[GPSCC-chat] #SOPA?

[John Thielking]

It is my understanding that SOPA was still in committee being marked up, according to yesterday's hard Knock radio at www.kpfa.org . They might have a vote in committee on Dec 21, but it is unlikely that it is going to the house floor on the 21st.
 
John Thielking

From: Spencer Graves <spencer.graves at prodsyse.com>
To: GPSCC <sosfbay-discuss at cagreens.org> 
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 11:27 PM
Subject: [GPSCC-chat] #SOPA?


Hello, All:  


      Owen in Occupy San Jose is organizing a protest against the "Stop Online Piracy Act" (SOPA), which is currently scheduled for a vote this Wednesday, Dec. 21.  For ignoramuses such as myself, I will summarize here my understanding of the current status of this bill (mostly taken from the Wikipedia article on it);  if anything below seems inappropriate, please let me know.  


WHAT IS SOPA?  


            1.  This is a House bill scheduled to come to a vote this Wednesday, Dec. 21.  The corresponding Senate bill, the Protect IP Act, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee but is not currently scheduled for a vote.  As of Dec. 17, there were 31 official sponsors, and 4 known opponents in the House, including Nancy Polosi, Zoe Lofgren, Darrell Issa, and Ron Paul.  


            2.  "The bill would authorize the U.S. Department of Justice to seek court orders against websites outside U.S. jurisdiction accused of infringing on copyrights... .  After delivering a court order, the U.S. Attorney-General could require US-directed Internet service providers, ad networks such as Google and payment processors such as PayPal or Visa to suspend doing business with sites found to infringe... .  The Attorney-General could also bar search engines from displaying links to the sites."  


            3.  However, most experts outside the US media industry are opposed for several reasons.  First, its provisions could so disrupt the normal functioning of the Internet that it seriously degrades its utility.  Second, civil libertarians say that it essentially authorizes prior censorship in ways that could be virtually beyond public scrutiny.  In theory, the bill gives web site owners unjustly accused of copyright infringement the right to sue their accusers.  In practice, it's not realistic to expect that "occupysj.org", for example, could afford the attorney's fees required to challenge Disney -- especially since most of the media industry supports Disney's position and would happily see "occupysj.org" destroyed if they could do so without a large public outcry.  


CALL TO ACTION:  


            1.  Write (and perhaps call) your representative in the US House.  If that's Lofgren, thank her for her strong opposition to this in order to reinforce her resolve to sustain her position and to give her ammunition in talking with other representatives.  For others, ask their position and express your opposition.  If you haven't done this before, go to "www.house.gov" and enter your zip code.  This will identify your representative and provide a link to how to communicate to him / her.  


            2.  Write your friends and acquaintances to tell them what you did and encourage them to do likewise.  


           3.  While you are at it, I encourage you to also write your Senators.  Boxer is fourth highest recipient of money from the organizations pushing for this legislation:  $544,424 (according to "www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s968/money") and include those when you write others.  


      The following are what I'm writing.  


      Spencer 


Representative Zoe Lofgren:  Dear Representative Lofgren:  I wish to thank you for your strong opposition to the "Stop Online Piracy Act".  I oppose it because (a) I'm convinced it presents serious technical problems as discussed by many technical experts, (b) authorize prior censorship in ways that are easily concealed in part because the media have a conflict of interest that would push them to avoid reporting on any such events when they could do so without substantive loss of audience, and (c) it's one more example of corporate welfare and bribery at work in the halls of congress.  Thanks, Spencer Graves


Senator Barbara Boxer:  Subject:  Protect IP Act
Dear Senator Boxer:  What is your position on the Protect IP Act?  From what I've read, it is (a) one more example of corporate welfare and bribery at work in congress that would (b) presents serious technical problems as discussed by many technical experts and (c) authorize prior censorship in ways that are easily concealed in part because the media have a conflict of interest that would push them to avoid reporting on any such events when they could do so without substantive loss of audience.  According to "www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s968/money", you've received $544,424 in contributions from the industry pushing for this bill.  Are you planning to vote for the special interests and against the constitution or for the general welfare of the public?  Sincerely, Spencer Graves


Senator Diane Feinstain:  General Topic:  Civil Liberties.  
Dear Senator Feinstein:  What is your position on the Protect IP Act?  From what I've read, it is (a) one more example of corporate welfare and bribery at work in congress that would (b) presents serious technical problems as discussed by many technical experts and (c) authorize prior censorship in ways that are easily concealed in part because the media have a conflict of interest that would push them to avoid reporting on any such events when they could do so without substantive loss of audience.  Sincerely, Spencer Graves
    

On 12/19/2011 7:54 PM, Owen wrote: 
ALSO, I don't like that is an unofficial action, either. Came up with
the idea or this yesterday since #SOPA goes to vote on the 21st.

My apologies for this unorthodox (spontaneous) action. 

-- 
Spencer Graves, PE, PhD
President and Chief Technology Officer
Structure Inspection and Monitoring, Inc.
751 Emerson Ct.
San José, CA 95126
ph:  408-655-4567
web: www.structuremonitoring.com 
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