• Tweet

• Tweet

What is SOPA & PIPA?

Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) also known as H.R. 3261, is a bill that was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on October 26, 2011, by Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) and a bipartisan group of 12 initial co-sponsors. The bill expands the ability of U.S. law enforcement and copyright holders to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods. Now before the House Judiciary Committee, it builds on the similar PRO-IP Act (PIPA) of 2008 and the corresponding Senate bill, the PROTECT IP Act. PIPA is an acronym for the Protect IP Act, and was first introduced to the U.S. Senate on May 12, 2011 by Senators Patrick Leahy, Orrin Hatch, Chuck Grassley

SOPA, if passed, will work in conjunction with PIPA. As described by such entities as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, SOPA is nothing more so than the U.S. government and private corporations black list. Here is a breakdown of the power given to the government and private corporations.

• The U.S. Attorney General can now seek a court order that would force search engines, advertisers, DNS providers, servers, and payment processors from having any contact with allegedly infringing websites
• It will allow private corporations to create their own personal hit lists composed of websites they feel are breaking their copyright policies, ironically this doesn’t have any odd feelings of a legal mafia at all. These companies will be able to directly contact a website’s payment processors a notice to cut all off payment involvement with the targeted website. This payment processors and website of question will then have five days to act before it is simply taken down.
• Payment processors will have the power to cut off any website they work with, as long as they can provide a strong reason of why they believe this site is violating copyrights

