Sopa and Pipa are two US bills racing through Congress that threaten prosperity, online security, and freedom of expression.

There are a large range of skills and abilities on BHW so we have decided to post the facts and let them speak for themselves. If you are unsure what this is all about and think it's just something "that those guys on the hill need to worry about" watch the video below. Once you have a better understanding please take 2 mins out of your day and contact your congressman now or use these guys otherwise many sites you know and love could disappear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDX8Lyl16Qs

I can't say it better than in the words of Mr Mullenweg the founding developer of WordPress, taken from the BBC or should I say "pirated" from them.....

"I've built my life on a free and open internet. As the co-founder of WordPress.org, a free software project that aims to democratise publishing, and the founder of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com that hosts blogs from around the world in pursuit of the same goal, the proposed US legislation to regulate and censor the free and open foundation of the internet makes my mouth go dry with fear.

The rise of the web over the past two decades and the freedom to publish and express yourself online will be looked back upon as a cultural revolution.

We have gone from a world split between gatekeepers and media "consumers" to a world in which anyone regardless of geography, finances, social class, race, gender, or any other demographic identifier is free to engage with the rest of the world on their own terms.

That freedom is of paramount importance and must be protected.

That's why we're blacking out our websites on the 18th to raise awareness of this issue, and giving our users tools to do the same.

The tech world is fiercely competitive and companies seldom agree on anything, when you see so many united in solidarity on a single issue, you know there's something to it.

What concerns me the most about Sopa and the Protect IP Act is not that media companies and legislators want to have measures in place to protect copyright - for example we reply to and comply with DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notices on WordPress.com when we receive them, it works well for everybody - it's that the authors of the legislation don't seem to really understand how the internet works.

The definition of domestic versus foreign sites shows a woeful lack of comprehension about how domains are used and how traffic flows on the internet.

Where do I stand? On the side of publishing freedom.

What do I hope for? That these pieces of legislation be set aside, and that any future legislation in this arena be drafted by people who understand how the internet works - and how it won't if they do the wrong thing."

So make your own decisions, should people that openly state they don't understand or use the internet (openly stated in video streams available .... yep you guessed it - online) be allowed to put forward legislation of this magnitude? It's a game changer. Don't leave it to others, get involved, get online, stay online.

Thanks for supporting the forum
DD

Sources:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16604990

http://americancensorship.org/

http://fightforthefuture.org/pipa

These bills are ridiculous and I can't believe they haven't been crushed yet. Congress needs to step up and vote against them

First off thank you for keeping BHW open! Thanks guy's

SOPA or any attempt to internet control is a consequence of a bunch of stupid people who are against innovation.
Instead of adapting to a new world online, they keep producing CD / DVD and punishing the users who has moved on to a new model.
Give me an unlimited access to cultural files for an amount and i'll pay for it ! Otherwise, i'll just keep doing what i'm doing for free !

Any business needs to innovate to survive, why don't they ? I let you imagine if we kept doing KW stuffing for SEO like it was in 2000 !

Using google images on a website could be copyrighting couldn't it?

I don't see any PLUS side to this legislation being passed. You have to wnder what they are thinking.

the thing i hate about the bill is that the govt can just delete a domain from the registrar without proper justification. now the govt isn't going to go about deleting the domains themselves, they will ask the registrars to do it themselves. now imagine what would companies like godaddy would do with rights like that

Half these people think the internet is a series of tubes. They really shouldn't be able to legislate something they don't understand. If the companies supporting this truly wanted to make more money then they would change their model. It's not that difficult to work with piracy instead of against it.

I made some contingencies in case one of them passed, but maybe I won't need them.

http://www.warriorforum.com/

The scary thing is..even if it's beaten back this time I feel it's only a matter of time before they get what they want.....

another reason to bail form I.M. sadly....

Oh dear. Free speech..you're having a laugh!

Direct link to 'sign the petition': http://fightforthefuture.org/pipa

SOPA, Pipa, and OPEN - the 3 bills that will kill the internet.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/te...hange-internet

You have to see this foir the B*S* it really is....politicians/Government do not want free speech. They'll pass it as an anti piracy policy but ultimately it will be used to stamp on "free speech." Once that door is opened you can kiss goodbye to FREE. (not that we are any way)

Well in the UK once you vote the pricks in tha't sabout as far as our "democracy" goes. They make "decisions" on our behalf....I hope you are different. Worryingly...has the process started?

Damien why not pm it to all members on BHW? I can see the notice, but a pm will gain additional attention, i guess.

A lot is going wrong in the USA in these times, it's time to act or the world will suffer from a new dictatorship.

They use "terrorism" and "copyrights" as a reason to make new laws.

But the laws don't fight terrorism, they don't protect copyrights. They just supress the american people and the world.

The same things that happened before the 2nd world war, are happening in the USA now.

Search for "NDAA" on google and you'll see what i mean.

Who sleeps in democracy, will wake up in dictatorship!

Act now before it's to late!

Good luck, wish there was something i could do from England.

I noticed that the poll at the top of this post is 50%-50%!!!! it should be 100% that "you have voiced your opinion"!

I strongly urge everyone that reads this thread to contact their Representatives right now. Do not just think that everyone else will and that you do not need to.

Only a MASSIVE MOVEMENT against these two freedom killing bills will STOP them!

Do Not Delay! Act Now!

