Are you protesting the sopa/pipa law?

I originally posting a poll on here about how people felt about congress trying to censor the internet. Well, they're are still trying to get this through with SOPA and PIPA. Many sites like google and flickr are protesting by "blacking out" their sites for the day. I decided to blackout my tumblr for the day, so I could help in the protest.

Apparently, if these "laws" were made legal, corporations could sue users for copyright infringements and they could be sent to jail for 5 years! They, could destroy sites if they fell that they were not properly censoring their content. Sites like twitter or Facebook might be forced to shut down, because they are responsible for the content on their sites. They said that there's also the risk that laws would try to censor other countries around the world. Our economy would go down even more.

There would be no freedom anymore.... I don't agree with this at all. So, my question is are you protesting this ludicrous law or not?

I'm protesting against this. 137
No, I support this 12
What has happened to the world?! 46
I'm leaving this country! 18
Other (Add a comment) 10
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Comments ( 97 )
  • Aren't our goverments supposed to be doing things that benefit us? Soon they will make the USA's goverment dictatorship...
    Seriously, if the people of a country say "no!" to something, the goverment shouldn't have any right to say "We don't care, it's happening". I'm glad I don't live in America, although I'm pretty sure alot of it will apply to other countries such as the UK.

    The people are suppost to be incharge, not the goverment.

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    • Avant-Garde

      For the longest time, it seems that the american government doesn't care about its people needs. Europe as a whole, clear cares. They've banned so many harmful things to ones health, yet most of them are still legal here. I feel like this nation has already become a dictatorship. This is why religion SHOULDN'T have a place in politics, because you get these rightwing lunatics!!!! Did you see how those people were rioting and flipping out when Obama became president?

      Fuck, I should've moved when I had a chance. You're so LUCKY that you live in England!
      They don't pull this kind of bullshit over there. They've got there heads screwed on nice and tight. This government flips out about socialism, but I don't see the problem.
      Socialism cares about the people, but this so called "democracy" I live in only cares about greed and hurting the innocents. It makes me sick! I wish could move and I wish I was never born here to begin with! If I got the chance, I would move as soon as possible.

      I agree, people should be in control, but perhaps to some extent? The so called "people" over here, the ones who were elected to authoritative roles, have abused their power. This has happened throughout the history of earth. Humans that seek control and power have laid ruined to countless of centuries. Remember with the Native Americans? How they lived in peace in to the "settlers" or should I say "terrorists" came into THEIR land and stole it from them. I wish the Indians hadn't been so kind to them. I wish they had the weaponry to have fought them off. I wish they would've let jamestown starve. If only they knew what evils would come from this. Maybe, the world this country would've been peaceful?

      This also happened with Ghandi. I heard he was a racist, something that I don't agree with him on, but at least he fought for his people's rights. Look at Free Tibet and Free Burma. Buddhist monks are being killed for being what they are. Land and countless of innocent people are being killed and burned to mounds of rubble.... This Bullshit has to stop! I'm surprised that the people here aren't protesting and trying to over through the government. It's too fucking powerful. It's ironic. This billshit they're trying to pass has been done in China and I think Iran. america is constantly blasting China for being communist and Iran for being Iran. Yet, they're trying to do the same thing?! See the illogical irony in this nonsense?!

      2012 is definitely going to be a interesting year isn't it?

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      • tomga1

        Australia has it worse on the settling thing. We pretty much killed everyone so we could dump convicts.

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      • Legion

        even if "socialism" and "Communism" care about the people, the people pulling the strings sure dont. Sadly, Human nature is one of greed.

        Communism only works in theory cause even if everyone has a shared role in government, there will always be those that want to be above the others and have more.

        People will always want more.

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  • Glass

    This is what I like to see. People united for once.

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    • Avant-Garde

      United we stand!

      Sorry, I can't remember the rest of it:/

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  • soul-man

    I signed the petition, and that's pretty much all I can do. This whole thing is reminding me of the Biz Markie lawsuit bullshit from back in the day.

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    • Avant-Garde

      As stated in my poll, the only thing I could do was "blackout" my blog for the day. I can't call congress or senate. Where did you sign the petition?

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      • soul-man

        Several big sites that were blacked out, like wikipedia and rateyourmusic, had a link on the "blackout" page.

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        • Avant-Garde

          Well, then I probably should of signed it. Are they still doing it?

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          • soul-man

            Here you go, man:

            http://americancensorship.org/modal/state-dept-petition/index.html

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  • hunter.shawn

    I will vote for Obama again if he vetoes this. In the case that it gets that far,if it does, our government is useless.

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    • Avant-Garde

      That is true. This is why weed need to get Obama back in or another democrat. If we get a republican, I fear that if this "bill" is brought up again, that a republican president would allow it too pass. We'd all be screwed.

