Internet wins: SOPA and PIPA both shelved. Just hours after Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) announced he was delaying a vote on the PROTECT IP Act, Rep.
Lamar Smith (R-TX), the sponsor of the Stop Online Piracy Act, followed suit and announced he would be delaying consideration of the companion legislation. “I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy," Smith said. "It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products.
" "The Committee will continue work with both copyright owners and Internet companies to develop proposals that combat online piracy and protect America’s intellectual property," Smith continued. "We welcome input from all organizations and individuals who have an honest difference of opinion about how best to address this widespread problem.
" A key figure in the fight against SOPA was Rep. The week the web changed Washington. This morning, Sen.
Harry Reid (D-NV), the Senate Majority Leader, said in a statement that he would postpone next week’s vote on the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) followed with a statement that he would also halt consideration of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Collectively, millions of people rose up and told Washington that these bills shall not pass. This outcome was driven by an unprecedented day of online protests on Wednesday of this week, and the resulting coverage on cable and broadcast news networks had an effect.
“Senator Reid made the right decision in postponing next week’s vote on PIPA,” said Center for Democracy and Technology president Leslie Harris. Wikipedia, Google, BoingBoing, Reddit, O’Reilly Media and thousands of other websites, blogs and individual citizens asked their communities to take a stand and contact Washington. On Wednesday morning, according to ProPublica’s SOPA Tracker, U.S. I concur with that last point. The statement continued: Les lois SOPA et PIPA contre le piratage sont reportées. Élaborées dans le but de fournir de nouveaux moyens de lutte contre le piratage et la contrefaçon sur Internet, les lois PIPA (Protect IP Act) et SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) ont fait couler beaucoup d'encre aux États-Unis.
Elles sont en effet particulièrement controversées, leurs opposants estimant qu'elles font courir un grave risque sur les libertés individuelles et la capacité d'innovation de nombreuses sociétés. Les deux textes, actuellement examinés par le Congrès américain, sont toutefois menacés. Tout d'abord, parce que les soutiens politiques se raréfient. Depuis le blackout de mercredi, qui a conduit de nombreux sites web à se parer de noir pour marquer leur hostilité à l'égard des lois PIPA et SOPA, plusieurs élus ont choisi de prendre leurs distances, de peur d'être pris dans un fiasco politique. La reculade parlementaire était inévitable, au regard de la tournure des évènements. The Berkman Community Responds to SOPA/PIPA.
January 18, 2012 January 20 Update - Please find additional commentary from the Berkman community on this page below the original post.
Today, many U.S. websites are participating in a blackout in order to express their opposition to pending U.S. legislation—House Bill 3261, The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and S.968, the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). The Berkman Center for Internet & Society does not take an institutional position on matters of policy. However, it encourages its faculty, fellows, staff, and community members to express their viewpoints, and invites in-depth conversations on controversial issues. Our goals are to stimulate informed analysis and to catalyze the expression of diverse opinions. Consistent with this policy, the Berkman Center’s website is not dark today. As well, the Berkman Center and our community aim to track the protest and enable others to participate in the dialogue. Jonathan also visited the Colbert Report to speak on the issue. Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News.
YOU SHALL NOT PASS. PIPA postponed indefinitely. Senate vote on PIPA is postponed. In the face of withering opposition, Senate leaders have postponed a vote on the Protect IP Act that was scheduled for Tuesday.
"In light of recent events, I have decided to postpone Tuesday's vote," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), in a statement. "There is no reason that the legitimate issues raised by many about this bill cannot be resolved," Reid wrote. "Counterfeiting and piracy cost the American economy billions of dollars and thousands of jobs each year, with the movie industry alone supporting over 2.2 million jobs.
We must take action to stop these illegal practices. " The decision to put off the vote is the latest and most decisive sign yet that Congressional support for antipiracy legislation backed by the film and music industries has collapsed. Reid did not offer a date for when the bill might again come up for a vote. The tech sector showcased immense power to generate action by the public. Update 8:11 a.m. GOP chairman shelves Stop Online Piracy Act.