Dark day for the Internet.

Flash Harry · January 17, 2012, 03:12:27 PM

Tomorrow, a number of websites will be going 'Dark' in protest of the proposed US legislation PIPA and SOPA.

You can read about the legislation here: http://www.net-coalition.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/tribe-legis-memo-on-SOPA-12-6-11-1.pdf

It's obviously not the only place where you can read about it.

Reddit have some good stuff about it and Wikipedia have nailed their colours to the mast too.

It's basically the US government caving into pressure from organisations like the RIAA because they can't control what people do on the Internet. Now they want to start doing that and in doing so will reduce the Internet to something less than it is now.

Songcrafters is directly threatened by this legislation, for example, if a cover song is posted and some interested third party complains, we can simply be shut down because the site is hosted in the USA and the .org top level domain is graciously assumed by the US legislators to be US property. There's no money in this community to pay for expensive litigation and we would become a victim of bad law.

It's not only us, it can hit the big boys too. Google would have to be sure that search results did not link to sites carrying material that interested parties didn't like. So your ability to search and browse will be severely hampered.

I'm not condoning piracy, it's an individual's choice, but I don't think that arbitrarily censoring the internet is the answer.

We will be 'off the air' tomorrow to demonstrate a bit of solidarity with those others who feel strongly enough to protest. I hope you understand and accept my reasons for doing so.

Yours

Mike Fife.
IT Bloke and Bass guitarist.

Geir · January 17, 2012, 03:37:29 PM

You've got my full support Mike !!!

I think I'll put an RIAA-filter on my computer tomorrow as well

Oldrottenhead · January 17, 2012, 03:39:49 PM

and mine

Bluesberry · January 17, 2012, 03:51:39 PM

Terrible times are coming just around the corner if this kind of thing keeps going in this direction. Scary stuff.

phantasm777 · January 17, 2012, 05:05:41 PM

i wrote this on FB. all americans here please sign the petition. this is ridiculous already. if this site - soncrafters is to remain, it'll have to delete the cover song section, one of the fun ones.:

i signed the petition below, can someone explain how, the record and movie industry can get away with that? this seems unconstitutional! and why doesnt the "fair use act" apply?
also isn't the president oathed to protect the constitution? i think this bill is rep. influenced but if it passes, gotta put the blame on both parties. and then we might as well goodbye to our rights, cause more and more they're being taken away or censored.
sites here and even overseas can be shut down by our gov. cause it will have that authority. places like google, and you tube will be effected and youtube might wind up closed down.
i consider this a war against the people, when you keep taking away thier rights, like the rico act, the patriot act, and i forget the name but a new one about detaining us citizens indefinately. how is this constitutionally hand in hand?!
we have a war against the greed of politicians in the pockets of the record industry and the movie industry. please sign petitions against this.
when tomorrow comes along and all these sites are gone for protest, this is what you have to look forward to but gov. enforced, rather than voluntarily. dont let it happen, many other countries dont (some do).

mr. president please protect our rights as garaunteed by the constitution! this is mass censorship.

http://pol.moveon.org/nointernetcensorship/?r_by=-20925151-fszl6ix&rc=nointernetcensorship.confemail.g1

phantasm777 · January 17, 2012, 05:13:23 PM

also, all the sited going down in protest tommorow, and there are many, it will be an example of the result of this bill. many many sites gone, or depleted immensely, i implore americans here to not only sign the petition, but to pass it on. if others dont care ask them to do it for you and those who will be affected, the whole world also, when the gov. closes down sites it will be not just nation wide, but world wide.
i think this passing can be a forewarning to the beginning of the end, cause now it a war on the american people. against the rich self-ish pricks like the riaa, who instead of moving into the 21st century, and fixing thier own problem with alreay available ways, they would just assume shut everything down they can.
lots of entertainers seem to be liberal, and for those who are, how can they stand by and let this happen? most dont even get thier share of what the riaa takes for royalties! let's not lose the internet! americans please dont let this happen. just spreading the word.

phantasm777 · January 17, 2012, 07:59:53 PM

i think it should be clrified, the democrats are behind this via hollywood and riaa. who says the reps are only on the take. im not a rep nor a dem, and this is an example of why. i always thought liberals, dems (not always the same thing apparently) were for the people and thier rights and against government getting too far in our lives. it's wake up america time! and all indications are that it will pass easily. so much for the libs being for the people. geeesh!

phantasm777 · January 18, 2012, 11:14:51 PM

gotten lots of people to sign petions on FB. so far it looks like the tide has turned on this bill in our favour, BUT, proof is in the pudding. we shall see. recent read ups on this seem to indicate obama is not for this.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/roger-waters-the-wall/a-note-from-roger-january-18-2012/365697260111397
you might all find this interesting, its informs about this bill, and how to write to stop it. its from roger waters, and he is against this. bravo roger!