I know by now everyone has at least gotten some word about this bill called 'SOPA' (or the 'Stop Online Piracy Act') and well, I'm sure some of you have pushed it off as a joke or impossible.
I wrote about this before in a previous journal and also possibly posted a poll about it before, however, I'm doing it again.
Why? Because somehow the bill is still in the process of possibly being passed.
Of course, thinking about it in a "logical" sense anyone with half a brain probably says "They won't pass the bill, it would ruin the internet!" and they would be right. It would ruin the internet.
How? Well, allow me to elaborate just a tad.
This bill (in a nutshell explanation) would allow corporate companies access and freedom to stop, sue, and remove any websites containing and even LINKING to copyrighted material. That means places like Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and yes..even DeviantART.com would/could be shut down simply for containing (and linking to) copyrighted material.
"Well, how does this affect me?"
Simple. Since this journal has been posted on DeviantART.com I shall tell you how it will affect this place in particular.
For one, the fan art section? It would be nullified. Why? Because it contains images that contain copyrighted characters, that's why.
This means your drawing of 'My Little Pony" characters is susceptible to being seen as copyright infringement since you yourself do not own the rights to the character's design(s). You also technically don't have the permission to draw that character without the consent of it's creator(s).
If you think this is ridiculous I beg you to think otherwise. This bill in and of itself is ridiculous simply because it's only being passed to allow any already rich companies to get more money through striking down the 'fans' of it's media and publications.
Still not convinced this is actually not a joke?
Try this on for size:
Let's say you are doing an essay for school on Astrophysics (because we all think Astrophysics is the shizznit). What is the top rated source for homework help? The internet! DING DING DING!
So you go on the internet to look up some information to help you write your essay. You'd use websites such as 'Ask.com' or 'Google.com' which in turn would send you to a place like 'Wikipedia' through your search, right?
Well, Wikipedia contains copyrighted material, be it ads or even the information you seek, which chances are came from a book! Since Wikipedia doesn't own the rights or publishing rights to the books used in obtaining information for their website they're liable for copyright infringement charges even though their site is used to HELP PEOPLE LEARN in an easier more accessible way.
Perfectly innocent and well intended sources of information purely created to help people could be shut down and the creators of those sites could be sued for massive amounts of money (like ridiculous amounts of money).
Now how does it affect YOU personally?
Have you ever downloaded a song? I mean like downloaded a song 'for free'? Don't lie, we've all done it at LEAST once.
Well, if you have then you my friend are liable to be sued if you are found to have downloaded a song 'illegally'. Be it through a Youtube to MP3 converter, Limewire, BitTorrent, and even in some cases iTunes or other music purchasing websites.
Don't think it's possible?
Oh ho ho~! Think again smarty pants. They've already begun to do such things. KIDS are being SUED for downloading songs from the internet. SUED! KIDS! Whaaaaaat?
I know right?
"OH, well I'm not in the United States of America so I'm safe."
Nnnnnnnnnnope. Just because you are not a citizen of the US of A doesn't mean you are not under threat of this bill. In fact, information is already out that the US government is in cahoots with the UK trying to export a college kid to the US for sentencing for copyright infringement charges. AND HE DIDN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING ILLEGAL IN HIS COUNTRY!
He's being sued/charged by the US government because his website LINKED to copyrighted material. He himself did not post the copyrighted material on his website.
STILL thinking this is a joke?
Wait, there's more~
We love dA right? Yeah, it has it's quirks, it's flaws, and it's glitches, but overall it's a pretty fun and decent website. It members enjoy their time on here and they also enjoy uploading and seeing other people's artwork.
Well, the fact and the matter is that should this bill be passed, dA would suffer IMMENSELY and chances are it would be shut down. This place is TEEMING with potential copyright infringement charges for simply allowing fan art to be uploaded and viewed publicly without astute permission from the character copyright holders.
"Oh, but when I do post fan art I put a disclaimer that I do not own the rights to the character!"
Big deal! You think that really matters?
In the eyes of a money hungry corporation they're not going to look at your "direct violation" of their "terms" as innocent and humbling. Oh no no no~ They're going to look and say 'Oh look! another one! 8D nom nom nom!'.
Big corporations/companies we all know and love, like Disney and Dreamworks animation, are rooting FOR this bill to be passed! They want it to be passed! But here's the juice in the drink my friends...
They're the ones who created and distributed most of the software that allowed direct piracy to be done! How a$$ backwards is that?
SOPA is not a joke people... Come on now. You'd think that any kind of threat to the internet would be taken a tad more seriously. After all, the internet is the one thing almost everyone on the globe shares!
SOPA is not a bill aimed to help curb copyright infringement, it a bill proposing war mongering. A bill aimed to help already rich people get more rich.
Oh reading through the bill itself makes it seem all fine and dandy; like some kind of victorious deed worthy of a trophy. However, that's without realizing the subliminal 'small text' of the bill.
You could go to JAIL for (at least) 5 years for downloading a few songs off of the internet! It's already being done and the bill hasn't even passed yet! They're dragging innocent tax payers to jail for meager offenses such as downloading a few pictures of songs off of the internet without paying.
Now to all those who are sitting there saying "Yeah, but those people should have known better, stealing is wrong." Take a bite out of this.
The companies and corporations aiming to pass this bill are the ones who created that software in the first place!
They enabled the piracy, they allowed the content downloads to be possible, and they are now trying to get clearance to sue people for using their software to do what it was made for.
This whole SOPA deal has been swept under the carpet as a joke or some kind of 'lame proposal' that will never happen, but the fact is it COULD happen. And, if we don't pull up our underwear and actually DO something to stop it, it WILL happen.
This bill WILL destroy the internet. Websites WILL disappear and innocent people WILL pay a dear price for minor offenses that regularly would be laughed about if held in the court of law.
Use Google to find as many 'STOP SOPA' petitions as you can. Sign them! Many of them will allow you to sign them anonymously (meaning you sign it but your signature and name will not be able to be viewed by anyone on the internet). Go on youtube, watch and 'like' videos opposing SOPA and post links to those videos to your friends and family on facebook.com and other websites!
TELL THEM WE WILL NOT BE CENSORED OR CONTROLLED!
It is YOUR right to oppose any and all bills and laws that directly influence your life in a negative way damnit! USE YOUR RIGHTS TO THEIR FULLEST EXTENT! DO ALL YOU CAN TO SHUT THIS BILL DOWN!
It's not a joke guys!
This bill, if not opposed and denied under direct opposition of the American (and worldly) public's vote, could be passed by as early as next Spring. Once/If it goes in effect it will not be able to be retracted and the results will be devastating.
-End of line-
PS: For a good look at how badly planned and dangerous this bill truly is, take a look at this video -- [link]
Also, feel free to repost this journal if you wish. Spread the word! I may not be the best speaker or writer but I tried to do as best I could.
please copy and paste all of this in your journal as well. get the word out before the government takes away our internet!
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