SOPA and PIPA

Many people experienced problems on the Internet as many sites participated in the "Internet blackout" today and yesterday; Wikipedia prominent among the sites. What were these sites protesting? SOPA and PIPA. Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act.

This bill would try to stop copyright infringement and force sites that had information from illegal sites to cut all ties with the site. It would stop Americans ability to see foreign sites if they had pirated material.

One of the most ironic things about this bill is one of the Senators in favor is infringing copyright on his own website: his background isn't credited to the photographer. If Congressmen were to see how easy it is to infringe on copyright, maybe they would see reason and not vote for either of these.

I am definitely against these bills. The entertainment industry may be loosing money because of Internet piracy but I believe it is going to be something that comes with the Internet. Also, it's the same idea as loaning books (legal) and burning CD's for other people (illegal); they happen no matter what and nothing the government has done has been able to stop burning CD's.

The Internet does give more access for piracy, but it is our right to have uncensored Internet, especially when it is so easy to infringe copyright on photos and drawings. I believe Congress should not vote for this bill.