You’re probably aware that a whole host of sites including Wikipedia and Reddit going dark to protest two bills, the Stop Piracy Online Act and the Protect IP Act. While support for SOPA has been waning in the House, PIPA still remains on a fast track to be approved in the Senate. Now, what are these bills and how do they affect you?
The Stop Online Piracy Act is supposed to protect copyrighted material on the internet, but the bill is written in such a way, it threatens the way we all go online and how sites such as Fang’s Bites operate. If part or all of a copyrighted story is posted here, I could be shut down or arrested.
If I post a highlight clip or part of a scene of a movie, the offended party could prosecute me without any warning. This not only effects me, but also effects how Google links to sites and how Wikipedia can provide its material. That is why Wikipedia has gone dark today. It’s why Google has put a black banner over its logo today. It’s why many sites have gone dark.
And the PIPA legislation in the Senate is similar to SOPA which is why so many people are angry today.
This site will not go dark, but no new material will be posted today to show support for the STOP SOPA and STOP PIPA movement.
A good explanation of how SOPA could affect sports fans comes from Ricky Doyle at NESN.com.
Krissy Vogel at Aery Sports also says SOPA is bad for sports.
Tracie Powell of Poynter explains to journalists what they need to know about SOPA.
Julie Moos of Poynter gives you an idea of what sites have done to protest SOPA.
If you still don’t understand SOPA and what it means, you can go to Reddit’s FAQ page to learn all about it.
Thanks for your understanding and I’ll return to posting tomorrow with the Viewing Picks.