List of Major Companies Supporting SOPA & PIPA

Following are list of companies supporting this bill

1. 1-800 Contacts, Inc.
2. 1-800-PetMeds
3. 2b1 Inc
4. 3M Company
5. ABRO Industries, Inc.
6. Acushnet Company
7. adidas America
8. Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed)
9. Allen Russell Photography
10. Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
11. Alliance of Visual Artists (AVA)
12. Altria Client Services
13. American Apparel and Footwear Association
14. American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)
15. American Board of Internal Medicine
16. American Federation of Musicians
17. American Gramaphone LLC
18. American Made Alliance
19. American Mental Health Counselors Association
20. American Photographic Artists
21. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
22. American Society of Media Photographers
23. American Society of Picture Professionals
24. American Watch Association
25. Anatoly Pronin Photography
26. Andrea Rugg Photography
27. Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Initiative (ACAPI)
28. Applied DNA Sciences
29. Art Holeman Photography
30. Association of American Publishers (AAP)
31. Association of Equipment Manufacturers
32. Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP)
33. Association of Test Publishers
34. AstraZeneca plc
35. Australian Medical Council
36. Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association
37. Baker & Taylor Ent.
38. Bay State Psychological Associates
39. Beachbody, LLC
40. Beam Global Spirits & Wine
41. Blue Sky Studios, Inc.
42. Bose Corporation
43. Braasch Biotech LLC
44. Brian Stevenson Photography
45. Brigid Collins Family Support Center
46. Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)
47. Burberry
48. C. F. Martin & Co., Inc.
49. Callaway Golf Company
50. Cascade Designs Incorporated
51. Caterpillar Inc.
52. Caveon, LLC
53. CBS Corporation
54. Cengage Learning
55. Center for Credentialing & Education
56. Center Stage Photography
57. CFA Institute
58. Chanel USA
59. Christopher Semmes Photography
60. Church Music Publishers Association
61. CMH Images
62. Coach
63. Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP)
64. Columbia Sportswear Company
65. Comcast Corporation
66. Commercial Photo Design
67. Commercial Photographers International
68. Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System
69. Consumer Healthcare Products Association
70. Copyright Alliance
71. Copyright Clearance Center (CCC)
72. Coty Inc.
73. Council of Fashion Designers of America
74. Country Music Association
75. CropLife America
76. Cross-Entertainment LLC
77. CSA Group
78. CVS Caremark
79. Dan Sherwood Photography
80. Danita Delimont Stock Photography
81. Dayco Products, LLC
82. Deluxe Entertainment Services Group
83. Dennyfoto
84. Derek DiLuzio Photography
85. DeVaul Photography
86. Direct Selling Association (DSA)
87. Directional Insight
88. Distefano Enterprises Inc.
89. Doriguzzi Photographic Artistry
90. Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
91. Dolce & Gabbana USA, INC.
92. Dollar General Corporation
93. Don Grall Photography
94. Dunford Architectural Photography
95. Eagle Rock Entertainment
96. Ed McDonald Photography
97. Educational & Industrial Testing Service
98. Electronic Arts, Inc.
99. Electronic Components Industry Association (ECIA)
100. Eli Lilly and Company
101. Englebert Photography
102. Entertainment Software Association (ESA)
103. ERAI, Inc.
104. Eric Meola Studio Inc
105. Evidence Photographers International Council
106. Exxel Outdoors
107. FAME Publishing Co., LLC.
108. FAME Recording Studios
109. Far Bank Enterprises
110. Fashion Business Incorporated
111. Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
112. Fender Musical Instrument Company
113. Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA)
114. Ford Motor Company
115. Fortune Brands, Inc.
116. Fred J. Lord Photography
117. GAR Associates
118. Gelderland Productions, L.L.C.
119. Gemvision Corporation
120. Gibson Guitar Corp.
121. GlaxoSmithKline
122. Gospel Music Association
123. Governors America Corp.
124. Graphic Artists Guild
125. Greeting Card Association (GCA)
126. Greg Nikas Photography
127. Guru Denim
128. H.S. Marketing & Design, Inc.
129. Harley-Davidson Motor Company
130. HarperCollins Publishers
131. Harry Fox Agency
132. Hastings Entertainment, Inc.
133. ICM Distributing Company, Inc.
134. IDS Publishing
135. IEC Electronics corp.
136. Images Plus
137. Imaging Supplies Coalition (ISC)
138. Independent Distributors of Electronics Association (IDEA)
139. INgrooves
140. Innate-gear
141. International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC)
142. International Trademark Association (INTA)
143. IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries
144. Ira Montgomery Photography
145. J.S. Grove Photography
146. James Drug Inc.
147. Jaynes Gallery
148. JCPage Photography
149. Jean Poland Photography
150. Jeff Stevensen Photography
151. John Fulton Photography
152. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
153. Johnson & Johnson
154. Juicy Couture, Inc
155. Julien McRoberts Photography
156. K&R Photographics
157. kate spade
158. Kekepana International Services
159. Kenneth Garrett, photographer for National Geographic
160. Killing Jar Productions LLC
161. Lacoste USA
162. Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
163. Lexmark International, Inc.
164. Light Perspectives
165. Linda Olsen Photography
166. Little Dog Records
167. Liz Claiborne, Inc
168. L’Oréal USA
169. Lucky Brand Jeans
170. LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton
171. Macmillan
172. Major League Baseball
173. Marcia Andberg Associates LLC
174. Mark Niederman Photography
175. Marmot
176. Marona Photography
177. McLain Photography Inc
178. Merck & Co., Inc.
179. Messy Face Designs, Inc.
180. Michael Stern Photography
181. MicroRam Electronics, Inc.
