Breaking: GoDaddy Drops SOPA Support

from the wow dept

Fri, Dec 23rd 2011 10:52am — Mike Masnick

As the public backlash continued to grow -- and GoDaddy's support of it seemed entirely tone deaf to what people were saying -- you knew something had to break eventually. GoDaddy has just announced that it no longer supports SOPA. From the press release they just sent, they say they'll only support future version of the bill if the internet community supports it too:

Go Daddy is no longer supporting SOPA, the "Stop Online Piracy Act" currently working its way through U.S. Congress.

"Fighting online piracy is of the utmost importance, which is why Go Daddy has been working to help craft revisions to this legislation -- but we can clearly do better," Warren Adelman, Go Daddy's newly appointed CEO, said. "It's very important that all Internet stakeholders work together on this. Getting it right is worth the wait. Go Daddy will support it when and if the Internet community supports it."

Go Daddy and its General Counsel, Christine Jones, have worked with federal lawmakers for months to help craft revisions to legislation first introduced some three years ago. Jones has fought to express the concerns of the entire Internet community and to improve the bill by proposing changes to key defined terms, limitations on DNS filtering to ensure the integrity of the Internet, more significant consequences for frivolous claims, and specific provisions to protect free speech.

"As a company that is all about innovation, with our own technology and in support of our customers, Go Daddy is rooted in the idea of First Amendment Rights and believes 100 percent that the Internet is a key engine for our new economy," said Adelman.

In changing its position, Go Daddy remains steadfast in its promise to support security and stability of the Internet. In an effort to eliminate any confusion about its reversal on SOPA though, Jones has removed blog postings that had outlined areas of the bill Go Daddy did support.

"Go Daddy has always fought to preserve the intellectual property rights of third parties, and will continue to do so in the future," Jones said.

I would imagine that, for many, this will be too late, but as SOPA support continues to crumble, it's going to make it very difficult for Congress to claim that this bill really has much support out in the real world.

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Filed Under: boycott, pipa, protect ip, public, sopa
Companies: godaddy

149 Comments

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Franklin G Ryzzo (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 10:59am

I see this as pretty much "too little, too late." GoDaddy was balls to the walls full ahead in support of SOPA and defending that position tooth and nail up til 2 days ago. I hope the netizens do not call off the drop your GoDaddy domain campaign and continue on with it. GoDaddy needs to learn this lesson in their wallets so that hopefully next time they have to make a decision about supporting legislation, they will consider their consumers before going all in.
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Machin Shin, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:00am

$$ talks
Amazing how suddenly they were willing to change their opinion once they saw large number of their customers getting ready to jump ship. I'm glad to see they finally have woken up and realized how bad this bill is and how strongly against it the internet community is. I just hope the idiots in charge of our government also see in time.
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Mel (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:01am

They're worried they would have to change their name
By Daddy
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:01am

Props to Godaddy for having the balls to pull out, but they only pulled out because they started losing business.

Because of their involvement in the legislation and the fact that they did support it up until right now I'll still be moving my domains away from GoDaddy.

I've spent thousands of dollars with them since 2003, and they will no longer get my business.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:02am

Here is the definition of GoDaddy and SOPA supporters right here.
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ZombieBotsFromMars, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:04am

To Little To Late
They can just fold up shop for all I care. They backed a law that would make their customers criminals and infringed on our rights. They'll never get as much as a penny from me ever again.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:05am

I would say you didn't change their minds, they just took a public position to get the idiots to stop yelling about it.

Congrats to those who cannot and will not tolerate free speech, and will shout anyone down in the name of it.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:07am

Re:
sorry that i can only vote you up funny once
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:07am

Two things:

1. I am absolutely shocked that GoDaddy has changed their tune. I was wrong to believe they hate their customers so much that they would continue to support SOPA.

2. The fact that they claim they'll support it "when the internet community" does too? No mention of the fact that SOPA was horrible, that it was a threat to democracy and free expression. Just a half-hearted "oh, we didn't realize you'd blame us just because we support censorship."

