COMMENTARY | Reuters reports that federal lawmakers indefinitely suspended the Stop Online Piracy Act, also known as SOPA. SOPA would allow the government to shut down websites that link to copyrighted material, and could harm freedom of speech on the Internet. The indefinite suspension of the proposed legislation comes days after a blackout from companies opposing the legislation. As an avid user and lover of the Internet, here is how I feel about the indefinite suspension of SOPA, and what lies ahead for Internet websites.
As a longtime user of the Internet, it is a good thing that SOPA has been suspended indefinitely, but it seems as if this does not mean similar legislation will not be proposed in the future. The government lawmakers wanted to wait until there was more agreement on the type of legislation proposed, since many websites and companies were opposed to SOPA. I fear, though, that an indefinite suspension is not good enough, because that is not the same thing as completely getting rid of the concepts that were in the legislation. The biggest issue is, there does not need to be new laws, bills, or legislation when it comes to copyright infringement on the Internet. Instead of making a new law or bill, the ones that are already on the books should be enforced.
Bloomberg reported that on Jan. 19, the FBI shutdown Internet giant Megaupload, which is one of many file-sharing websites on the Internet. The FBI alleged that Megaupload is part of a huge copyright infringement conspiracy, since the website hosts links to pirated music and movies. In a response to the shutdown of Megaupload, Fox News reports Anonymous began taking down various websites, such as the United States Justice Department, Universal Music, BMI, MPAA, and RIAA. The fact that the FBI shutdown Megaupload proves that there is no need to have further legislation on the books regarding copyright infringement, and it proves that the government just needs to go after those websites responsible for such acts. As a user of the Internet, I am shocked that Megaupload was shutdown, since Megaupload gets rid of videos and music that infringes on copyright within hours after it being posted. I am not a SOPA supporter, but I am a supporter of protecting the rights of citizens on the Internet. With the backlash from Anonymous, and the backlash from major companies coming out against SOPA, such as Google, I think SOPA will be completely dead here soon. The FBI just needs to keep going after the websites that post copyrighted material, then there would be no need for another piece of legislation.
Myself, Personal Opinion
Jasmin Melvin, “Congress withdraws SOPA, PIPA anti-piracy measures”, Reuters
Newscore Staff, “‘Anonymous’ hackers take down Justice Department site over Megaupload shutdown”, Fox News
Tom Schoenberg, “Megaupload.com Shutdown Followed by Disruptions of Trade Group Websites”, Bloomberg