A big Thank You to each of person that has either taken action or who is going to take action right now.

Let's show these people that they can not keep taking our freedoms away.

Sadly big hosting and payment processors wil lbe so SH** scared of getting their doamins blocked they wil lblock 1st and to F*** whether it was justified or not. Forget about re-registerign once banned. Look at paypal now......you think they'll give a hoot about Plain Janes blog?

this made me remember what happened for wikileaks before , trying to control
the net like Dictator regime odd thing , thanks DD for this .

The implications of this act are so far reaching it's beyond a joke. Even in a small little country like mine it would have devastating effects. Recently they just brought in the Skynet Law here in New Zealand.....did it have the effect they wanted, to a certain degree yes it did BUT ISP companies lost money hand over foot as people no longer needed their big package broadband plans and those who knew how to install and use VPN's carried on as if nothing had happened. Just like our Skynet law, the innocent will be the ones who are punished, while those who the law is suppose to target will carry on as if nothing happened.

I wouldn't want to think what would happen to IM industry. Imagine if Paypal blocked Clickbank

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin

I am not in the USA pal!

I noticed that the poll at the top of this post is 50%-50%!!!! it should be 100% that "you have voiced your opinion"!

Looks like the politicans said "we need to control the Net." OK how do we do this?

Step 1:
Step 2
Step 3

Go..

I really don't understand how, in a free and democratic country like the US , laws like that could appear ...

Just let me know one thing, IF these BILL's are passed...Is there any harm to BHW?

LOL.......it's not quite as free and democratic as you actually think. ^^ Same here in the UK. Once in that's the end of our "rights" till 4 years later.

Originally Posted by dannym954

Good luck, wish there was something i could do from England.

You can. Petition the state department. (scroll down)

http://americancensorship.org/

Write to your local MP and explain how this bill would affect people living in the UK and urge them to raise awareness about it.

I surely comment BHW to open up an official thread on these pressing issues.

There have been a few scattered discussions here before and shockingly most people had a 'laissez faire' attitude on this.

If you think it won't bother your IM business, then think AGAIN. This is just the beginning of corporate interest trying to shape the internet landscape.

"Wehret den Anfaengen!" as we say in German. Dont let them get away with this.

Hmmmm...I'd say so wouldn't you? Mods can tell you for sure but look on the "Making money section"

Just let me know one thing, IF these BILL's are passed...Is there any harm to BHW?

My guess it wouldn't be worth the effort jumping through the loops every time judgement is passed.

^^ I didn't realize" how bad it was until I read the psot on the Warrior forum. It's shocking.

When do they want to push on with this?

What impact do you guys think SOPA/PIPA will have on the internet marketing industry?

I think it'll kill the smaller guys off.

What impact do you guys think SOPA/PIPA will have on the internet marketing industry?

I am afraid that US government gonna take control over the internet sooner or later. If you look around you, their system control almost everything, monitoring everything...but the internet is like as the last enclave of freedom.
Free speech, opinions, insults, virtual demonstrations and groups...all of these government wants to have under their control.
Someone wants to control our lives and force to obey their bull****.

I wish there was something i could do from here (third world country)

Anthing that prevents my site being available to buyers, I am against. End of discussion.

Originally Posted by stressfree

I think it'll kill the smaller guys off.

And the rest, clickbank, CPA Networks, PPV, PPC, in fact anything remotely related to the IM industry would be running around like mad chickens. We're not known as being the most law abiding people in the world when it comes to using copywrited images and music.

There would be bans all over the place and it would hit everyone from the top down. Would hate to be the one who would need to pour over the thousand upon thousands of Clickbanks products ensuring everyone is in line with the new law if it passed.

its totally BS to pass bills like that .if US government want to do something for their peoples they should pass this kind of bills for terrorists. not for online shouter

Originally Posted by stressfree

I am not in the USA pal!

That's OK if these bills pass, it may still and more than likely will, effect you and everyone else outside of the US.

Fortunately even people outside of the US can voice their opinion too. Just use the link below.

http://americancensorship.org/

A Big Thanks for all of those who take a pro-active stance on this.

Hmm, I think I'll be looking for keywords surrounding "sopa" and "pipa", looks like there's some money to be made here

I am not in the US but I am signed the petition . Scroll down and you will find an email form. You just have to fill in your email thats it . These kind of rules are ridiculous and should be ended .

I meant as the reason I cannot sign the petition! please read my posts about this.....i am not ignorant.

Originally Posted by stressfree View Post
I am not in the USA pal!
That's OK if these bills pass, it may still and more than likely will, effect you and everyone else outside of the US.

I noticed this one when i open the WF!
Planning to sign the petitioN!

OK I'll sign it. Guess it will delay the inevitable?

I do feel they will get around it one way or anther eventually. Nations need sheep.

I sens the beginning of the end of the stay at home I.M. entr.

Agreed but I'll bet my life they'll be a lot more "accomodating" to big US bizz than everyone else will ever see.

And the rest, clickbank, CPA Networks, PPV, PPC, in fact anything remotely related to the IM industry would be running around like mad chickens. We're not known as being the most law abiding people in the world when it comes to using copywrited images and

music.

so they'll ban G or Ebay from US IP's if one poster breaks their rules? LOL I think not...I think not..

This SOPA PIPA make people confusing..so how about people outside US using service or doing business in US such as using hosting provider located in US? Those this bill effect at all?