Have you joined the SOPA / PIPA protest?

[bghouse]

It's the 18th, and Google and Wordpress.org did their blackouts to protest SOPA / PIPA. If you aren't following this as a directory owner, you should - as the proposed law is written with enough flexibility that we could be affected by having links to a site with this copyright infringement in our directory.

Wordpress.org has a video up tonight with a quick overview of SOPA / PIPA as well as a form to petition your local representative. Name, email and zip - and it sends the automatic petition.

Not a US citizen? There's a link on Wordpress.org to petition the state department also, as this has global implications not just to sites based in the US.

I highly recommend we all check this out and get involved, as this level of potential censorship to the internet is something we should all be concerned about.

[James]

I have already sent in my petition ( I am an US citizen ) I have also started with my local mla's about how this will affect us and the effect it will have on MANY business's that is on the internet. It is flexible enough that I could bully ISP's with threats so that I truly believe I could get most servers /sites offline in no time.


The DMCA works well enough and is respected around the world, this new attempt the Gov will just hasten a splitting of the internet into two parts.

Myself I would like to kick the fool that wrote it.


Here is some basic reading for those not familiar with it:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57360665-503544/sopa-pipa-what-you-need-to-know/


Even if you are hosted offshore be worried....

[James]

I have already sent in my petition ( I am an US citizen ) I have also started with my local mla's about how this will affect us and the effect it will have on MANY business's that is on the internet. It is flexible enough that I could bully ISP's with threats so that I truly believe I could get most servers /sites offline in no time.


The DMCA works well enough and is respected around the world, this new attempt the Gov will just hasten a splitting of the internet into two parts.

Myself I would like to kick the fool that wrote it.


Here is some basic reading for those not familiar with it:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57360665-503544/sopa-pipa-what-you-need-to-know/


Even if you are hosted offshore be worried....

[Johnleehooker]

How our directories can be affected?

For linking to wrong site etc.?

Or for having a link which we added by ourselves without letting know the site owner (by spidering dmoz, or simply by adding a collection of links of our choice)?

p.s. i know the second option looks dumb, but just im getting paranoid of too many copyringt rules recently.

[bruleo]

Someone submits a link to your site. Unknown to you, that site may contain (or in the future contain) some data, comment or content that has been placed without permission. Under Sopa, you and your sites can then be held partially accountable and closed down.

Basically, SOPA (in part) states that a website owner should be held legally responsible for any content or link placed on their site. What that means indirectly for you, is that as a link directory owner, you should be 100% sure for every minute of every hour of every day that every link on your site points to a site that doesn't not contain any legally subjective content.

The bill is nothing at all to do with copyright and piracy, but all to do with control.

Bruce.

[amiman]

Its the US Goverment being the world police again.
WHO MADE USA THE WORLD POLICE.

[James]

Let's not turn this into a debate over the rest of the world.

I for one am totally tired of people ripping off others on the internet then think
they can hide in their little country and thumb their noses at who they are ripping off.


I just happen to not agree with this approach.

I told Al years ago to keep the net to the states only but did he listen .................... nope




















Let's see who gets that one :)

[Lazer558]

I'm all against piracy but is this really the way to do it? To use a colloquialism 'it's like giving the fox the keys to the henhouse'

Imagine not having movies to watch or music to listen to. Ok it's not likely to happen but piracy costs the film and music industry millions every year.
You might think they're being greedy and that they can afford it. The fact is it costs jobs. Less money, less production, less technicians required for
production, less viewing choice so we all lose out in the end.

Now i see it like this if you don't want to pay for your movies then don't (and i'm not accusing anyone here), don't watch them, wait until they're shown
on your local/national tv network or on the cable or satellite that you already pay your monthly subscription for. If everyone did that companies would,
possibly, lower their prices to make the sales.
Result - Positive but legal action, consumer lead. A clear message to retailers and industry leaders that prices are too high and we won't pay high prices.

The same goes for music or books. Music can be heard on local and national radio as well as internet radio whilst books can be read online or
purchased, quite reasonably, from many outlets for use on your phone, pc, ebook reader etc.

If you must see that movie hire it from your dvd rental company or from one of those subscription based media steaming companies.
You need to hear it? Purchase the cd or mp3 download. Have to read it then buy the ebook, buy second-hand or ask your library to get it for you.
There are alternatives to piracy.They just need a bit of patience or parting with some of your hard earned cash. You just need to decide how much
your willing to pay for your entertainment.

Sorry for the rant.
All the best
Mike
Oh @James
Content visible to registered users only.

The former vp (on expansion of the internet), right?

[DirectoryDude]

[QUOTE=James;213800I told Al years ago to keep the net to the states only but did he listen .................... nope
Let's see who gets that one :)[/QUOTE]

Al Gores Internet