SOPA… exactly what is it?

Unless you work in media, pay attention to issues relating to the operation of the Internet or laws concerning the same, chances are, you’ve probably not even heard about the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) introduced by House of Representatives, or the Senate’s PROTECT IP Act (PIPA).

The title sounds good, doesn’t it?

Who wants online piracy, anyway?

Turns out, it’s a really bad – indeed, a phenomenally bad – idea.

Regardless how you identify yourself politically, the ideas promoted in SOPA are a seriously genuine breach of the Bill of Rights, and other Constitutional protections.

Why?

In all cases that come before criminal law courts, the accused has a right to a trial by jury of peers. As well, accused parties must be served notice by law enforcement authorities that they are part of a lawsuit. Even in cases involving civil law, there are rules and regulations of order that must be followed.

Many of the provisions in SOPA will completely bypass and eliminate those provisions. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) will, for example, have the ability to demand that any website – including your Internet Service Provider – shut down any access to the site, and that the site itself shut down… based exclusively upon their allegations and accusations.

So again, in reality, what does that mean for you?

Imagine no YouTube.

Imagine not having the ability to share YouTube or any other video on FaceBook, Twitter, Google Plus or any other social networking service you use.

Imagine not being able to LEGALLY share things over the Internet as you have already.

Yeah.

That’s what we’re talking about.

Strange thing is, that in other countries, that’s called censorship, and it’s typically done by governments. But in this case, Government will allow BIG BUSINESS and their denizen hordes of corporate attorneys to reign down en mass, and censor anyone with whom they have a dispute.

God help you.

Here’s a quick video that spells it out very well.

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

And so?

What can you do?

1.) Call, write, e-mail your elected officials in Washington, D.C. and politely request that they withdraw their support for the bill, and encourage them to vote against it’s passage. Be certain to acknowledge the numerous laws already in force that provide for the prosecution and punishment of those convicted of violating copyright, as well as civil laws allowing Big Media companies to relentlessly go after little folks.

2.) Talk to your friends about this issue. Post to FaceBook, Google Plus, Tweet, and blog about it.

and most importantly,

3.) DON’T LET UP!