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  • dom180

    What I dislike most is that legislation made in the United States could effect the entire world, without any other country passing the legislation. Forgive me while I enter fantasy land for the next bit...

    The way I would have it is that all users of the internet across the would elect an "Internet Parliament", which would vote on all legislation which would effect the internet globally. If you think about it, the internet is like a separate country in itself. I believe it needs to be regulated, as does all activity, but because it is by it's nature global, the internet should not be subject to one nations laws, but to the laws of a globally elected body.

    All laws passing though Internet Parliament would need to be enforced in some way. Internet Parliament would probably never pass SOPA or PIPA, because out of all Western democracies, only in the US would politicians be able to get away with it without a huge backlash.

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    • wigsplitz

      *affect

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      • dom180

        Tbh, I know there'e a difference between affect and effect, but I could never understand it. Mind explaining?

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        • wigsplitz

          It's easy for me to remeber...I just think of 'cause and effect', or 'how will this affect me'. Of course, I don't actually have to think of that anymore because it's second nature now, I'm old (lol), but that's how I used to figure it out when I was unsure.

          I'm actually really surprised at how many people don't know how to use those words, and I'm no wordsmith myself....

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        • angela85

          Affect is a verb. Effect is a noun.

          I didn't know either, I had to ask my human dictionary :)

          And I'll forget again in a few minutes.

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    • Avant-Garde

      Your idea sounds good! But, wouldn't there be a risk that IP might get a big head and ruin the Internet?

      This reminds me of the Tron Films. In the first one, Encom's main program had taken over and regulated everything. Then, it decided to ignore the CEO's commands and take over everything. Would people have to go in the Internet to fight IP? Honestly, I think that would be pretty exciting:)

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      • dom180

        The IP would be elected from around the world, though. America is a VERY conservative country compared to most; the IP would also likely be a lot more libertarian since the average voting age would probably be lower because of the lower average age of internet enthusiasts.

        As always in any government, there is a risk that the government will do something that the majority of citizens didn't want nor is the citizen's best interests, but that seems like a fairer risk to take than the one we have at the moment, where hugely conservative USA could effectively monopolise a global industry.

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  • Shackleford96

    Yes, I am against these bills.

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  • chubbawubba69

    As far as the ability to shut down or block websites I am entirely against it. I do agree that action should be taken against users of websites who are in violation of copyright laws.

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    • Avant-Garde

      I agree, but it seems that it would be taken WAY TO FAR. Lets, say you sang a song by Adele and posted it on youtube or made a video with a can of coke in it. Corporations could sue you and you could literally be put in jail for 5 fucking years! america already is the country with the highest amount of prisons/prisoners in the entire world! You've see what they do to people in prisons, right? Last I checked, they were already running out of room and South Carolina forces the prisoners to do labor! They're forced to make things and aren't even getting paid! This is ludicrous!

      I don't want to go to jail for trying to express myself. Before, I forget, congress is even trying to make a it legal to trial people WITHOUT a jury or cause. It would even try do this to people who currently live in other countries! Would they even try to do this to people who gave up their citizenships?!

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      • XxMrWoottonxX

        WAIT. What if I can't remember my password for some accounts from YEARS ago?! I'm not even from the US and neither do I live there (never even been)! I could go to jail for that!?
        *very freaked out*

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        • Avant-Garde

          What?

          If you can't remember a password, then that should be fine.

          But these people think strangely and their laws don't make any sense..

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      • chubbawubba69

        I don't think you fully understand the act. There are provisions of copyright law that include fair use. You singing an Adele song would usually fall under this. If you made money by performing an Adele song you would have to pay royalties for its use.

        Don't get me wrong, I'm against this law, but I don't think you fully understand how copyright works.

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        • dan90655

          and youtube would have to start charging any member who got paid for ther videos then

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        • Avant-Garde

          Oh, I see:)

          I understand that artists have to get to payed and credited for their work, but I was following what videos and most protesters have been saying.

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  • Ramit10

    I think it only matters if its someone elses work. Like if you posted a youtube vid of someones kid singing with out the owners permission then you could be in trouble. But if its your video and have proof you can do what you want to with it since you own all the rights to it.

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    • Gelmurag

      If there are any products in the background of your video (soda can, TV, gaming system, computer, pokemon doll, cd case, vaccuum cleaner, etc) OR the subject of the video is a living person, covering (reading, talking about, singing) a work that has been previously copyrighted, it can be removed without any prior notice to the removal.

      But it doesn't just include video sites, or animation, or even social websites. It carries on to blogs and forums as well. Like IIN. IF anyone, on this site, has ever mentioned a product they use in daily life, without seeking permission from the company to use that product's name, IIN can be shut down, without warning.