Fuck you, GoDaddy.
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robofog (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:09am

Re:
Exactly! Too little too late. Godaddy has lost my business most likely forever. Their SOPA support pushed me over the edge - a shitty UI and constant upselling was already annoying.
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Amy Strickland, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:09am

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Seeing as GoDaddy's support is probably well-publicized by pro-SOPA politicians, they need to go a bit further in their retractions. If they are truly sorry, they should commit money to advertising against SOPA.

I'll believe you then.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:14am

Re:
Oh good, we can add you to the ever-growing list of people who have no idea what free speech means.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:16am

Re:
They are free to choose to support the bill or not, and I'm just as free to take advantage of a deal a competitor is offering for a service.

However, no one here was arguing that GoDaddy should be killed by the government because we didn't like them, which is what the bill they were supporting says.
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Matthew (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:17am

non-apology by checklist
community - check
integrity of the internet - check
innovation - check
free speech - check
first amendment - check
IP rights - check

I imagine "Stephanie Bracken, PR Specialist" got an earful of "Tell the lawyers to shut the fuck up - the jig is up on this one, get us out of it today!"
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:19am

Re:
If somebody shouts at you, worst case scenario is you shouting back. Best case scenario is you keeping your cool and explaining to the other idiot why your point of view is valid. The idiot might not listen, but reasonable people most certainly will.

If "shouting down" the opposition worked, the world's leaders would be opera singers, not politicians.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:19am

Re: Re:
Part of free speech is respecting the opinions of others, even if you don't agree. It's something that is sorely lacking around here, and seems to be sorely lacking in the overall attack by anti-SOPA groups.

GoDaddy (and other companies) should not be subject of boycotts for having an opinion and working with it. You have the choice not to do business with them, but pressuring others to not do business with them as well based solely on their stand against piracy is just not right.

What these actions did was force GoDaddy to publicly change their position, even though their support for SOPA was well stated before. They aren't changing because they "saw the light", they are changing to stop you guys from trying to destroy their business.

Jackbooted thugs couldn't do a better job.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:19am

Re:
To be honest, those in charge of GoDaddy are currently not technology experts, and probably didn't realized the details of the bill as it pertained to them. Without having those who are understanding, the higher ups decided to in the future just go along with whatever the tech community says about a bill, rather than trying to learn the exacts of the bill.
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Trails (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:20am

Re:
Stop disagreeing with them, it's affecting their free speech!
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Jay (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:20am

Re: $$ talks
That's not enough though. If they believe that being architects to censorship is a good idea, they don't deserve that money from people that will be affected. They don't understand good business and need to recognize exactly what the free market is: choice. They've made a bad choice about who their allegiance is to. They have a bad service and a bad business model that should not be rewarded. If they believe the public will support being censored, they need to be taught the lesson of an economic boycott.
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Eric Goldman (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:20am

GoDaddy has proven itself untrustworthy over and over again. This reversal is complete lip service. Eric.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:21am

Wow.

GoDaddy fell over faster than an elephant with a bullet in it's brain.

(for those of you who don't get the joke google "godaddy owner shoots elephant")
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Dan G., 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:23am

Re:
Well of course they only pulled it because it was hurting business. They also only originally supported it because they thought it would help their business.

That's how businesses work.
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Trails (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:23am

Re: Re: Re:
What hyperbolic tripe.

From SOPA supporters using terms like "freetard" and calling everyone pirates and piracy sympathizers, why not take a look in the mirror and see how respectful you've been.

GoDaddy and other companies should absolutely be subject to boycotts based on their position on legislation. How you could condemn this with a straight face is beyond me.

"What these actions did was force GoDaddy to publicly change their position, even though their support for SOPA was well stated before. They aren't changing because they "saw the light", they are changing to stop you guys from trying to destroy their business."

Totally agree, GoDaddy has not changed their ways, boycotts should go forward.

"Jackbooted thugs couldn't do a better job."

Ah yes, this is just like the Holocaust.
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ZombieBotsFromMars, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:24am

SOPA Was The Perfect Racket For GoDaddy
Think about it: Someone gets a DNS pulled for "infringement" GoDaddy gets to keep the registrants money and then sell them a new one. Rinse and Repeat, through either the main GoDaddy site or any of their sub-companies.

