SOPA/PIPA - Why it Matters
Unless you're living under a rock, you know that today many websites are protesting SOPA and PIPA, legislation currently being considered by the US government that purports to combat piracy. Much ink has been spilled about why these acts are dangerous to the internet while doing virtually nothing to combat the real problem.
This TED talk is well worth listening to. It outlines exactly why this kind of legislation is so problematic, and how it shifts the burden of proof from the accuser to the accused, turning a foundational tenant of the democratic system on its head.
The reason I'm posting this here is because this community is formed almost entirely out of things these bills could attempt to kill. We remix, rewrite, draw and share a company's copyrighted material. Livejournal, the host of an endless succession of fan communities, could be blocked by any company who takes offense at our fannish activities. As could Tumblr, which plays host to millions of copyrighted images a day. I shudder to think about what could happen to fanfic hosts and fanfic sharing.
This affects us all.
This TED talk is well worth listening to. It outlines exactly why this kind of legislation is so problematic, and how it shifts the burden of proof from the accuser to the accused, turning a foundational tenant of the democratic system on its head.
The reason I'm posting this here is because this community is formed almost entirely out of things these bills could attempt to kill. We remix, rewrite, draw and share a company's copyrighted material. Livejournal, the host of an endless succession of fan communities, could be blocked by any company who takes offense at our fannish activities. As could Tumblr, which plays host to millions of copyrighted images a day. I shudder to think about what could happen to fanfic hosts and fanfic sharing.
This affects us all.