Controversial anti-piracy legislation, already on life support in the House, is now in serious doubt in the Senate, where the confluence of a Republican rump rebellion, White House concerns and a Wednesday blackout by Wikipedia, Mozilla and other big-name websites is enough to give some senators second thoughts.
Republican Sen. Scott Brown, locked in a reelection fight with Elizabeth Warren in Democratic-leaning Massachusetts, announced on Twitter on Tuesday that he’d vote against the Senate’s PROTECT IP Act and the House’s Stop Online Piracy Act. – Politico
Wikipedia goes black.
This isn’t a left right thing.
Yesterday afternoon at a live streaming briefing on the issue you had Adam Green of Bold Progressives standing up to applaud Rep. Darrel Issa for his leadership on this issue, which I watched unfold.
So, TM.com will join the strike this morning, because you can’t mount an offense once the game’s been changed and you don’t know the rules.
Giving lobbyists a win to alter the Internet and not only change its openness, but give total control to outside hostile forces, is something all of us who depend on this platform must take seriously.
TM.com is a small, sole proprietor new media site and the work I do depends on an open Internet. So joining the strike later this a.m. is done in the spirit of solidarity for the new media industry of which I’ve been a part going back to the mid ’90s, longer than most. I’ve been fortunate to have an impact in my corner of the world because of it, proving myself as an opinion leader over the years.
It’s my obligation as the founder of a new media site, which has been around for over 15 years in one form or another, to support the strike that is being led by Reddit, Wikipedia (the English version), Firefox and others like Raw Story.
Here’s a list of some of the people who took part in the streaming online event yesterday:
- Alexis Ohanian, reddit co-founder (via video)
- Craig Newmark, craigslist founder (via video)
- Rebecca MacKinnon, Global Voices co-founder
- Adam Green, Progressive Change Campaign Committee co-founder
- Julian Sanchez, Cato Institute fellow
- Brad Burnham, Managing Partner at Union Square Ventures
- Dmitry Shapiro, Veoh founder (via video)
- Jayme White, Staff Director, Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade
However, today’s a day for action for everyone.
I hope you come back during the day to sign the petition and let Congress know SOPA and PIPA aren’t the answer. An alternative bill is being suggested. It’s called the OPEN Act.
Google blacks out logo... Tell Congress: Please don't censor the web.
This post has been updated; image via Twitter.
What will I do. I’ll have to kill myself! It will be on your conscience, for about 30 seconds.
heh-heh… I’ll see you back here at 8:05 p.m.
But make sure you stop by to sign the petition!
Taylor, (fist bump). BTW, did you see this: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/advisory-boards/pmab/members/jeffrey-zients
Yep, Obama’s man from Bain.
signing the petitions! this an outrage.
Heck, as little as I’ve published lately, going on strike seems pointless. Still, I’ve put up a post on the subject.
The only way to get government attention on issues like this is to make it so clear to the general public in advance of legislation what could happen. Thank you for your participation in the black out.
To borrow a phrase from the Everly Brothers, “Gosh, gee wiz”, my first TM casus belli that I can support! You’re not trying to take income or property from one person and dole it out to others, you’re not trying to make people pay for the consequences of other people’s sexual activities nor pay for other people’s morbidity. I can support rules to keep the playing field level BEFORE the game begins as opposed to 30 years later once one group has shown no aptitude for playing the game. Yessiree, Bob! All packets are created equal and should have equal opportunity for making it through the pipe on a first-come, first-served basis.
Round of drinks on me.