And don't tell one of their legal-minions didn't think of it too.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:25am

Re: Re: Re:
"GoDaddy (and other companies) should not be subject of boycotts for having an opinion and working with it. You have the choice not to do business with them, but pressuring others to not do business with them as well based solely on their stand against piracy is just not right."

People have free will. They can freely choose to support you (or not) in your boycott. If they do choose to support the boycott, why on this blue marble that we call earth would you call that an offence to freedom of speech?

It's democracy, plain and simple.
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CSMcDonald (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:25am

Huh.
Weasel words - they're still not opposed to SOPA, they're just trying to appease the people who took a stand.

Glad I transferred my domains last night.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:25am

Re: Re: Re:
You're an idiot.

Free speech does not guarantee immunity from criticism of that speech, nor does it guarantee that customers will continue to do business with you.
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Ben, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:26am

haha
Godaddy - go check the definition of the word "myopic"...
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Zacqary Adam Green (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:27am

Re: Re: Re:
So, talking to other human beings makes you a jackbooted thug?
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The eejit (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:27am

Re: Re: Re:
Part of free speech is not denying others the right to it. They're a business. People were speaking with their wallets, as is their right to do. To deny people the right to protest, or worse, to call it an attack on free speech, is disingenuous at best, and malicious at worst.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:27am

Re: Re:
They likely were supporting it because many of the higher ups weren't tech guys, and they were asked by friends to support it. They saw no reason not to, so they did. However, the boycott gave them a damn good reason not to support it, and they reversed their support because it wasn't good for their bottom line.
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Adrian, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:27am

Re: Re: Re:
Cencership would be calling on the government to ban godaddy.com. This is urging people to no longer provide money to a company they consider to be acting against their interests. If a company I support is using the proceeds from my hiring services through them in a way I find distasteful why is it wrong of me to take my business elsewhere?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:28am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
And let me just add that, for someone that supposedly is very offended for being shouted down, you sure have an insulting tone. Are you trying to silence your opposition by belittling them?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:28am

Re: To Little To Late
They didn't just back it.

which is why Go Daddy has been working to help craft revisions to this legislation

They've more or less admitted to helping draft the bill.
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Jay (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:30am

Re: Re: Re:
GoDaddy (and other companies) should not be subject of boycotts for having an opinion and working with it.

Funny, their customers will feel the effects of SOPA, they decide to move their domains in protest, and this is bad because GoDaddy's customers understand this legislation is vague and ineffective against piracy?

You have the choice not to do business with them, but pressuring others to not do business with them as well based solely on their stand against piracy is just not right.

Their customers understand that they have no reason to do business with GoDaddy because they will lose out in the long run. The piracy problem doesn't factor into the larger problem of affecting smaller businesses without the funds to fight one sided legislation.

What these actions did was force GoDaddy to publicly change their position, even though their support for SOPA was well stated before. They aren't changing because they "saw the light", they are changing to stop you guys from trying to destroy their business.

I guess you don't see how public opinion is against SOPA. There are very few people that like SOPA after reading up on it. GoDaddy is learning that their customers are more than willing to drop them like a bad habit if they go against them. Most people could care less about piracy. They value their platforms of expression, due process, and right to privacy. SOPA invades on that.

Now, find someone that can justify SOPA who isn't paying for the legislation. By all means, don't take too long.
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Trails (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:30am

Re: Re:
Right, well sorta.

If they were honourable and aware of the problems with the bill they wouldn't have supported it because of said problems.

If they were aware of the problems in the bill and able to think 2 moves ahead of the game, they would have anticipated the reaction and dropped support for the bill.

If they were smart they would have analysed the bill and formulated a real position based on its benefit to their business.

If they were half-smart they would have seen the growing backlash much sooner than this.

