Congress Could Shut Down Many of the Sites We Use Daily

We hear about the internet evolving every day, but not like this. Congress is considering bills that could and probably WILL shut down many of the sites we love.

Here’s the details — the Stop Online Piracy Act, better known as SOPA, would give permission to companies to BLOCK domain names that simply seem like they are engaging in copyright infringement.  For instance, if any other company believes that yourfavoritesite.com (such as facebook.com, youtube.com, tumblr.com, reddit.com, and driftwebdesign.com) is engaging in copyright infringement they could shut off that sites’ domain name.

Insane right? But wait – there’s more…

Another bill with much of the same language is making its way through Congress also. The Protect IP Act, mainly backed by large Hollywood companies, would give all copyright owners the right to also apply copyright infringement on everything from a link placed on the site to the site in entirety causing it to be shut down.

Both bills have such ambiguous wording that sites could be blocked or shut down for the smallest things.  On the bright side, this act cannot block IP addresses.

So PIRACY WILL STILL HAPPEN!

For example, You will still be able to get to thepiratebay.org by typing in its IP address in your browser window.

We think it’s absolutely ludicrous that this bill is even a matter of discussion in Congress and even more ridiculous that have even some likelihood of passing.

A few members of Congress and even Vice President Joe Biden have opposed one or both acts and actually have begun drafting a more reasonable act. If passed does this impose on our First Amendment rights? Will our favorite sites be a thing of the past?  Or will we have to memorize numerous IP addresses to access them? Check out this excellent yet frightening video provided by the official site www.americancensorship.org. Start fighting back and get involved!

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

It’s not the intent of this bill that is the problem. Stopping online piracy is a good thing but we already have tools to combat this.

It is the consequences of this bill that matter. If either of these bills passes this very website could be taken down because we listed a link to www.youtube.com