Jyosua Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Many of you may be aware or unaware of some legislature that has recently reached the hands of Congress. The Stop Online Piracy Act has far-reaching effects that could even affect this website. If you live in the US, please take the time to read this article, and help make everyone you know aware of and against this bill. It's tantamount to worldwide internet censorship based on the whims of the US and their businesses. It is wholly wrong, and we must apply pressure on these businesses as consumers, to ensure it does not pass. Every voice counts. Article: http://www.gamingbus.com/2012/01/03/stop-online-piracy-act-and-the-video-game-industry/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystal Shards Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 SOPA is just a bad deal all around. It's bad for the gaming industry, internet-related businesses, and for our freedoms in general. I think your assessment is a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peppy Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Good Article. This can have a severe effect on the Internet in General (Definetly for the worst). The US is gradually restricting people's rights, It is just sad and unfair! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freohr Datia Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Ugh yeah that sounds just horrible... =[ (I fit in the "unaware" category for this act...) "In using an image of Starscream for a blog header, I could risk becoming a felon. What fun!" =3 I have a twitter account and there's this #StopSOPA thingy going on in there so maybe I could try posting the link in that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanarkin Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Lol I wonder why they even expect this to work. Sure you may stop piracy and what not, but you'll have a lot of angry consumers. that won't be pretty whatsoever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurabolt Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 We've been talking about it on Fantasy Anime for that last two months now. Have to admit I'm surprised more Game Sites big and small are not talking about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freohr Datia Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Welp, it's up to us to spread the word!! Maybe I can check anywhere else and if they know about it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inactive Account Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Relevant link. There has been a fair amount of campaigning against SOPA and PIPA already, but we're up against the film and music industries-- we can always use more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popo Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Many of you may be aware or unaware of some legislature that has recently reached the hands of Congress. The Stop Online Piracy Act has far-reaching effects that could even affect this website. If you live in the US, please take the time to read this article, and help make everyone you know aware of and against this bill. It's tantamount to worldwide internet censorship based on the whims of the US and their businesses. It is wholly wrong, and we must apply pressure on these businesses as consumers, to ensure it does not pass. Every voice counts. Article: http://www.gamingbus.com/2012/01/03/stop-online-piracy-act-and-the-video-game-industry/ [Reads article, details on legislation.] Oh! Since when were we living in China? :D Seriously, this is just... ugh. It makes me sick to think about internet regulation and anything involving further tightening of copyright restrictions. You guys think of gaming itself; I think of gaming fanart, fandom, etc. XP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peener weener Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Lol I wonder why they even expect this to work. Sure you may stop piracy and what not, but you'll have a lot of angry consumers. that won't be pretty whatsoever. They won't stop piracy. Maybe cripple American piracy for a bit, but that's all. I have no idea how they think this could stop piracy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Alear Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 (edited) Before anyone accuses me of supporting SOPA, I think it seems to broad and definitely oppose it, but I still want to bring some stuff up. The term "foreign infringing web site" is a very important one as it highlights one of the core issues with the bill. The bill forces U.S. law onto foreign entities by inhibiting any business interaction with them. It seeks to cripple infringing web sites by use of an Internet embargo, effectively starving it of payment services, search queries, and domain access. Although this is in itself questionable, matters are made worse by the definition of foreign infringing web site, in which the words or portion thereof allow for an entire web site to be labeled as infringing if only a small unspecified portion actually infringes. Actually, this isn't so different from the establishment of a tariff, which some object to vehemently but personally I think is not so outrageous in principle (though I think it's probably always better to impose a subsidy to competing domestic industries). As an on again off again pirate who thinks that piracy is wrong (please note: I am a horrible human being), I don't think it's really so objectionable to, for instance, limit the use of a website that sells, for instance, DS flashcards or hosts a list of game roms. Patent law and the like encourage invention in the first place, and whoever made the R4 or the supercard is cutting into the profits of game developers and publishers who, if you're playing their games, deserve funding. The US, as a sovereign country, actually does have the right to enforce its laws when businesses do business with it. If they don't like it and don't want to operate according to good practices, they can go elsewhere. Not to mention that a single user who made an avatar or signature out of official art could theoretically cause an entire web site to be taken down. Let's complain about that when it happens. Somewhere else this article made a big deal about how youtube couldn't possibly screen all its uploads: similarly, I doubt that there's any enforcement agency that's going to screen avatars on discussion forums. I admit I am a little worried for streamers - protections should be written in for them in this bill. But worrying about avatar usage seems a little bit alarmist (sue me when it happens). The bottom line is that SOPA is a piece of legislature borne by greed and supported by those in government who don't truly understand what they're agreeing to. Because of our live streams and images, it could even lead to this very site being taken down, not to mention fan sites which often have even more incriminating content on them. So they do have a dog in the fight! This statement indicates that they truly fail to understand why piracy is so commonplace and fail to recognize the job creation opportunities that fixing their business models would entail. Furthermore, their support of the bill shows that they don't understand the