SOPA, The U.S. Government Sponsored Internet Apocalypse

I’m sure many of you have heard of two pieces of proposed U.S. legislation called the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA). Both are bills that are intended to stop “rogue” overseas sites from sharing copyrighted content. Stop the big, bad pirates of the world who freely distribute everything under the sun that can be turned into digital transfers by cutting off their life line of users.

What does this have to do with you? Well when you think about it, the majority of the overseas fan bases of J-Pop and K-Pop depend on these “pirate networks” to keep up to date with their favorite artists. The current import costs for a CD are sky high and when you get into concert DVD’s & Blu-Ray’s, well you’re talking a significant amount of money being spent.

Realistically not all of us are raking in unlimited amounts of cash to buy the millions (and millions) of albums and videos that come out of the worlds of J and K-Pop. There’s no choice but to turn to piracy.

But some of you are still asking, “So what? I can still download from my favorite torrent or direct download site right?” That depends. Even though the intention of SOPA/PIPA is to crack down on foreign hosted sites and their blatant disregard for copyright, the language used in the bills is so vague and blanketing it can apply to sites hosted in U.S. as well. And if some Japanese or Korean label calls one of the major distribution centers out for stealing and distributing their goods without consent & it’s an American hosted site? Well, under SOPA you can kiss that place goodbye.

Under current the current Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) that was enacted in 1998 you are given a slap on the wrist and are told that you suck by the copyright owners. You’re given time to take down your content and comply with the law and have the right to contest your infringement accusation. This of course is pretty much useless with any site outside of the U.S.

With SOPA there is a different mentality. Those accused of copyright infringement have no rights and can be charged by any copyright holder without proof that the accuser actually owns the content. Not only that, the service providers who host such sites can be also be prosecuted for giving the theiving bastards a platform to display & distribute their ill-gotten wares.

It doesn’t matter if you’re intentionally breaking copyright law or not. You have something as simple as an avatar or icon that falls under SOPA’s jurisdiction & you’re done. The swift ban hammer of U.S. law comes swinging at your nuts before you have a chance to react.

A shoot first, ask questions later type of approach as one article I read about this subject stated. Why waste time going after the real criminals when you can brand the general populace as outlaws & prosecute at will no matter how inconsequential the offense?

Sounds like the early days of the DCMA right? At least you have a fighting chance unlike with SOPA.

What does this exactly have to do with Selective Hearing? Well although this site deals with mostly Japanese & Korean music we also have out ears to the ground of the American music scene as well.

And with many Japanese and Korean acts signing to American labels the prospects of actually promoting the ever growing list of crossover artists works lessens should SOPA manage to pass. Why would I (or any of the other staff) risk getting this site shut down because we tried to encourage people to actually buy something by using some album art or a promotional video?

Even though I’m in Canada this site is hosted in U.S. so that leaves Selective Hearing at risk until I move to a non-American hosting service that does not adhere to the archaic and oppressive ideals that SOPA embodies. Even when I was unemployed I vowed to keep this site alive at all costs & I’ll do the same should the U.S. government decide to screw up the entire Internet infrastructure under the guise of protection of copyright. Which in reality is kowtowing to the whims of a select few fat cat corporations who refuse to change their business models to keep up with the modern consumer.

You know, the ones like you & I who they gleefully like to screw over so many times over.

And it’s not only Selective Hearing that’s in jeopardy but many of your other favorite Internet sites. You don’t think this legislation won’t shut down or scare off a few your favorites? Or at least majorly change the way they operate?

The Internet is an open form communication free to everyone to express their ideas and opinions. What the U.S. government is proposing with SOPA is not in anyone’s best interest except for the special interest groups pushing for these bills to pass so they can make a profit from your misery.

Those of you who live in the U.S. should speak up and let your voice be heard. Do you want government controlled flow of information in the the supposed “land of the free”? I certainly don’t think so.

Educate Yourself

SOPA & PIPA Explained in Plain English

Stop Online Piracy Act: What You Should Know

Speak Up!

End Piracy, Not Liberty

Strike Against Censorship. Stop The Internet Blacklist Bills