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      • taciturn

        I swear I'm not trying to be mean, but you seriously need to cut down on the commas. It sounded like, you were gasping for air, every couple of words. Kinda, hard to, read.

        Anyway, can you or anyone else point me to a legitimate source of information regarding the actual content of the bill? So far I've heard a lot of speculation and doomsaying coming from random people on the internet, but I have no idea what the bill actually says or proposes OR what type of terminology it uses. I can't really form an opinion if I don't know what my opinion is on.

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        • Gelmurag

          I need to stop coming onto IIN when I first get up and my brain doesn't work. I'm a comma whore when I'm half asleep haha. I took speaking lessons from William Shatner, because, there was, something on the, wing.

          http://gizmodo.com/5877000/what-is-sopa

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          • Avant-Garde

            That's really scary. It brings fear into my heart and shivers down my spine... We can't allow this to pass!

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        • Shackleford96

          http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/112%20HR%203261.pdf

          http://leahy.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/BillText-PROTECTIPAct.pdf

          The first one is S.O.P.A and the second one is P.I.P.A., which is a similar bill that is trying to be passed.

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          • Avant-Garde

            Couldn't the president Veto it? So many people have been protesting it so, couldn't that be enough to stop this nonsense?

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            • dan90655

              he could only veto one without the congreses aproval though

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            • Shackleford96

              I sure hope so.

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      • Avant-Garde

        It's fucking crazy! There's no way we can let this monstrosity go through!

        I don't want to HAVE to lead a censored life. That's not what "freedom" is.

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      • Ramit10

        Ok gotcha makes more sense now. Thanks!

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      • Gelmurag

        And in the examples I gave, I even infringed upon a copyright. One word in there, can shut down IIN. If SOPA and PIPA pass.

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        • Avant-Garde

          That would be terrible!

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    • dan90655

      idiot it means if you post a video of your kid singing happy birthday which is copyrighted by disney they could sue you or if anyone posted it for that matter

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      • Ramit10

        There is no need to call me a idiot...ok.

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  • gashlover

    the government (AKA new world order/illuminati/cabal/etc) are all about CONTROL. They try to find ways to control us more and more.

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  • megadriver

    I protested and i'm fucking glad that the world listened to reason and told SOPA and PIPA to go and fuck themselves!

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  • Aleks85

    Oh course, if this law gets passed we shall riot in the streets.

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  • Legion

    It doesn't state what would be considered Infringing content, and in all, would attack everything that has anything that is copyrighted.

    Its one thing to go after a site that allows users to illegally download a movie for free (I agree with them on that), but another entirely to attack a user that uses a copyrighted image for whatever reason.

    I mean Seriously, Would Doug Naylor and the BBC get me in trouble for using the Character Legion from Red Dwarf as my profile pic? I know SOPA would punish me for it!

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  • grabacontroller

    The main issue is that the copyright laws aren't to the point. They do more harm than good. You could upload something that's copyrighted and you didn't know it was. You could link to a copyrighted work and you didn't know it was. It just doesn't make any logical sense to remove a complete site instead of removing the content instead.

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  • Firestorm183

    I seem to recall a line in the constitution, "and when a government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to abolish it." Just saying. Been considering it for a while but never thought this would happen in my lifetime.

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  • mtg710

    Two revolutions of Earth around the Sun is an incredible time to wait before gaining the right to a voice in these exponential times.

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  • dinz

    I'm really concerned - I'm worried that the government could use this new law to ban material that is deemed critical of them.

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    • Avant-Garde

      You know they would... Why haven't people been rioting for government reform?

      You know how people were doing "Anarchy"? I'm surprised no ones tried to do it here.
      There was Occupy Wall Street, but that was targeted more towards bank reform then the government as a whole.... Are they still even doing that?

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  • Sweetz

    PIPA and SOPA are getting on my dam nerves!

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    • Avant-Garde

      It's so fucking stupid and they won't give up on passing them. I heard that theres a new one that starts with a "A". "Act" something.

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  • Gena45

    If this bill passes, I'm going to take a pistol, and shoot myself in the head.

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    • Avant-Garde

      I would love to do to the same...

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      • Gena45

        If the bill passes, or just in general?

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        • Avant-Garde

          A bit of both

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          • Gena45

            Why? D:

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            • Avant-Garde

              I don't know....

              I've been suicidal on and off for most of my life. I've had strange and random attempts and yet each time I failed....

              I thought I would be able to deal with this, but I was on tumblr and now I feel "suicidal". I can't fathom a life without the internet, a life without the friends I've made.... And not being able to share my art/writings with the world. I feel like somethings being ripped from my body.

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  • Tommy-B

    I'm protesting this because where else would I get all my music.

