Post by Admin Roc on Jan 18, 2012 9:43:36 GMT -5
Mark the date everyone: January 18th, 2012. The day the web went "dark".
This is just a quick message to fill in anyone who might not already be in the loop. If you see one of your favorite websites suddenly go black with some stuff about SOPA / PIPA written in white, or maybe with big ol' censor bars blocking out content, do yourself a massive favor and read it. It's important.
The short version is this:
Your favorite AMVs? Gone.
Translated scans of Japanese manga? Goodbye.
Those amazing artists who make commissions drawing people's fan characters? Sorry, they're closed.
In fact, it's no exaggeration to say that fandom itself is on the chopping block here -- the legislation literally gives corporate America the power to go to ISPs and hosting services and say "We don't like this. Take it down." No judicial due process. No means of appeal. The companies, many of whom are already making obscene amounts of money from content that they pay paltry sums to have made for them, want to take your freedom of expression away and wrap it up in so much red tape you'll think it's bleeding to death.
And it's not just American-hosted content. Governments over in Europe are watching SOPA / PIPA to see if they can get away with enacting the same kind of laws. The precedent this sets will eventually be global, simply for the fact that corporations are global entities. The Internet will become a hollow shell of its current self if this is allowed to stand... all because of greed.
This is SOPA and it's companion bill, PIPA. Corporations first, individual rightssecond never.[/ul]
So please take some time today to learn more about the issue. If you're a US citizen, consider joining our host ProBoards in their efforts . If you live outside the US, do yourself a favor and find out where your politicians and lawmakers stand on issues of Internet rights and digital censorship. Fan communities like this one could very easily become targets if these laws pass -- this fight is our fight, pure and simple.
Feel free to discuss all things related to Internet censorship and SOPA / PIPA in this thread.
This is just a quick message to fill in anyone who might not already be in the loop. If you see one of your favorite websites suddenly go black with some stuff about SOPA / PIPA written in white, or maybe with big ol' censor bars blocking out content, do yourself a massive favor and read it. It's important.
The short version is this:
Your favorite AMVs? Gone.
Translated scans of Japanese manga? Goodbye.
Those amazing artists who make commissions drawing people's fan characters? Sorry, they're closed.
In fact, it's no exaggeration to say that fandom itself is on the chopping block here -- the legislation literally gives corporate America the power to go to ISPs and hosting services and say "We don't like this. Take it down." No judicial due process. No means of appeal. The companies, many of whom are already making obscene amounts of money from content that they pay paltry sums to have made for them, want to take your freedom of expression away and wrap it up in so much red tape you'll think it's bleeding to death.
And it's not just American-hosted content. Governments over in Europe are watching SOPA / PIPA to see if they can get away with enacting the same kind of laws. The precedent this sets will eventually be global, simply for the fact that corporations are global entities. The Internet will become a hollow shell of its current self if this is allowed to stand... all because of greed.
This is SOPA and it's companion bill, PIPA. Corporations first, individual rights
So please take some time today to learn more about the issue. If you're a US citizen, consider joining our host ProBoards in their efforts . If you live outside the US, do yourself a favor and find out where your politicians and lawmakers stand on issues of Internet rights and digital censorship. Fan communities like this one could very easily become targets if these laws pass -- this fight is our fight, pure and simple.
Feel free to discuss all things related to Internet censorship and SOPA / PIPA in this thread.
