Titan Network: SOPA Blackout

Why limit it to chimps?

In the continuing rout of SOPA/PIPA, the Entertainment Software Association has backed off their support of the legislation, having spent $190,000 previously lobbying for it:

"Although the need to address this pervasive threat to our industry's creative investment remains, concerns have been expressed about unintended consequences stemming from the current legislative proposals. Accordingly, we call upon Congress, the Obama Administration, and stakeholders to refocus their energies on producing a solution that effectively balances both creative and technology interests. As an industry of innovators and creators, we understand the importance of both technological innovation and content protection and are committed to working with all parties to encourage a balanced solution."

I'd like to think Penny Arcade had a tiny amount to do with shaming this "hatesink" business organization into backing off.

Irony is the opposite of wrinkly.

Some of my characters

Woah awesome I can post here on a free to play account.

Anyways, I'm glad to see that the opposition and awareness for this bill has grown so much. When I first started speaking out against it a good 1-2 months ago, people were generally more apathetic/uninformed about it. It's a good thing that bills like this are becoming a liability for political candidates as well as businesses, that is how it should be.

I also want to point out that this is not the first nor the last, nor the worst piece of legislation like this to come our way. Obviously, the NDAA is a big deal, and it was even big enough of a deal that Romney was booed at the SC Republican debate for supporting it, and he doesn't get booed often. Not interested in getting into the details of the election, but it is a good thing that people are becoming concerned about these kinds of legislation.

There are other things that they are trying to now pass on the heels of the NDAA that I think people should be concerned about, such as the bill that would give the President the ability to strip Americans of their citizenship (Forget the exact name, but it's another obscure bill that is not being covered by mainstream news).

So, in any event, getting this bill tabled for now is certainly a victory for the people, but I think the worst thing people who were so opposed to it could do is to count your blessings and assume that we are safe from any future bills - that could be much worse - because this one is now not very likely to pass.

I also think anybody who believes that Anonymous had much to do with this in reality is being a bit naive. I like Anonymous' message and I think their intentions are certainly good, but their empty threats against the government and (minor) cyber attacks are actually hurting the cause, not helping it. They are essentially giving the government an excuse to rally people against the "dangers" of a free internet, despite their intention being the opposite. Cyberattacks/terrorism/warfare/whatever can only do so much, if people actually want something done, it needs to be done in physical reality. We can't just sit around and hope somebody else will do it for us.

Also, I think you all should check out the new OPEN legislation that is backed by Google and a few decent US legislators that I think is making a much more honest attempt at anti-piracy legislation.

Anyways, off my soap box and back to not playing CoH.

And to just further everything along a little bit:

This is what the MPAA says about politicians who take their money

linkage

You take our money, you do what we tell you do; or we will destroy you.

Yeah, democracy at its finest (and the UK is going a similar way as well >.<)