Stop SOPA - USA members, please read

[PrivateEyes]

Hey guys if you want to help stop SOPA and PIPA, please take a look and spread this video around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJIuYgIvKsc

[redeyesblackpanda]

This is awesome! Wikipedia is shutting down tomorrow in protest! SOPA just seems like trying to stop shoplifting by razing a town....

[PyTom]

Today, sites like Google and Wikipedia are putting up anti-SOPA/PIPA messages. The LSF is joining them by bringing back this global thread.

These laws threaten the functioning of the Internet. They will require forum administrators to remove links at the request of purported copyright holders - without the need for a judge's approval. This censorship power has been and will be abused, and so it's best that we ensure that power is never given to those who would censor us. If you're a US Citizen or Resident, please consider visiting:

http://blacklist.eff.org

for information about how to stop this bill. If you're outside the US, consider calling your local US consulate or embassy to let them know how you feel.

Most importantly, speak to your friends and relatives about how important this is. Many people don't know about PIPA and SOPA, as much of the media has been ignoring it - out of mistaken self-interest. Let the world know that the freedom to create worldwide communities - such as LSF - is important enough that it shouldn't be given up in favor of special interests.

[Nightydreams]

This is disgusting.

This is beyond dissapointing.

This is an attack on every human being in existance regardless of any situation or circumstance.

This ends now.

[Auro-Cyanide]

There has been a call for people to not attend and not cover E3 until ESA stops backing SOPA and PIPA. http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/st ... a-and-pipa

[Strum]

Carpe Fulgur has also shut down for 24 hours http://www.carpefulgur.com/ in protest to SOPA

[jack_norton]

My small contribute against SOPA. Posted it on twitter/facebook, feel free to share it if you like:

[Voight-Kampff]

Today, sites like Google and Wikipedia are putting up anti-SOPA/PIPA messages. The LSF is joining them by bringing back this global thread.

Oh, I don't know about that whole blackout thing, PyTom.

Former U.S Senator Chris Dodd, and current CEO of the MPAA thinks that's a bad idea. And if there's one thing a former U.S Senator and current head of the Motion Picture Association of America knows, it's a bad idea when he sees one.

Not that I'm implying any sort of profound and egregious conflict of interest that might arise from being a U.S Senator one day, and the head of a powerful media cabal the next.

[PyTom]

You forgot the bit where he accepted "VIP" loans from a subprime lender he was supposed to be regulating. Or the bit where he was the number one recipient of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac money during their collapse. Or the bit where he managed to buy a $658k Irish cottage for $250k - and all it took was arranging a pardon.

On days like this, one wonders - if only for a few seconds - if the fictional Torajiro Sato had the right idea.

[Kokoro Hane]

I'm really curious what'll happen now. If this bill passes, I think we're all done for O.O

[Blane Doyle]

Well, SOPA has been shelved, mostly due to outcry from protests and OBAMA AND THE WHITEHOUSE saying it is unconstitutional and that they will not support it. (seriously, do a quick search and there are tons of articles for it) The creator himself wants to remove the bill from play and edit it now.

PIPA, it's close cousin, is also backing down rapidly, almost half of the group that created it has backed down.

In addition, nay companies have also backed out of support of both bills.

We're safe for the moment, even IF congress passes them it is guaranteed now that they will be vetoed.

[Asterisk]

I'll do what I can over here to raise awareness, even though this effects the US, it'll also effect people all over.
Horrible stuff :/

[LateWhiteRabbit]

Well, SOPA has been shelved, mostly due to outcry from protests and OBAMA AND THE WHITEHOUSE saying it is unconstitutional and that they will not support it. (seriously, do a quick search and there are tons of articles for it) The creator himself wants to remove the bill from play and edit it now.

PIPA, it's close cousin, is also backing down rapidly, almost half of the group that created it has backed down.

In addition, nay companies have also backed out of support of both bills.

We're safe for the moment, even IF congress passes them it is guaranteed now that they will be vetoed.

We aren't safe yet. Now is the most important time to be vigilant and continue to speak out. The U.S. congress loves to wait for controversy to die down on unpopular pieces of legislation and then sneak them through later as amendments to other bills. We have to keep up the attack and awareness until no version of the bill exists, either in rewrites or as an amendment.

And I think we should all join Penny Arcade in spreading the word to get game developers and game media to boycott and refuse to cover E3 to signal our displeasure with the ESA's support of SOPA. If the ESA will not withdraw its support for the legislation, we need to withdraw our support from the ESA. They claim to stand for all of us, and they are wrong. This is something we can all do in the gaming community to take a stand against this bill, whether you are American or not. You might not be able to write to a congressman or senator, but you can email websites like Kotaku to tell them you want to see them boycott E3 and not cover it unless the ESA changes its position on SOPA. Email your favorite developers or other gaming websites. You may not be able to make a difference by yourself, but you can encourage big name companies to take a stand in your place.

[Zogunplex]

Heavens, what a scare. I'm so glad that the voices of the people got through to some of their voted leaders in this brief moment. It really touched me to see the members of other nations taking a stand for our freedoms as well.

[Blue Lemma]

@jack_norton: That's pretty funny

Hopefully this bill and its lil' bro will die out, but even if it does, there will always be the next attempt... and it will probably be more insidious. I can fully empathize with the plight of some of the content creation companies (having your work that you spent money and time creating pirated is NOT cool) but this isn't the answer.

Both Oregon senators are against it, and one of them (Ron Wyden) has been an outspoken critic of it from the start. *proud*