There’s a new Internet law called PROTECT-IP that is about to be voted in Congress, and you need to pay attention to it. PROTECT-IP stands for “Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011” and its stated goal is to fight against copyright infringement from non-USA entities, and it is estimated to cost $50M of your tax dollars per year.
In reality, it seems that only the entertainment industry would benefit from this, and to protect it, the government would have enough powers to shut down any sites because users have uploaded a copyrighted video, or posted a link deemed “wrong” (imagine being sued because your blog got hacked…). And it’s not like entertainment companies don’t have the means to defend themselves: there are plenty of legal tools to do so today.
Instead of writing a long post, I’ve embedded this video, check it out and act. It is you who will decide of the future of the Internet will be organized, and controlled by, a very small group of people who are trying to protect their own benefits.
PROTECT IP Act Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.
Filed in . Read more about Censorship, Law and Legal.