Microsoft's Cold Feet Over SOPA Behind BSA's 'Rethinking' Its Views

from the tech-turn-around dept

Wed, Nov 23rd 2011 12:10pm — Mike Masnick

One of the big surprises this week was that the normally "maximalist" organization, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) -- basically the RIAA of software -- did an abrupt and unexpected turnaround on SOPA. While it had been close to gushing in its initial support, it backed that down quite a bit, noting that the bill would likely have unintended consequences that needed to be dealt with. Behind that shift? Apparently Microsoft. Microsoft, who has been quite aggressive on copyright (and patent) enforcement lately, has always publicly supported these bills, in contrast to nearly all of the rest of the tech industry. However, even it appears to recognize that SOPA goes way too far, and apparently had a little discussion with the BSA about backing down.

Equally interesting in that article? Even AT&T appears to be quietly pushing back against SOPA:

Microsoft isn't the only company to embrace Protect IP yet have reservations about SOPA. Tim McKone, AT&T's executive vice president of federal relations, told CNET last week that "we have been supportive of the general framework" of Protect IP. But when it comes to SOPA, all AT&T would say is that it is "working constructively with Chairman Smith and others toward a similar end in the House."

To say this is unlike AT&T would be an understatement. It's been expected all along that they would support whatever was proposed on the SOPA/PIPA front. Apparently, now that they've taken the time to actually understand what the bill proposes, they recognize how it goes way, way too far...

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Filed Under: copyright, protect ip, sopa
Companies: at&t, bsa, microsoft

26 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 23 Nov 2011 @ 12:25pm

did Senator Cantwell's expressed concern over SOPA/PIPA -- and intention to hold the legislation -- basically call Microsoft out? cantwell is one of microsoft's biggest supporters in the Senate, and they, rightfully, lost her over the bill.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Nov 2011 @ 12:26pm

I'm not convinced all of them really understand (or perhaps even care) about the potential implications of these bills. I think their biggest concern is to some extent a strong enough backlash could result (as has already happened in s few cases) in contenders to the status quo using this as an assist to help remove some long entrenched politicians from office. A few firebrands here or there to help create the illusion the people are still in some sort of control is acceptable. Potentially large scale shifts to "untested" representatives is something they definitely do not want.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Nov 2011 @ 12:28pm

Why would ATT be pro-SOPA to begin with. What's in it for them?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Nov 2011 @ 12:51pm

Re:
gatekeeping
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Nov 2011 @ 12:51pm

Response to: Anonymous Coward on Nov 23rd, 2011 @ 12:28pm
Don't understand that either. As an ISP, I would think they would be against it from day one. Not to mention the extra burden SOPA lays on them. Something smells.
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ArkieGuy (profile), 23 Nov 2011 @ 1:09pm

BSA is a Microsoft Shell
It's been pretty well established (search groklaw.net) that the BSA is a Microsoft AstroTurf engine. They say what Microsoft pays them to say.
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out_of_the_blue, 23 Nov 2011 @ 1:22pm

If Microsoft is against SOPA, I'm MORE for it!
But I recognize possibility that they're doing a "don't throw me in that briar patch" reverse-psychology double turnabout.

Why else would all these corporations reverse? Is it possible that the down sides scare even them? ... Nah, the big corps won't be bothered by it at all, as usual. I'll stick with that they really do want it, just see the PR aspects of it as something to avoid for now.
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Rob, 23 Nov 2011 @ 1:29pm

Biggest concern is money
The biggest concern of Congress is money. Especially the big money lobbyist from the RIAA throw at them. Doing the right thing, supporting democracy, making sure they don't break the internet, is of little concern. They just want all the gobs of money big media companies will give them. They are all probably excited because now the big tech companies will be throwing money at them. This is how Washington works. Isn't our American system wonderful?!?!?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Nov 2011 @ 1:33pm

You just know this happened...
Balmer: "OK, any new business?"

MS Lackey: "Well, there's a new bill called SOPA that the BSA wants to endorse."

Balmer: "What does it do?"

MS Lackey: "Well, it's a pro-IP bill. Google is trying to stop it."

Balmer: "Awesome! If Google hates it, it must be good for us! Tell them to go ahead!"

[LATER]

MS Lawyer: "Mr Balmer, I heard you gave the go-ahead to the BSA to support SOPA?"

Balmer: "Yup - we're gonna use it to cream Google!"

MS Lawyer: "Do you even know what SOPA does?"

Balmer: "Of course not - but Google is against it, and if it's bad for Google, it must be awesome for us!"

MS Lawyer: "Actually, it's bad for *all* technology companies, not just Google."

Balmer: "Even better - destroy all of our competition!"

MS Lawyer: "Well, I know we're mainly just litigating now, but we're supposed to be a technology company. If we don't keep up the pretense of being a technology company, the DOJ will be all over us again."

