SOPA and Online Piracy
Episode: 15 January 2012, Question 1
Should SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) be supported or opposed? SOPA was recently introduced to the US House of Representatives, then shelved temporarily, and many people are urging businesses and their representatives to oppose it. Would the bill promote prosperity and creativity by protecting copyright? Or does it justify internet censorship and cripple free access of information through online media?
My Answer, In Brief: SOPA and PIPA claim to protect copyright, but in fact, they'd break the fundamental architecture of the internet, subject innocent people to major legal battles, destroy large internet sites, and establish government control over the internet. To top it off, these laws would not stop pirates. They should be opposed.
Listen Now
- Download: MP3 Segment
- Duration: 22:16
Watch Now
Relevant Links
- Wikipedia: Stop Online Piracy Act and PROTECT IP Act
- CopyBlogger: The Problem with SOPA (And How to Stop It)
- United Liberty: 8 Political Reasons to Stop SOPA and PIPA and 8 Technological Reasons to Stop SOPA and PIPA by Ron Davis
- Fight for the Future: PROTECT IP / SOPA Act Breaks the Internet
- CNet: Molly Wood's Video Explanation of SOPA
- Slate: The Internet's Intolerable Acts by James Losey and Sascha Meinrath
- SOPA and PIPA are Bipartisan Bad Policy, Really Bad Policy by Tom Evslin
- Refusing REFUSED by Paul Vixie
- Politico: SOPA becoming election liability for backers
- CNet: GoDaddy bows to boycott, now 'opposes' SOPA copyright bill
- The Hill: Twitter, Facebook, Google endorse alternate online piracy bill
- Ars Technica: Under voter pressure, members of Congress backpedal (hard) on SOPA
- The Atlantic: SOPA's Architect Is Finally Starting to Back Down
- The Hill: SOPA shelved until 'consensus' is found
Topics
Share This Question
Comment Via Facebook
Support the Webcast
The Philosophy in Action Webcast is available to anyone, free of charge. We love doing it, but it's not free for us to produce: it requires our time, effort, and money. So if you enjoy and value our work, please contribute to the webcast's tip jar!
Connect with Us
Comments? Questions? Want more? Be sure to connect with us via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, RSS, e-mail, and more!
