Black March

What do you think about this kind of protest?

I'll participate.

...Then again, I'll most likely be living on the streets in March anyway.

First, I don't like the legislation in those two bills. I feel it gives too much power and control over the internet to law enforcement. (Laws do birth more laws. How regulated will the net become?) I understand that there is a serious problem with piracy. But it looks as if we are going to extremes to put a wall up around the US and choke ourselves in the process. The requirements to conform to such a law would put a heavy burden on ISP. Looks like there would be a lot of witch hunts and such as a result. I'm not sure how far reaching these bills would go if they became law. I have a lot of unanswered questions concerning these bills.

As far as boycotting, if it would cause the law makers to sit up and take notice, it might be worth while. If enough people would do this I think it would send a message. But the boycot is against the companies that are pushing this stuff, I don't think they are going to back down, they see too much at stake. They are wanting the US citizens to pay for everything that is produced here, and let the rest of the world continue their piracy? Nothing wrong with paying for legitmate merchandise. It just sounds like that there could be a better solution to the problem. It is not like they cannot trace down these sites and know where they are at. *cough* China*cough* There is a path left to every search on the net.

My Family and I this week have been discussing this very subject. My Daughter does a lot of fan art and writes fan fiction and posts her stuff. Would what she is doing be considered copyright infringement at some point? (it probably is at this point in these bills) We find this approach by law makers disturbing.

retro junkie said:

My Family and I this week have been discussing this very subject. My Daughter does a lot of fan art and writes fan fiction and posts her stuff. Would what she is doing be considered copyright infringement at some point?

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In short, yes. This is part of why SOPA and PIPA are being protested. Almost everything that people do on the internet infringes on copyright in some way. Take for example, many of our usernames: Mai Valentine, mastermario, kirbyrockz, etc. We don't even think twice about using some of our favorite characters in usernames, but if the bills passed, that is something that would probably change.

Mine won't! Sure it uses the same letters as Darth Revan, but I think I scrambled it enough to pass for originality >.<

I have no problem participating, but it's far to similar to the gas strikes. You're going to hurt the retailers as well. I can also see it not getting a lot of traction with the majority of people.

Mai Valentine said:

In short, yes. This is part of why SOPA and PIPA are being protested. Almost everything that people do on the internet infringes on copyright in some way. Take for example, many of our usernames: Mai Valentine, mastermario, kirbyrockz, etc. We don't even think twice about using some of our favorite characters in usernames, but if the bills passed, that is something that would probably change.

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That brings up a good point. I honestly never thought about that. Could something as simple as the mentioning of a copyrighted name be enough for a site shutdown? What's scary is that this question's answer wouldn't be in our control at all of these rulings pass.

Polygon said:

I have no problem participating, but it's far to similar to the gas strikes. You're going to hurt the retailers as well. I can also see it not getting a lot of traction with the majority of people.

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Good analogie. My opinion with gas strikes is generally that skipping BUYING gas for a few days does not make a difference because the industry always catches up a few days later. USING less gas by choosing to walk once in a while, car pooling, or even making sure all tires are at proper inflation, makes more of a difference in the long run.

I am not sure that the same strategy applies here though. If one buys less media, the companies and lawmakers lobbying for this type of legislation will only assume that people are buying less and pirating more.

My previous post made me think, successful media companies find THEIR OWN way to eliminate piracy.

Examples: Microsoft Genuine product confirmation
Steam online distribution
Hulu streaming media with commercials as an alternative to people downloading shows

Industry think tanks are more effective against piracy than legislation that hurts the online community as a whole.

Looks like the Blackout on the Net made an impression. My Family participated in that.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/21/us-usa-congress-internet-idUSTRE80J10X20120121

I give props to Anonymous for the DDoS attack on the FBI and DOJ website for shutting down megaupload, along with hacking the RIAA, MPAA, and Universal record label websites.

Love those guys.