After weeks of online and offline protest against controversial anti-piracy bills, SOPA and PIPA, they have finally been put on hold by Congress.
Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) announced he was delaying the vote on PIPA scheduled for next Tuesday. Shortly after, SOPA sponsor, Representative Lamar Smith (R-Texas), announced he would delay consideration of the companion legislation until there is a wider agreement on a solution. Both decisions were made after several lawmakers withdrew their support for the bills.
This news is a direct result of the week’s mass protests. Major tech companies, such as Google and Mozilla, urged their users to sign an anti-SOPA and PIPA petition and contact a representative to speak out against legislation. As many of you may have experienced internet sites such as Wikipedia and Reddit, held blackouts on January 18th. Hundreds of concerned citizens turned out for protests in major cities across the nation.
Many critics agree that while the ideas behind SOPA and PIPA are sure to re-emerge, the bills in their present form are probably gone for good. However, it is still important to pay close attention to the activity in Congress. Upcoming anti-piracy legislation could threaten to change the landscape of the technology industry forever.
Let us hear your thoughts! What are your reactions to SOPA and PIPA? Can they be effectively revised for positive progress? How can we best prevent online piracy without jeopardizing our constitutional freedoms?
To check out more on the bill visit: http://money.cnn.com/news/
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