…according to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) bill, anyway
–The year: 2011. The crime: Doing a YouTube sing-a-long to an unlicensed version of “Single Ladies” by Beyonce; but this is only your first offense, surely you’ll just be asked to remove your video, right?
Not if media conglomerates get their way. Over the last several years, large media companies have championed for a law to prevent pirating and bootlegging movies/music and copyrighted content; included among these are Disney, Warner Bros. and Sony, just to name a few.
There has been a proposed bill titled “SOPA,” (Stop Online Piracy Act) which is a scary creature on its own. SOPA is intended as a premeditated strike on online piracy, to block websites that make it possible to host copyrighted material.
This does not just mean Kazaa, Limewire and the ever-popular Piratebay, notorious for providing access to copyrighted materials. This law is extensive, and frankly, excessive. The law would provide the copyright holders or Attorney General permission to block any website that also provides the content from people who post it.
Ever had a thought or feeling that you just couldn’t find words for, and heard a song that was so perfect you had to share it on your Facebook status? What about that hilarious clip from your phone of your friend drunkenly singing embarrassing songs you threw on Youtube?
Under SOPA, you could be facing up to five years for a first-offense of the above infractions. In good ol’ American superiority complexes, these media companies extend this to websites hosted outside the country. If Internet censorship is ringing any bells, it’s because Iran does the same thing.
When prohibition was created for alcohol, it became more popular than ever. People all across the country were brewing their homemade drafts and crime was intense because of it. People were trying to, in effect, “censor” alcohol, because of those few people who abused it.
SOPA is prohibition of the Internet. Companies are trying to censor sites for the masses, because some people choose to abuse the abilities that it provides. If this bill passes, piracy will still happen. It will become more serious than kids downloading a new pop song to their mp3 players.
Censoring ANYTHING in the United States of America goes against our First Amendment right to freedom. I have to say, as a very definite lower part of the 99% financially, I don’t feel too sore with actors losing a few thousand dollars here and there, making more money per movie than I’ve made my entire life multiplied exponentially.
However, I agree there is a problem with people who abuse file sharing. That doesn’t mean you prevent the good uses for it. People should be responsible for their actions, not in receiving penalties for the actions of others.
Remember the big to-do with gun control? It was because people were abusing the rights to have guns, so organizations wanted a blanket toss ban on firearms. SOPA impact reaches farther than that ever did, but thanks to media companies who want this bill to pass, there has also been a very suspiciously small amount of coverage on the topic.
There needs to be a solution, but not one that impedes our rights. For further information, visit
http://tinyurl.com/6n7mj8r.
Opinions expressed in editorial and opinion articles are the views of individual NIC students. These views do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Sentinel, North Idaho College, or any other organizations or groups there-in. North Idaho College is not responsible for the accuracy of statements or opinions shared.