182. Minter Works of Art
183. Mira Images
184. Monster Cable Products, Inc.
185. Moose’s Photos
186. Morningstar Films LLC
187. Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA)
188. MotionMasters
189. Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association
190. MPA – The Association of Magazine Media
191. Mr. Theodor Feibel (sole proprietor)
192. Music Managers Forum-U.S.
193. Nashville Songwriters Association International
194. Natalie Neckyfarow Actor/Dancer/Singer
195. National Association of Broadcasters
196. National Association of Manufacturers
197. National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM)
198. National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO)
199. National Basketball Association (NBA)
200. National Board for Certified Counselors
201. National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation
202. National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
203. National Football League (NFL)
204. National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA)
205. National Retail Federation (NRF)
206. NBCUniversal
207. Nervous Tattoo Inc., dba Ed Hardy
208. New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
209. New Era Cap Co Inc
210. New Levels Ent. Co. LLC
211. News Corporation
212. Next Decade Entertainment, Inc.
213. NHL Enterprises, L.P.
214. Nicholas Petrucci, Artist, LLC
215. Nike, Inc.
216. Nintendo of America Inc.
217. Nissle Fine Art Photography
218. North Dakota Pharmacists Association
219. North Dakota Pharmacy Service Corporation
220. Oakley, Inc.
221. One Voice Recordings
222. OpSec Security, Inc.
223. Outdoor Industry Association
224. Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)
225. Outdoor Research, Inc
226. Pacific Component Xchange, Inc.
227. Party Killer Films LLC
228. Pearson Clinical Assessment
229. Peavey Electronics Corporation
230. Perry Ellis International
231. Personal Care Products Council
232. Peter C. Brandt, Architectural and Fine Art Photography
233. Peter Hawkins Photography, Inc.
234. Petzl America
235. Pfizer Inc.
236. PGA of America
237. Philip Morris International
238. Photojournalist Dave Bartruff
239. Picture Archive Council of America (PACA)
240. Pigfactory Music
241. PING
242. PNW Images
243. Premier League
244. Production Music Association (PMA)
245. Professional Photographers of America
246. Quality Float Works, Inc.
247. Raging Waters Music
248. Ralph Lauren Corporation
249. Ramsay Corporation
250. Rebel Photo
251. Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
252. Red4 Music/Doogs Rock Inc
253. Red Wing Shoe Company
254. Reebok International Ltd.
255. Reed Elsevier Inc.
256. Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)
257. Revlon
258. Richard Flutie Photography
259. Rite Aid
260. Robin Davis Photography, Inc.
261. Rodger Scott Craig, a member of Liverpool Express, The Merseybeats, Fortune, Harlan
262. Cage, 101 South, and Mtunz Media
263. Roger Smith Photography Services
264. Rolex Watch USA Inc.
265. Romance Writers of America (RWA)
266. Rosetta Stone Inc.
267. Saddle Creek
268. Sage Studios LLC
269. Sam D’Amico Photography
270. Schneider Electric
271. Sean McGinty Photography
272. Secret Sea Visions (Photography)
273. SESAC, Inc.
274. SG Industries, Inc.
275. Shure Incorporated
276. SIGMA Assessment Systems
277. Six Degrees Records
278. Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
279. SMC Entertainment
280. SMT Corp.
281. SoBe Entertainment
282. Society of Sport & Event Photographers
283. Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA)
284. Sony Electronics Inc.
285. Sony Music Entertainment
286. Sony Pictures Entertainment
287. Soul Appeal Records and Music
288. SoundExchange
289. Southern Gothic LLC
290. Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)
291. SPI (The Plastics Industry Trade Association)
292. Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association
293. Sports Rights Owners Coalition
294. Spring Fever Productions LLC
295. Spyder Active Sports, Inc
296. Stenbakken Photography
297. Stephen Dantzig Photography
298. Stock Artist Alliance
299. Stuart Weitzman Holdings, LLC
300. Student Photographic Society
301. Studio 404
302. SunRise Solar Inc.
303. Taylor Glenn Photographs
304. Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
305. Tednologies, Inc.
306. The Cambridge Don
307. The Collegiate Licensing Company/IMG College
308. The Donath Group, Inc.
309. The Dow Chemical Company
310. The Estee Lauder Companies
311. The McGraw-Hill Companies
312. The Music People! Inc.
313. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
314. The Recording Academy (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences)
315. The Timberland Company
316. The Walt Disney Company
317. Tiffany & Co.
318. Time Warner Inc.
319. Tony Bullard Photography
320. Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc.
321. TRA Global
322. Tricoast Worldwide
323. Trio Productions, Inc. / Songscape Music,
324. Twist & Shout, Inc.
325. U.S. Chamber of Commerce
326. Ultimate Fighting Championship
327. Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
328. Universal Music Group
329. Uniweld Products Inc.
330. VF Corporation
331. Viacom
332. Vibram USA, Inc
333. Virtual Chip Exchange USA, Inc.
334. Voltage Pictures, LLC
335. W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co.
336. Walcott Studio, LLC
337. Wal-Mart
338. Warner Music Group
339. Wendy Kaveney Photography
340. Western Psychological Services
341. Westmorland Images, LLC
342. Wild & Associates, Inc.
343. Wild Eye Photos LLC
344. William Sutton Photography
345. Willis Music
346. WindLegends Ink LLC
347. Winestem Company
348. Winslow Research Institute
349. Wolfe Video
350. Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
351. Woolrich, Inc.
352. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
353. Xerox Corporation
354. Zippo Manufacturing Company
355. Zumba Fitness, LLC

