The Wordherder Online random babble by a certified loon…

No SOPA For You…

Yesterday I was “on strike” to support the anti-SOPA movement by blacking out my websites and staying off the Internet during traditional work hours (no not a full 24 hrs due to the social nature of my personal time online). In fact, I wrote this blog entry on a notebook app for my Kindle Fire with my wireless still turned off.

I happen to be the kind of person that true anti-piracy laws should be designed to protect, as I have several published works that bring in royalties. I also write music, though not professionally, that requires protection in a world where it is all too easy to rip off “the little guy”. I have had to spend a great deal of time and effort going after blog farms and radio station websites that have ripped off my articles.

However, there are already plenty of laws on the books that protect me. SOPA, as it is written, does not strengthen these laws or even provide additional protection for me or any freelance intellectual property owners. SOPA, at its heart, only gives power to attempt to stop access to foreign websites accused of copyright violation. The worst part is that it puts the burden of proof on the defendant, not the accuser or prosecutor. This goes against the purpose of our American way of justice! Because of this, a potential abuse of the rights granted from SOPA could allow any competitor to shut down any site without any proof, leaving the defendant to have to challenge this in court while their site has been shut down. Only wealthy entities could afford a lengthy court battle while essentially being unable to make any money during this process.

Also, the terribly vague language within SOPA goes against its own purpose of protection against foreign site that are not under American law by allowing interpretations of SOPA to affect US websites that share links without proper permission. This could end social media as we know it. Youtube? Gone. News aggregators? Gone. The simple act of linking to fun websites or LoLcats for your Facebook friends? Gone.

Piracy is already illegal. I have had no problem in following the proper procedures required to get those who have stolen my intellectual property to cease and desist… and I don’t have a team of lawyers… I don’t a lawyer at all. The current laws would be protection enough without having to add a terrible over-reaching bill on top of them when the problem exists because current laws are sometimes difficult, but not impossible, to prosecute. The risks that SOPA creates in terms of censorship and abuses afforded by large corporations make this act of legislation dangerous to our American way of life. Our Freedom is under attack!

Thankfully today’s attempt at raising awareness has already delayed this bill that had been expected to sail right through to passing. This has been a true populist win, though not yet a complete victory until the bill has been killed completely.

The people DO have a voice! We may not have lobbyists on our bankroll. We may not have the power of money behind us. But we have the constitution on our side as well as the numbers when we all truly stand up together. I am proud of this fight against SOPA. A sleeping giant has been awakened and we cannot be silenced when we work together like this.

Lets show this ineffective Congress that we are mad as hell and are not gonna take it anymore!