{"id":6417,"date":"2011-11-30T00:01:53","date_gmt":"2011-11-30T08:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2011\/11\/30\/action-alert-oppose-the-protect-ip-act\/"},"modified":"2011-11-30T00:01:53","modified_gmt":"2011-11-30T08:01:53","slug":"action-alert-oppose-the-protect-ip-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2011\/11\/30\/action-alert-oppose-the-protect-ip-act\/","title":{"rendered":"Action Alert: Oppose the Protect IP Act"},"content":{"rendered":"

When something is so bad that Progressives and the Tea Party oppose it cooperatively for the same reasons, you should realize your dealing with a disaster.  SOPA (the House version) and PIPA meet that description.  I\u2019m proud that Oregon\u2019s own Ron Wyden is leading the charge against it and ask you to join him.  Here\u2019s an explanation of the act, Ron Wyden interviewed by Keith Olbermann, and four petitions you can sign to take action.<\/font><\/p>\n

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\"30Protect-IP-Act\"In a matter of days, the United States Senate may be voting on an extremely dangerous bill backed by the entertainment industry that would allow powerful media conglomerates and other big corporations to censor the Internet at will.<\/p>\n

This bill, S. 968, which we\u2019ve previously written about, is officially known as the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011 \u2013 PROTECT IP, or PIPA, for short.<\/p>\n

Ostensibly, S. 698 is intended to protect \u201cintellectual property\u201d, as the title suggests. Executives at Hollywood studios, publishing houses, and record companies have long wanted to \u201ccableize\u201d the Internet, because it would give them control over the medium. They want to be able to decide when and how everyone timeshifts or spaceshifts content, and to what extent (if any) content may be shared with others.<\/p>\n

(Timeshifting<\/strong> refers to the practice of recording programming for use later, or playing and reading on demand. Spaceshifting<\/strong> refers to the practice of making digital copies of content \u2013 for instance, ripping a compact disc and putting the resulting MP3 or Vorbis tracks on one\u2019s portable music player).<\/p>\n

If big media gets their way and the Internet gets cableized, it will cease to exist as we know it today<\/strong>. Net neutrality will be a thing of the past. Censorship will replace freedom of expression. Innovation will be stifled.<\/p>\n

And netroots-powered organizations like NPI, which use the Internet to organize and mobilize for change, will no longer be able to exist.<\/p>\n

This legislation is a grave threat to the Internet. It absolutely must be stopped.<\/p>\n

That is why we\u2019re so thankful that two courageous U.S. Senators from the great Pacific Northwest \u2013 Ron Wyden of Oregon and Maria Cantwell of Washington \u2013 have stepped up to lead the fight against it.<\/p>\n

Ron Wyden has pledged to lead a filibuster against the legislation in the Senate if it reaches the floor in December \u2013 as we expect it to. (It\u2019s already made it through the Judiciary Committee). Wyden is prepared to go to the mat to defend the Internet, and three other senators have agreed to stand with him: Maria Cantwell of Washington, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Jerry Moran of Kansas\u2026 [emphasis original<\/em>]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Inserted from <Northwest Progressive Institute<\/a>><\/p>\n

I support measures to stop Internet piracy.  I agree that companies have a right to receive just compensation for their intellectual property.  However, this measure is way too extreme.  If I were to to criticize a criminal corporation,they could file a complaint and have Politics Plus shut down.  Here\u2019s Oregon\u2019s Ron Wyden with Keith Olbermann,<\/font><\/p>\n