Notable Reads – SOPA, PIPA, ACTA, TPP Edition

A lot has been written, recently, about SOPA, PIPA, ACTA and TPPA. Here’s a selection:

• SOPA and PIPA would create a consumption-only internet – Clay Shirky. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/jan/18/sopa-pipa-consumption-only-internet
• “Don’t wait for the time machine, because we’re never going to invent something that returns you to 1965 when copying was hard and you could treat the customer’s convenience with contempt.” http://radar.oreilly.com/2012/01/the-presidents-challenge.html
• Fred Wilson in SOPA/PIPA http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2012/01/a-post-pipa-post.html
• Chris Keall of the NBR http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/sites-offer-excuses-excuses-sopa-blackout-looms
• http://radar.oreilly.com/2012/01/the-presidents-challenge.html
• “This isn’t about one bill. This isn’t about one issue. This is about an entire process.” http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120116/14480017423/sopapipa-how-far-weve-come-how-far-we-need-to-go.shtml
• “SOPA is at death’s door, but other threats to a free and open Internet remain live in Congress” http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/01/internet-rejoices-sopa-is-at-deaths-door/251517/
• “Not copyright Pirates but Disillusioned Potential Customers” http://internetnz.net.nz/news/blog/2012/Not-Pirates-Disillusioned-Potential-Customers
• “If you thought SOPA and PIPA were bad, then ACTA is your worst nightmare.” FAQ on how ACTA would affect you: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/london/how-acta-would-affect-you-faq/2773
• SOPA & PIPA: threats to our national interests http://internetnz.net.nz/news/blog/2012/SOPA-PIPA-threats-our-national-interests
• How the MPAA thinks. http://www.mpaa.org/resources/c4c3712a-7b9f-4be8-bd70-25527d5dfad8.pdf
• Pando Daily: Copyright Theft Is Bad, When It Happens To People We Like http://pandodaily.com/2012/01/28/angry-nerds-copyright-theft-is-bad-when-it-happens-to-people-we-like/
• Megaupload raid: the US govt just proved it has all the power it needs to fight piracy without SOPA and PIPA  http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2012/01/anonymous-megaupload-revenge-shows-copyright-compromise-isnt-possible/47640/

If you don’t like the back-room dealing, lobbying and secret negotiations for this legislation and these trade agreements, then remember the supporters are commercial entities. Don’t give them your money. Encourage others to do the same. Here’s the list of SOPA supporters to start with: https://sites.google.com/site/boycottsopasponsors/home/list-of-supporters-and-sponsors

Remember too, that the people who appropriate copyright material without authorisation or distribute it on the Internet are contributing to the problem. The music and film industries may seem like dinosaurs with a terrible business model, but they are often matched by the freeloaders who exhibit a tremendous sense of entitlement and a poor understanding of what copyright is. There’s plenty of blame to go around. Bad legislation is not ok, but neither is ripping off other people’s work.