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  • vSlay3r

    THEY BLOCKED OUT MINECRAFT
    Wich sucked cos i bought it for my little brother and it wouldnt download and when the site was back online it said i didnt pay so that was 20 bucks wasted

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    • Shackleford96

      Wow, that's not fair. You should contact the company, surely they will re-compensate you?

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  • Faceless

    Ummm... to quote Hugh Dillon "FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU, I WILL GET OVER YOU"!

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  • Dot123

    STOP THE SOPA, SIGN THE PETITION. DON'T LET THE GOV SCREW YOU OVER, THEY WORK FOR US.

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  • chewy

    Oh no! they can't sensor porn :O

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    • Avant-Garde

      How right you are!

      It's ironic since allot of those conservatives are into it. So, if they censored it, it would be impossible for them to get their "kicks". Then the next thing you know, they'd want to uncensore it.

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      • chewy

        What i never understand was that certaint people get offended by nudity when we came to this world naked we were sent here to all have sex to continue the population.

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        • Avant-Garde

          Exactly! There's nothing wrong with nudity. We come into this world nude, but then we usually leave this world with clothes on.... In a strange sense, nudity leaves me both uncomfortable/ wanting to laugh, but as I've become one with the internet... I feel less frightened of it.

          Sex is part of the cycle of life.... Yet, some people condemn it. And the people who condemn it are probably the politicians that are for this bill, yet they look at porn.... So, they are trying to censor what they love?

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  • 1marcelfilms

    Sopa BOOOOO!!!!11!!!1!!

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  • wigsplitz

    Saw this coming a mile away.....

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    • Avant-Garde

      They tried pulling this shit a few months ago. You'd think they would stop?

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      • wigsplitz

        I meant years ago....since Al Gore invented the internet.

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        • Avant-Garde

          Really?

          I knew that this has been going on for a while, but I had no idea that It was that LONG!

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  • Yumazing

    Contacted my senator, spread the word, went to a rally. I think I heard SOPA was turned over a couple days ago.

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    • Avant-Garde

      That's great! But what about PIPA?

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      • Yumazing

        PIPA wasn't overturned, but I'm sure it will be. It's basically against the Constitution.

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        • Avant-Garde

          I hope it does.

          I must say I feel sorry for Pippa, having a name so close to this!

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          • Yumazing

            That's what I thought when I first heard of it.

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  • Britton

    I almost hope it passes.....maybe kids will have to learn how to use books again....its sad when my roommate's 10 year old son doesn't know how to look up definitions in the back of his school books....(I am protesting this by the way...)

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  • I AM FOR THE SOPA LAWS!!!

    Welp, IguessIbetterbegoingthan.

    *walks briskly out of thread before mob forms*

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    • Avant-Garde

      Please, tell me you're joking.

      You of all people for it? Why?

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      • And what is it about me that makes you think I should be against it.

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        • Avant-Garde

          At this point, I honestly don't know.....

          It seems to me that you wouldn't want this site to be censored. If it was censored then there wouldn't be much to do on here. If everything was censored no one could effectively use the internet.

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          • Censorship is good.

            Every just society that ever existed was "oppressive" in nature.

            And I'm not totally educated on the law itself but I'm fairly there's not going to be an information black out. The law is aimed at protecting intellectual property.

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            • Avant-Garde

              True, but apparently they've got "anonymous links" that claim that the site Megauploader is creating a new site and telling people to like it on FB and twitter, but it's a trick! They say that it's an attack at the internet and that people could go to jail for accidentally clicking this site. they wrote an article on gawker.com. Apparently, they will try to ban google and tumblr,etc. It has to be vetoed and protested. This country is turning into a fucking dictatorship. You don't live in the states, do you?

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  • Who_Fan4Life

    I'm protesting this post and I'm gonna take it DOWWWN!

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    • TurtleGrandPrix

      You mean WE'RE going to take it down?

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    • Avant-Garde

      You joke, right?

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      • Who_Fan4Life

        I'm definitely not joking.

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  • No it doesn't.

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    • Gelmurag

      Yes it does. The language of the bill is written in a way, that if if any company/person has a problem with any posting (see: picture, written, video, drawing) they can ask that it be removed. The scary thing, is that this doesn't require a court order.

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      • Avant-Garde

        You tell them!

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  • desgraenum

    I don't mean to insult anyone, but are people missing the point entirely? If someone spends a year of their life writing the most amazing book or poem or piece of music, is it okay if someone copies their words, lyrics or melody and takes credit for it? Of course not. Copyright infringement kicks in and suits are issued.

    But because it's "the internet" it's okay? No, it is not fucking okay. It may be fashionable to oppose this but take a moment to think for yourselves. Imagine your life's work claimed by a retard who became rich off it. And there is nothing you can do about it.

    Angry? Hard luck. You opposed the bills.

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    • Shackleford96

      The bills have MUCH deeper implications than just combating piracy.

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