Balmer: "D'OH! OK, issue a recall to the BSA. DEVELOPERS! DEVELOPERS! DEVELOPERS! DEVELOPERS!"
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Rikuo (profile), 23 Nov 2011 @ 1:58pm

Re: If Microsoft is against SOPA, I'm MORE for it!
Why are you spending $100 million on a movie?
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Jay (profile), 23 Nov 2011 @ 2:07pm

Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Nov 23rd, 2011 @ 12:28pm
At&t is nothing if not pragmatic. If businesses are knocked off the internet, they won't be able to make money off them through internet services. So sopa threatens them albeit indirectly. Don't mess with the money...
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abnre, 23 Nov 2011 @ 2:07pm

Deals
So they would just support whatever was proposed on the SOPA/PIPA front??!!
I just hope that would happen!!

Let's see the results then!

Go to Crumblrr
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out_of_the_blue, 23 Nov 2011 @ 2:09pm

Re: Re: If Microsoft is against SOPA, I'm MORE for it!
@Rikuo (profile), Nov 23rd, 2011 @ 1:58pm

Why are you spending $100 million on a movie?
--------------

IF your question has any relevance to SOPA here, then I'd answer: because if SOPA gets passed, there's a higher chance that the movie would remain mine, not get ripped off by millions of Little Pirates. Enough Pirates can eat an entire industry, and will if allowed to go unchecked.

There. That comprehensive enough for you?
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Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased) (profile), 23 Nov 2011 @ 2:26pm

Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Nov 23rd, 2011 @ 12:28pm
All this extra burden will come with a nice tax added to consumers bills and probably some good tax breaks for themselves. Big Series of Tubes (if I can borrow a naming convention from bob) will make sure they don't have to pay a dime to conform to law and small competitors will likely fold under the burden of regulation clearing the field of what little competition exists at this point. Win-Win for Big Series of Tubes!
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Nov 2011 @ 2:39pm

I think the thought of a lot of whining artists that don't know the ABC let alone the law may have scared them a bit.

Think about it, anyone can ask financial service providers to cut off anybody, that part alone can bring down any website specially those for profit, Bing, Hotmail, Facebook and others services could all become targets of relentless SOPA action for the reminder of their existence, Microsoft, Google and Facebook may be off the hook with the AG but Graiglist would be a preferred target for them, anybody remember the hookers-ads affair, now every single website out there will have to be careful since the AG can just put them in those "pirate" lists and send them to be rubber stamped by a judge and they would claim ignorance or just an error if they got caught and nothing would happen.

What happens to companies when they get into disputes with the government?

Can an AG be instructed to mess with Amazon because they are against being taxed to force them to pay whatever the government wants?

Some labels today make most of their revenue from digital, can they be forced to pay taxes to other states?

This is just glorious, SOPA doesn't affect pirates, but it does affect every business out there, the only way to scape it is to move to another country and stay the hell away from the US.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Nov 2011 @ 2:50pm

Re: You just know this happened...
That's funny because it's probably true!
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Jeffrey Nonken (profile), 23 Nov 2011 @ 3:22pm

Re:
It will affect so-called pirates. It just won't stop them.
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gorehound (profile), 23 Nov 2011 @ 3:47pm

Re: Biggest concern is money
SOPA & PIPA will go down as the worst laws I have seen in possibly my whole lifetime.It will be the opening of the door to true 1984 scenario.I am scared and feel this is just to much.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Nov 2011 @ 6:28pm

Re: Re: Re: If Microsoft is against SOPA, I'm MORE for it!
No, because it doesn't answer the question: why are you spending the amount of $100 million on a movie?

Or are you being purposefully obtuse?
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Kevin H (profile), 23 Nov 2011 @ 8:13pm

Re: Re: Re: If Microsoft is against SOPA, I'm MORE for it!
"IF your question has any relevance to SOPA here, then I'd answer: because if SOPA gets passed, there's a higher chance that the movie would remain mine, not get ripped off by millions of Little Pirates. Enough Pirates can eat an entire industry, and will if allowed to go unchecked."

That doesn't make any sense. There is still ZERO guarantee that it won't get ripped off. There is a good chance that less people may see it, but SOPA isn't going to stop pirates. These pirates you hate so much are already in their secret lairs devising the next great transfer protocol for sharing with each other. Its what they do, and they are better at it than anyone truly wants to believe.
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Kevin H (profile), 23 Nov 2011 @ 8:13pm

Re: Re: Biggest concern is money
Patriot Act?
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Kevin H (profile), 23 Nov 2011 @ 8:18pm

Re: You just know this happened...
MS Lawyer - "Well, it may may cost us un-told billions since people use our operating system as a tool for infringement."

Balmer - NO! They cannot have my money.. We must come out against this. MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!!!

FTFY
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Nov 2011 @ 12:14am

Trojan horse
It's all a ruse. They go way too far with SOPA on purpose, never intending to pass it, only to introduce the true bill which is bad but seen as much more acceptable by the critics, who put up less organized and strong resistance to the real bill.

/s
because they even bother with pretending anyone but big business has a say :(
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Butcherer79 (profile), 24 Nov 2011 @ 1:10am

Re: Re: Re: Re: If Microsoft is against SOPA, I'm MORE for it!
"These pirates you hate so much are already in their secret lairs devising the next great transfer protocol for sharing with each other. Its what they do, and they are better at it than anyone truly wants to believe."

Like for instance
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USA the new police state, 27 Nov 2011 @ 1:42pm

North Korea Best Korea
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US VET, 1 Dec 2011 @ 8:25am

I vote Kim Jong Il for next American President.
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