Many of you have heard of SOPA (The Stop Online Piracy Act) or PIPA (Protect IP Act) and may or may not know what it is and what will happen if the US Government passes this bill. This bill basically means that the US Government can censor the internet in the same way in which China and Iran does. If a site links to a video as we a Sims fan/news site does, all it would take only one complaint from say EA to end our site. The US Gov would first block the ability to see our site and then most likely shut us down. The big game sites will also be effected as will almost all of YouTube and Social Networks. See a list of companies that support the evil SOPA bill HERE and HERE. EA is one of many companies on the list of SOPA supporters. Right now when they have a video pulled from YouTube or another site, that site will be marked as an Digital Pirate, the same as sites like The Pirate Bay. Here’s a video by Digital Trends that explains what will happen.
Here’s one example of how SOPA will destroy the internet.
Why would it effect us and other sites? It’s not just the ones that upload videos and pics, it would also effect everyone that links to copyrighted materials. Another site reviews a new Sims game and we use their youtube/embed video link, both us and that site will be added to said list if EA flags their video. Read about another example HERE. If you read this and are a US resident, PLEASE contact your local representative and plead with them to not vote for the bill. This is a very serious matter, constitutional rights are at stake. Spread the word!
does it affect people not in the US, China, or Iran?
If the bill makes it through the committee, it would still have to pass the full House of Representatives and the Senate before it would go to the President. Hopefully Obama’s kids stop him xD
Screw these dumb ass corps that are trying to run the world. Do they really think this would stop piracy? -_-
oh and if these companies think this will “make them money”, there are in for a big surprise.
I am lucky I live in Australia…But I don’t know what I would do if Simprograms shut down. This is the only site I go on when it comes to sims news…How else would I have known about the Sims 3, and its many expansions/stuff packs. I make decisions about my simming, based on the information given by this site…I’d be very devastated.
The government must be bored.
Jesus. This is freaking scary. IF it passes I see it like the alcohol ban, it may pass but it wont last. TOO MANY big name companies would be affected.
How would this affect us Australians? Probably wouldnt effect us at all.
the “greatest democracy” is becoming nazi germany.
It’s ironic how “sopa” is Spanish for “soup.” “Soup” can also mean an unfortunate predicament.
Yep, us based sites like YouTube and Facebook will be drastically different. So will sites like us here at SimPrograms and other news sites. If will effect also effect others outside of the US when US based sites are shutdown. For those inside of the US, we’ll get a page with a message that it’s been blocked by the US Government with or without it also saying due to SOPA. Hopefully it won’t become law.
I’ll say, their crazy…Hello? You guys are doing FREE advertising. Maybe they were right, Americans are crazy…most of them.
omg serious error….I meant some, not most. (WTH am I doing when I was typing?-.-)
Well… I have a fansite. I’m WORRIED…
WTF, simprograms it’s one of the best sims news site’s, and i have a dutch news site
They only care about the money and think that by passing the bill people will buy more. Which is ridiculous in these days, unless it’s a real bargain. Although I’m concerned about to where this might lead… What is the obscure will behind it? Why try to control something big and volatile and not have a secret agenda (conspiracy aside)?
Not just us, any site that either links to or uploads a game review and EA doesn’t like it, they can have that site and us both shut down. Not only that, Jud, myself and others could get prison time. Man I hate communism.
It would officially be the end of the world as we know it
This is very scary. I, for one, will be supporting the opposition to this bill, but as in all things “governmental” I fear stuff like this has already been decided. I will still try though. Good Luck to all of us. 🙁
@Alex so true
Even if it does get passed it’ll be overthrown for constitutional reasons by the Supreme Court. It violates the first amendment that states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” And unless the US government wants to speed up the process to start the next civil war, they won’t pass this. Especially not in conjunction with the ongoing Occupy Wall Street movement which is already spitting on this very same amendment.
Lol@fiona if you think Obama doesn’t support this bill, think again. He’s in bed with these corporations, and they in turn kiss his butt, EA especially.
Uh, tickleonthetum, it’s Obama, not the corportations, that are ruining this country. Stop listening to and watching the BBC, it’s socialist propaganda,lol.
It reminds me of Sinde law in Spain. But no so extreme. “At least” they would give you a few days to remove that content. But it sucks anyway. It’s not been aproved yet, and I hope it won’t, cause the recent government change in Spain. The promoter was a minister from the outgoing gov.
It’s people like deedee who elected the Congress that *authored* SOPA. And they blame Obama for EVERYTHING.
Deedee, except that the bill’s author is Lamar Smith, a Republican Congressman. You can’t blame Obama for this. In fact, Obama has said that he’ll uphold net neutrality- which I hope means that he’ll veto SOPA, if it ever makes it to his desk!
This doesn’t surprise a lot of us in the UK, we see the U.S.A. as run by the corporations more than by their Government. For years we’ve seen time and again the needs of the individuals there placed after the needs of the corporations. The U.S.A. is as much in need of a Revolution as Iran, Iraq, Libya, etc. ever were!
Say goodbye to freedom of Speech, after all you won’t be able to quote anyone with out the risk of being sued for using a copyrighted speech, or show a clip on the news without the permission of the company that made the clip!
We feel real pity for the U.S.A. people and they way they are down trodden by the corporations there!
I don’t watch ANY news or read papers, etc. I read the actual laws text, and pure fact based information and make my own judgement. The USA Government has little to do with controlling the Country other than to approve most of the laws the companies ask for. The country _to_ democratic if you understand me. Some laws are needed to maintain an equilibriam…
COMMUNISM? This is capitalism at its most pure. Corporations rule all.