Mark Zuckerberg: The internet is the most powerful tool we have for creating a more open and connected world. We can’t let poorly thought out laws get in the way of the internet’s development. Facebook opposes SOPA and PIPA, and we will continue to oppose any laws that will hurt the internet. The world today needs political leaders who are pro-internet. We have been working with many of these folks for months on better alternatives to these current proposals. I encourage you to learn more about these issues and tell your congressmen that you want them to be pro-internet. You can read more about our views here: https://www.facebook.com/FacebookDC?sk=app_329139750453932

Major companies not supporting SOPA are Google, Mozilla, Facebook, Wikipedia, WordPress, Reddit and many more companies and blog websites are still opposing strictly.

How can SOPA affect us?

Blog Sites like CompTricks can be Blocked or Shut Down

As if SOPA and PIPA will get pass then These acts make it the blog owners responsibility for everything that is displayed on their site, including the comments of visitors. Internet will become a hunt for any little bit of possible copyright violation.

Say No to Innovation

These acts are stopping developers from coming up with the next big thing in the online market that could change how we use the internet. There would be no Facebook, YouTube, MediaFire, SoundCloud, Twitter, DropBox, or any other site that can be targeted as a place where online piracy could take place. Is it even possible to think about what the internet would be like without sites like this?

Stay Informed

Being unaware of what is going on is only allowing for acts like these to pass through without anyone knowing. Being an informed individual about what is going on in the political world, only makes you more capable of being an advocate for change in a positive fashion. Below you will find some links to good articles, and videos about SOPA and PIPA.

Stop Online Piracy(Scary Facts)

Protect IP Act Breaks the Internet

DNS Filtering In SOPA/PIPA Won’t Stop Piracy, But Will Hurt Online Security

Tech Giants Back Off SOPA Support

Mozilla Renews Call Against SOPA/PIPA

An Alternative To Blacklist Bills SOPA and PIPA

Why Americans Need a Civil Liberties Caucus

What SOPA Means for Business and Innovation(Infographic)

AmericanCensorship.org Infographic

‘SOPA’: Internet Piracy Bills in Congress Threaten Core Values

SOPA visual petition riles up the ‘geek lobby’ 

Wikipedia may blackout all articles to protest SOPA 

Reddit users organizing a global mesh network

What We Can Do?

If you truly oppose this bills then you can give your vote to protest SOPA & PIPA on AmericanCensorship.org and strike with Web.

Inform everyone

Can you imagine how much stronger and effective the Occupy movement would have been if this happened a few years ago? It would’ve been a completely different playing field, and would have a lot more impact then what it already has on government officials. This movement couldn’t happen earlier because people were not informed and those that were just waited to see how things would affect them before deciding to take action. So inform everyone and give their share with all others on Social media.

Share this on Facebook, Tweet this everywhere you can spread. Let save our web!

Source: www.1stwebdesigner.com