Today has seen a blackout of some sites on the net to protest at SOPA. tbh I had heard of it before but never really taken much notice. This is after all legislation in an another country.

Such sites as Google and Wiki took part. *shrugs, I can live without those for a day.

I have however just learned the most famous Lol Cats site is blacked out !

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

OK, You now have my attention !

Something must be done.

We agree. We considered 'blacking out' LCPDFR.com but thought this was extremely stupid and irrational for such a niche site.

Especially as being part of the global GTA modding community where we have to care about our international and non-English speaking user base.

A black out would only be useful if you're one of Alexa's top 100 sites (like Wikipedia, Reddit, 4chan, etc).

Instead, we decided to take the non-invasive and responsible route by just adding a hideable banner to the top of the site.

It's slightly upsetting that they're blocking EVERYONE, it wouldn't be that hard to limit it to US based IP's only, but they've decided to block it for the whole world.

Not to rain on their parade at all, I fully support the fight against SOPA, the US cannot be considered a "democracy" if either SOPA, or PIPA goes though, they've kept the illusion up very well so far, but that will be a blatant censorship coming directly from those that controls the US politicians, the corporations.

SOPA isn't the problem any longer. They've dropped it, mostly. We need to worry about PIPA - not SOPA.

My site and signature are joining the protest.

It's slightly upsetting that they're blocking EVERYONE, it wouldn't be that hard to limit it to US based IP's only, but they've decided to block it for the whole world.

...

Why just limit the protest to the US, it will affect the world. If you are outside the US contact the State Department(1/3rd way down the page).

tbh I am not that well informed on the subject. But I am willing to bet Hillary Clinton is involved somehow. And as for this site going dark, yeah I rekon that would have been a waste of time. At least this way today lots of people including myself looked into what it was all about because of the banner.

I am now a little better informed anyway. And what starts in the states quite often ends up everywhere else too.

Lamar Smith said that they're putting it on the floor again in February, unfortunately I saw it on one of the sites that are currently blacked out, they only "shelved" it, they didn't drop it.

Even if they do drop SOPA, there's PIPA, which will be supported by most of the anti-SOPA co-operations.

SOPA were never intended to actually pass, like when salespersons gives you a higher price than both you, and he knows is too high, then he lowers his offer to something that sounds reasonable, but are still higher, in the hopes that you'll take the bait and accept it, it's PIPA that they're aiming to actually pass.

It's slightly upsetting that they're blocking EVERYONE, it wouldn't be that hard to limit it to US based IP's only, but they've decided to block it for the whole world.

It would affect the whole world. Sites like YouTube, Google, Yahoo and stuff would be forced to close or relocate their servers.

SOPA's back.

SOPA isn't the problem any longer. They've dropped it, mostly. We need to worry about PIPA - not SOPA.

Incorrect. They've just pushed it back for voting to a later date.

Sign this petition if you're American.

https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Now.

Edited January 19, 201214 yr by unr3al

Urge President Obama: Pledge To Veto SOPA/PIPA

Open to US an NON US residents.

If SOPA or PIPA pass, the internet will become a hollow shell. No purpose. It's spark will have been extinguished. 5 years of jail time for singing a song and uploading it somewhere? Come on. That is RIDICULOUS. Making any type of video that even HINTS at copyrighted material -or how to obtain it- illegal? Completely foolhardy. I am SICK and TIRED of these pitiful "anti-piracy" bills that do absolutely NOTHING to stop piracy. They make things WORSE. They always have. They always will. Email and social networking, from what I hear, will be censored and any "questionable" links will be deleted (or your whole email). If a link slips through, the networking site or email provider can be fined, sued, or taken down entirely. I am signing every damn petition I can find. I am disgusted.

So that means if the bill passed,the US Govt. will dispatch a Saleen Barricade to pursue me over the copyright infringement act?

*screams* Bumblebee...!!!

EDIT: Whoops! I did it again.Copyright,yeah.

Edited January 19, 201214 yr by Dhruv

Some Brit were recently sentenced to extradition for running a site that linked to copyright infringing content, I cannot find the article atm.

It does pose a big threat to the internet as we know it, but there's been talks by a German "hacker" (the original meaning, not internet terrorists) to launch their own free internet.

For someone looking outside in on the US politics, it's hard to tell if SOPA/PIPA's just a symptom, or it is the problem itself, I'm finding it harder and harder to accept the US as a free democratic nation.

Some Brit were recently sentenced to extradition for running a site that linked to copyright infringing content, I cannot find the article atm.

Was that related to the "wiki leaks" story ? I may be thinking of something else.

Cheers for that link Sniper, filled it in. Only takes a few seconds I urge all non US residents to do the same. Everyone needs to be heard on this one.

Noting to do with wikileaks, that Assange guy were extradited to Sweden on rape charges.

The article is here.

Noting to do with wikileaks, that Assange guy were extradited to Sweden on rape charges.

The article is here.

Yeah my bad.

Jokes aside,this thing is childish.

But again,I'm thinking of Mayan's predictions.Its indeed a doomsday.Just for the internet era,though.

This whole thing is absurd. If this vote still passes and does not get veto'd, then I'm going to organize a protest where I get thousands of people to move to Canada at once. I'll go back to the days where I played MMO's a lot and call it something like a 'Citizenship Spike' or 'Citizen Zergway'.

Edited January 20, 201214 yr by unr3al