SB Nation Officially Opposes SOPA

by Brandon on Jan 18, 2012 3:01 PM CST in Miscellaneous

If you've been to Google's main page, or to Wikipedia, you'd see there's a protest today on the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). While we aren't taking the same visible measures here at SB Nation or Acme Packing Company, our parent company, Vox Media, opposes the proposed law too. From SB Nation:

Vox Media may find our domain names to be the subject of an in rem lawsuit as a result of users posting unlawful video clips. We may find that payment providers proactively turn off payment accounts for any sites that have been the subject of a recent copyright claim, however frivolous. We may find that a service provider decides to redirect our domain names away from our content as a knee-jerk reaction to a single unsubstantiated complaint.

This is an unusual topic, I never stray into politics, but this is something that could shut down this website due to the actions of any member who were to post content they didn't own the rights to. There would be substantial changes at Acme Packing Company if this law were passed.

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the intent is in the right place, but it's a dangerous law to pass based on potential consequences

it’s all about liability. Essentially, SOPA makes sites like YouTube and SB Nation responsible for any content that is posted on their sites. So if a user posts something that’s not licensed content, the site can be shut down and/or fined/penalized. While the intent to protect copyrighted material isn’t malicious, the SOPA bill would create a dangerous law, and an extensive number of major websites would have to drastically alter their operations to accomodate.

It sounds like SOPA won’t get taken to a vote as-is. Thank to the voices that have spoken up against it, it is being revised and reconsidered. The main call has been to have it written WITH “tech people” involved so that there aren’t scary loopholes for Silicon Valley.

by rip_city_swagger on Jan 18, 2012 3:21 PM CST reply actions

That's the big thing here.

Virtually no organization that has come out in opposition to these bills is opposing the concept of copyright law or the enforcement of it in principle. The problem is, as you said, that these bills are so expansive and wide-reaching that they will fundamentally alter the internet as a whole and threaten First Amendment rights.

Like Brandon, I don’t like to talk politics in public, and even less on APC. But this is a very dangerous set of bills, and it’s legislation to which I must stand up and voice my opposition.

Author at Acme Packing Company

Follow @TexWestern

by texwestern on Jan 18, 2012 3:44 PM CST up reply actions

Politicians know nothing of which they vote on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f99PcP0aFNE

13.

by Wiedmann on Jan 18, 2012 3:29 PM CST reply actions

Good to see!

This bill is supported by both sides and will limit our internet freedom. Do we really want intrusive government involvement like this on the internet? This bill could be the start of even MORE damaging legislation. That’s why it is necessary that it gets voted down this time.

If anyone wants to sign a petition, google has a link on it’s homepage. It takes less than 30 seconds.

by Chief Oshkosh on Jan 18, 2012 5:02 PM CST reply actions

If SOPA passed

God, the OT threads would be…. be nothing.

When life gives ya lemons, shut up and eat your damn lemons.
Brett Favre will lead the Vikings to a Victory in Super Bowl XLVI, Guaranteed! - REVENGE4FAVRE

by P-Townfan on Jan 18, 2012 6:01 PM CST reply actions

If that happened

I don’t know how I’d get through some of these tough days.

December, 7 1941 may be a day that lives in infamy, but December 6, 2011 is a day that will live in AWESOMENESS!!! The day I became part owner of the Green Bay Packers!

In Cheese We Trust

by Zundar on Jan 18, 2012 8:49 PM CST up reply actions