Thanks for taking the time to read. Here's why SOPA and PIPA are bad for YOU.
I'm sure you are enough of a political junkie to remember the 1984 Democratic debate, when Walter Mondale famously said "Where's the Beef?" to Gary Hart. Mr. Mondale even acknowledged it was from an ad, but didn't say what company. Now I know, and you know, he wasn't trying to sell hamburgers, but SOPA isn't smart enough to know that. SOPA allows copyright infringement to be defined by the plaintiff.
Let's say something similar happens today. That video clip would certainly be on a campaign website. Being a funny story, it'd circulate and get several thousand views. Along comes the Attorney General. Now, I realize in our great democracy the AG never prosecutes certain crimes for political gain. That's why AG's are always partisan appointments, right? So the AG decides your using a burger chain slogan, and posting a clip on your website is copyright infringment. Poof- you are now off the web. Do you use the web for soliciting campaign donations? Of course. Well that revenue stream is now gone too. No trail, no hearing, no due process. Just gone.
Take it a step further. The burger chain decided you've damaged their brand. Let's say they decide for every web view, they've lost a dollar, and you've had 2000 web views. You are now charged with Felony Copyright Infrigement. You can fight it, but hey, you are guilty the way SOPA is written. Ask Dan Rostenkowski what happened to his political career after his felony conviction. Since he's passed on, I'll answer for him. It was over.
This bill is fatally flawed. Do not pass it.
No comments:
Post a Comment