devastating effect it could have on their own consumers. They seek to protect their IP, and that's fine; but nobody will be left to purchase their products if they've all been labeled felons and thrown in prison or fined an exorbitant amount of money. They practically flaunt this ignorance with a statement regarding the community dissent over the bill: Hmmmm....maybe this guy should work for a video game company if he thinks he has the solution to their piracy woes. I wonder why no one has hired him? And if customers successfully get fined an exorbitant amount of money I think that would help the coffers of the companies pretty effectively. Something from fantasyanime There's one thing my Internet marketing degree has pounded into my mind: "Don't fight the wave - ride it." I'll use downloading music as an example. The music industry was intend on stopping file sharing. They crushed Napster and all the other popular sharing clients. Then came the iTunes music store and all of a sudden everyone was buying music again. See, all that people wanted was an easier way to obtain music. This is so fuckocked I'm not sure what to say, except I guess I do. I'm sure that if Limewire, Napster and other clients were still around and hadn't been pounded, people would be using those instead of itunes...no cost isn't easier than at cost. So it looks like you have to fight the wave after all. Edited January 4, 2012 by Mr. Game and Watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashGordon94 Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I really hope this doesn't go through, I just hope that the outcries will be enough to stop it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystal Shards Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 (edited) So they do have a dog in the fight! Well yes, as does anyone whose site isn't absolutely 100% original, so saying that is not really as controversial as you might think. This site? Could get shut down. My site? Could get shut down. YouTube? Tumblr? LiveStream? Could get shut down. Kotaku, Destructoid, IGN, GameStop, all those sites? Could get shut down, Some guy's fan site for Call of Duty or InuYasha or Community? Could get shut down. You can argue over whether they WILL or not, but to me the very fact that they COULD is problematic enough. Look at all the major technological companies, the security specialists, the people who actually understand the internet. They're all against this. Facebook and Google have even threatened to shut their sites down in protest shortly before the SOPA talks start again. A well-written law is going to protect sites like the ones I've mentioned. People screw other people over enough using DMCA, and that isn't nearly as broken as SOPA is. Why can't we just fix the issues with DMCA and move on? Edited January 4, 2012 by Crystal Shards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 (edited) I have to agree with your statement, Crystal Shards. I am also heavily affected by this issue, even if I live in the Philippines; I heard word via YouTube that this SOPA crap will hit the entire world. Even the simplest fanart and fan-made video will be taken down for good; and I heard even kids will be locked up for that reason hence why I am extremely doubting myself as of lately. Being in addition to those possible shutdowns, even every fanart website such as deviantART might be also taken down! Edited January 4, 2012 by Frosty the Blizzardkitty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.M. Gei Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Just SeverIan being contrarian (as usual). But seriously, I've already signed an anti-SOPA petition and this bill is rather draconian. Least I can do, anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyosua Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 Before anyone accuses me of supporting SOPA, I think it seems to broad and definitely oppose it, but I still want to bring some stuff up. Actually, this isn't so different from the establishment of a tariff, which some object to vehemently but personally I think is not so outrageous in principle (though I think it's probably always better to impose a subsidy to competing domestic industries). As an on again off again pirate who thinks that piracy is wrong (please note: I am a horrible human being), I don't think it's really so objectionable to, for instance, limit the use of a website that sells, for instance, DS flashcards or hosts a list of game roms. Patent law and the like encourage invention in the first place, and whoever made the R4 or the supercard is cutting into the profits of game developers and publishers who, if you're playing their games, deserve funding. The US, as a sovereign country, actually does have the right to enforce its laws when businesses do business with it. If they don't like it and don't want to operate according to good practices, they can go elsewhere. Let's complain about that when it happens. Somewhere else this article made a big deal about how youtube couldn't possibly screen all its uploads: similarly, I doubt that there's any enforcement agency that's going to screen avatars on discussion forums. I admit I am a little worried for streamers - protections should be written in for them in this bill. But worrying about avatar usage seems a little bit alarmist (sue me when it happens). So they do have a dog in the fight! Hmmmm....maybe this guy should work for a video game company if he thinks he has the solution to their piracy woes. I wonder why no one has hired him? And if customers successfully get fined an exorbitant amount of money I think that would help the coffers of the companies pretty effectively. Something from fantasyanime This is so fuckocked I'm not sure what to say, except I guess I do. I'm sure that if Limewire, Napster and other clients were still around and hadn't been pounded, people would be using those instead of itunes...no cost isn't easier than at cost. So it looks like you have to fight the wave after all. In case you didn't realize it, which you don't seem to, I wrote that article. Let me put it this way: I'm fine with measures to prevent piracy. I'm perfectly happen with Steam as DRM for PC games and I can see the need for legislature to help stop blatant piracy. But this bill overreaches to such an extent that it gives the U.S. government control over something it shouldn't have control over. I don't trust my own government enough to not think they're going to abuse it. I'm simply pointing out the legal possibilities of the bill, as an example of this. I'm not saying the government necessarily will do this (with the exception of the streaming bit), but it is a huge concern for major streaming and art sites. Also, you have to take into consideration that this website would CLEARLY fall into the lines marked on this bill. I could easily be labeled a felon, fined or worse, simply because of the content on this fan site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystal Shards Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Also, I'd like to point out that, like Josh said, streaming sites are at a very high risk if this passes. So is YouTube. I know that even now, under current laws, Sony has repeatedly tried to take down content from