was decidedly balanced in the pros and cons of this act, I did see the threat to freedom of speech and freedom to share. I did sign a petition saying I was against the bill, and I am happy that it was stopped.
So why aren’t I celebrating?
What about the billions of dollars being made by pirates on the internet? Do we just let that slide?
What wording needs to be in these documents in order for it to work for Joe Public (you know, you and I who just want to copy a link to their blog, or post a video of their kids dancing to Willow Smith) and also have it hold people accountable for the theft of property?
Wait, are they one and the same?
Right now, if you were to take this post and repost it as your own, what could I do? I mean, other than call you names on Twitter? Not that I think anyone wants to repost this blog because most of you are mad that I am even looking at the other side of the coin, probably fuming thinking that I don’t understand the implications of SOPA.
I do! I get it! I petitioned it, remember?
Yes, I am playing Devil’s Advocate, but I want to know…is there a happy medium? Can there be legislature that will satisfy both sides, or does the internet need to be either lawless or bound and gagged?
Is this less about copyright and ownership and more about exorbitant prices? Would there be less piracy if goods were offered at fair prices?
I want to hear your arguments. I want to know where you stand and what makes you so convicted in your rights.
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