My letter opposing PIPA and SOPA
Dear Congressman Grassley/Harkin/Loebsack,
I am writing to voice my opposition to Senate 968 (the “Protect IP Act” (PIPA)) / HR 3261 (the “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA)) and urge you to fight against this legislation.
As an avid blogger and frequent user of Internet sites like Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, and craigslist, I am appalled that this bill is being considered. Its sponsors and supporters say it will combat online piracy by allowing them to shut down foreign sites, but it appears to be a veiled attempt by the media industry to impose “Big Brother” controls that will hamper communication and free expression and suppress the flow of information. It will, as 17 Internet entrepreneurs and innovators said, “[d]eny website owners the right to due process of law” and “[g]ive the U.S Government the power to censor web using technologies similar to those used by China, Malaysia, and Iran…” (Their letter can be found here: http://dq99alanzv66m.cloudfront.net/sopa/img/12-14-letter.pdf.) This is frightening, especially since these measures are being considered in the country that pioneered free speech, which is now recognized as a basic human right.
As an artist and writer, I have no problem with my work being shared as long as it is not plagiarized. Thus I feel this bill is an attempt by entertainment conglomerations to patch the holes being drilled into their obsolete and profit-focused business model. I feel efforts would be better focused on combating plagiarism and allowing the arts to flourish freely without crushing limitations.
Somewhat confusing, though unsurprising, is the fact this bill is being considered at a time when the international business community and certain politicians are fighting against government regulation. I think it is hypocritical for them to shout their faith in free market self-regulation but turn around and use our government to pass censorship laws to protect their profits and squelch competition. Why does such a bill find bipartisan support when public and consumer oversight is unacceptable? To me this bill symbolizes the power multinational and domestic corporations wield on Capitol Hill. It is things like this that lead the American people to believe corporate money, whether from Hollywood or Beijing, controls our elected officials.
Senate 968 / HR 3261 is a blatant attempt to prop up an outdated business model and suppress the competition and innovation that the bill’s very sponsors hail as hallmarks of free market economics. Its proposal to give copyright holders unlimited power over consumers and artists is akin to tyranny. Needless to say I strongly urge you to rebuff such un-American legislation.
Sincerely,
[The Quiet Man]
I am writing to voice my opposition to Senate 968 (the “Protect IP Act” (PIPA)) / HR 3261 (the “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA)) and urge you to fight against this legislation.
As an avid blogger and frequent user of Internet sites like Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, and craigslist, I am appalled that this bill is being considered. Its sponsors and supporters say it will combat online piracy by allowing them to shut down foreign sites, but it appears to be a veiled attempt by the media industry to impose “Big Brother” controls that will hamper communication and free expression and suppress the flow of information. It will, as 17 Internet entrepreneurs and innovators said, “[d]eny website owners the right to due process of law” and “[g]ive the U.S Government the power to censor web using technologies similar to those used by China, Malaysia, and Iran…” (Their letter can be found here: http://dq99alanzv66m.cloudfront.net/sopa/img/12-14-letter.pdf.) This is frightening, especially since these measures are being considered in the country that pioneered free speech, which is now recognized as a basic human right.
As an artist and writer, I have no problem with my work being shared as long as it is not plagiarized. Thus I feel this bill is an attempt by entertainment conglomerations to patch the holes being drilled into their obsolete and profit-focused business model. I feel efforts would be better focused on combating plagiarism and allowing the arts to flourish freely without crushing limitations.
Somewhat confusing, though unsurprising, is the fact this bill is being considered at a time when the international business community and certain politicians are fighting against government regulation. I think it is hypocritical for them to shout their faith in free market self-regulation but turn around and use our government to pass censorship laws to protect their profits and squelch competition. Why does such a bill find bipartisan support when public and consumer oversight is unacceptable? To me this bill symbolizes the power multinational and domestic corporations wield on Capitol Hill. It is things like this that lead the American people to believe corporate money, whether from Hollywood or Beijing, controls our elected officials.
Senate 968 / HR 3261 is a blatant attempt to prop up an outdated business model and suppress the competition and innovation that the bill’s very sponsors hail as hallmarks of free market economics. Its proposal to give copyright holders unlimited power over consumers and artists is akin to tyranny. Needless to say I strongly urge you to rebuff such un-American legislation.
Sincerely,
[The Quiet Man]
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