my website's YouTube channel because one of our members did drum covers to some video game music. Thankfully I know about the Copyright Law of 1976 and the exceptions it allows for and so my channel's material has not been taken down, but all that goes out the window with SOPA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbus Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 (A bunch of stuff) ANYONE who uses Fair Use provisions as detailed in the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (which is its own ball of wax) and the Copyright Act of 1976 has a "dog" in this fight, every bit as much as I (the owner of Gaming Bus) do, especially given the punishments outlined. Maybe it would make more sense to say that Josh, for putting up potentially "infringing" material, could be labeled a felon. That means, he loses the right to vote, as would I. But this isn't about my own dog in this fight. This is for all Americans who care about the right of due process, and who cares about our constitutionally protected rights to free speech, which this would absolutely obliterate. To me, it's a bigger fight than just "lol Nintendo's gonna go after my streams", but now, they can send me a C+D, and I can cut the shit. With this, that cuts out the middleman, and they can have me prosecuted with no warnings. It will absolutely chill any and all activities which could REMOTELY be considered verboten. Furthermore, this will do absolutely nothing to stem the tide of piracy. Instead of going over the internet, piracy will go back underground to usenet and other services. You will not stamp out piracy. As always, it's going to be law abiding citizens that pay the price for this. But then again, as Nick Holland of Venturebeat points out, the companies pushing for this aren't interested in any of these things. In fact, I'd say that point was made more clearly by this strapping stud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurabolt Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Well, duh. At the moment my website's offline but I do cover a crapload of fandoms at Serene Adventure. No matter how you slice it, fan-made material from art to even fan sites would fall under this. I'm holding off on bringing my site back online until the bill's dead. There's also the possibility someone will have the bright idea to attach this as a provision like they did to the President earlier this week with a more politically damaging bill. Weather you like him or not you have ot admit it was pretty fucked up to force the president into a damned either way decision. NOT signing it due to time constraints was out of the question so...yeah. As for this I want to start hearing opponents of the bill in congress voice their opposition to it. I haven't been hearing that yet and that's got me worried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Sholes Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I feel like this is just the U.S. government trying to be in control of something used internationally, they don't own the internet so it's not really there place to say what people can do on it. As for blocking sites from showing up on search engines; that's infringing on rights. I might be wrong about the governments rights to restrict internet usage on U.S. websites but it still seems to me like they're overstepping their boundaries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popo Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 But this bill overreaches to such an extent that it gives the U.S. government control over something it shouldn't have control over.. I was thinking about this very same issue today and how it could be opposed legally, and I believe with at least a small degree of confidence that the Supreme Court would overturn something like this on the grounds that it isn't narrowly tailored enough to be legal. I know that they've approved other related and questionable legislation, but this appears so blatantly overreaching and near tyrannical that there's no way they could let this fly. As you pointed out, Josh, there are so many smaller, less drastic changes that can and must be attempted before something of this scale and severity could ever be seen as valid. They wouldn't allow such a boldfaced infringement on free speech and precedent to pass without more mild remedies; it's in their history and nature to act this way, despite Congress' interests. Among other things, I thought this document made some pretty good points. Honestly, I'm worried about this passing but in my heart I don't think it will. It just can't. Ours isn't the most competent government, but I think Congress is smart enough to realize that if they put the internet in a legal choke-hold, they're going to be in a world of shit with, you know, pretty much everyone in America and any country we attempt to cross paths with, but especially with our generation which essentially lives and dies by our abilities to connect, research, share, and in general, network online. (What a great way to court your up and coming voter demographic, guys!) If they think social movements like Occupy are bad, imagine that magnified by SOPA. Think of all the people who don't understand or give a damn about taxes or the 1%, but do use the internet regularly, or people like me who are generally pretty mild-mannered to begin with but would be incensed and ready to act over something like this. If YouTube shuts down? If Facebook becomes some weird government entity, or if Tumblr get's the axe? There will be absolute hell to pay, and the government knows it. And if they don't, they're fucking retarded. :| Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconVegeta1986 Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 So, basically, on the off chance this bill does get passed, there's pretty much going to be no more internet. Or at least that's the vibes i'm getting from this discussion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyosua Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 It'll exist, but it'll be like using the internet in mainland China. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defeatist Elitist Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 They won't stop piracy. Maybe cripple American piracy for a bit, but that's all. I have no idea how they think this could stop piracy. This. As Superbus pointed out, it's not really about piracy to these companies anyway. The problem is, a lot of people still think it's supposed to be about piracy, or think piracy can be stopped, but it's just not how things work. You might catch a few people, but most pirates are clever, and are extremely good at not getting caught, and they'll always find another method. Like most anti piracy measures, all it will really do is punish paying customers (or in this case, basically everyone), while allowing pirates to go about their business as they pretty much always have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconVegeta1986 Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 (I might have missed this) Is there any word on when this bill is supposed to go up for voting? (Or however they do it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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