Stop
Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act are two draft laws in the U.S. House of
Representatives and Senate which require killing, blacklisting and censoring of
websites offering ad networks, payment processors and search engines to remove
them from results, prohibiting distribution of advertising, and stopping
companies such as PayPal or Visa from engaging in financial transactions with
other countries. This includes foreign-based “rogue sites” that host or sell
infringing materials ranging from pirated copies of Hollywood movies to fake Jimmy
Choo shoes.
They
are still bills and are not yet a law, which makes it open to discussion.
India, being a much celebrated democracy has been having ongoing debates with
the majority opposing such an act. If it comes into play, it would mean downloading
any American-based movies, songs etc will be impossible. This will add to the
list of censored news reports, movies and anything controversial censored by
the government.
The
World Wide Web can easily termed as an eye-opener not most but to all of its
users. It gives the wonder of
experiencing the slightest of information in a detailed, versatile and
structured manner. Writers, who do not get a platform to express their views
without filtration do so with the help of blogs, along with providing us with
foreign based products through shipping. Various needs for entertainment are
gratified with the free flow of information in this system.
Being
a person who downloads Hollywood movies and international music for free, it
will be completely disheartening if I do not have access to such websites
anymore and I know I am not the only one. So no, I do not believe to in the
regulation of SOPA or PIPA simply because I will not have an easier source of
entertainment for free anymore. I also do I want to land in jail for linking to
a site that links to an infringing material website.
Certain
artists and producers feel violated when their brainchild product or service is
provided by another website for downloading which is understandable. However,
one doesn’t look into the amount of popularity and expansion they receives
through such websites. Downloaders or those who share do not care which website
is providing them with the content; as long as it is available to them. So if
it bothers the manufactures so much, they can upload the authentic file on
their own website and charge consumers for it by virtue of the Copyleft law. As
long as it fills their pockets and ads to their credibility, there is no reason
to complain.
Internet
is used as a mass promoter of music, movies, books etc. so when the question
arises to censor such content, it is ironic. Many music videos and movie
trailers are launched on websites such as YouTube that allows one to upload for
free and insures some amount of traffic. This publicity and free promotion
provides them a huge platform saves a massive chuck of finance. An aspect which
the proposers of the bill are not paying heed to right now.
Websites
should not feel threatened by this and the internet should not be taken so
seriously by the government. Removing certain content will only make people
more curious. Consumers are paying legally for their service and shouldn’t be
barred from using it to its optimum. There are hundreds of websites providing
the same content, how many will the government pull the plug on? And how does
this grantee that complete piracy will stop? Is it even certain that such a law
will be practiced religiously if passed? Future holds the answers.
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