[Noisebridge-discuss] internet censorship: congress is giving you it for xmas

[Gopiballava Flaherty]

On Nov 14, 2011, at 23:31, Joshua Juran <jjuran at gmail.com> wrote:

> On the other hand, I assert that SOPA was  
> created for the sole purpose of being abused.

I suspect that the lack of oversight was put in there by copyright owners so that pesky web sites couldn't avoid trouble by doing sneaky things such as not actually violating laws. 

From what I've heard and seen of them, they are intentionally oblivious to the effects of their actions. Online discussion forums are collateral damage in the important war against pirates. 

To paraphrase an exchange I heard at the Commerce Department:
Jack Valenti: "We didn't want to stop VCRs, we just wanted a modest royalty"
Phillips rep: "I seem to remember hearing the word 'injunction' and an amount of $80 per tape mentioned..."

Their lobbyists act like (and are) attorneys arguing their case in the strongest terms. This might work in court where the other side listens and rebuts. But in lobbying it doesn't work like that. Our side doesn't get formal rebuttal. 

Thanks,

gopi at iPhone