Conclusions:
- GoDaddy's actions in this indicate stupidity
- GoDaddy's actions in this are necessary but not sufficient to indicate that they are not honourable
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Matthew (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:31am

Re: SOPA Was The Perfect Racket For GoDaddy
That has MBA written all over it. Legal just told them they could get away with it.
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Marcus Carab (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:31am

Re: Re: Re:
Part of free speech is respecting the opinions of other

Umm, no. Pretty much the exact opposite. Free speech is that you don't have to say anything you don't want to - you can ignore people, engage them, be an asshole, be nice, whatever you want.

"Respect my opinion" is a tired refrain. If you have an opinion, stand up for it - and be prepared to be opposed, even disrespected, for it. That's the beauty of free speech: everybody is entitled to their opinion, but nobody is required to agree or even give a shit.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:33am

Re: Re: Re:
"Democracy is hard!!!"
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:38am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Indeed, and censoring is when that beautiful protected speech, instead of being judged by it merits, can instead be flat out removed by those who don't like it, which is something that abuse of SOPA would allow.
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SUNWARD (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:41am

Re:
Sent an email yesterday and got a form response.

Just called a couple of registrars this morning and in the process of getting quotes.

Yes, a little late.
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Blatant Coward (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:41am

Re:
The way that Go Daddy has already been used by courts to 'hold' a domain seized by legal action, I bet at some point it will come out that if a site was interred under SOPA that a hefty 'release fee' or bond would have to be paid to allow the held domain to transfer back to the owner.

Talk about money for nothin. That's the ONLY way a site that has been so involved with 'rogue activity' previously would make sense to take such a stand.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:41am

Mistake?
What do you mean "newly appointed CEO"? According to Linked in, he's been there for 9 years.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:42am

Re:
I started the process of moving my domains yesterday, so ... yep, they f'd up and lost me as a customer.
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abc gum, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:43am

Re: Re: Re:
You seem to be the poster boy of the week for the term delusional.

Free speech is great for corporations attempting to influence voters, but is a horrible thing when used to influence corporations. Free speech is many things to many people but AFAIK it is respected, for the most part, here at TD and elsewhere on the net even if your bias can not see it. The concept of free speech does not discriminate along political lines or corporate interests, it grants everyone their voice and this is what is under attack by things like SOPA and friends - what is it about this that you do not understand?

Capitalism and free markets are great until they turn against you. Weird how that works. Why should GoDaddy be exempt from market pressures? The free exchange of information, what you refer to as "pressuring others to not do business with them" is considered free speech whether you like it or not. I imagine you would support such activity when it is to your advantage, there seems to be a bit of hypocrisy there on your part.

GoDaddy was not forced to do anything here, it was a business decision. Give the customer what they want or lose business, that is free market capitalism - no?

Destroying their business? That is laughable at best. Felony interference of a business model ... omg that's a tasing.
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Blatant Coward (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:43am

Re: Re:
If you go to reddit, there are many transfer deals and coupons offered by other companies.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:44am

Re:
They did what we wanted. I'm sure the mob will miss the lynching, but punishing someone after they've complied doesn't send the right message for future internet activism.
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Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased) (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:44am

Re: Re: Re:
They aren't changing because they "saw the light", they are changing to stop you guys from trying to destroy their business.

So capitalism can still work nowadays.
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Blaine (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:45am

Where do the seized domains go?
I may be mis-remembering, but don't the seized domains from the government shenanigans get sent to godaddy?

To me that was a stronger indicator of their involvement in all of this than words put out by marketing and sanitized by lawyers.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:46am

This sounds like lip service. I'm sure GoDaddy is still sucking the SOPA dick behind closed doors.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:47am

Re: Re: Re:
This my friend is exactly right and what the power of the internet and democracy are all about. Get over yourself.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:48am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
"If a company I support is using the proceeds from my hiring services through them in a way I find distasteful why is it wrong of me to take my business elsewhere?"

and this is something I think IP supporters fail to understand. They argue that artists who offer their work out for free don't make money from those who don't pay, they only make money from those who do. So why allow those who don't pay to freely obtain their works? Because, it could be the case that many people prefer to give their money to artists who make their work freely available to others. and what's wrong with that?
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Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased) (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:49am

Re: Mistake?
Should ask the PR guy at Go Daddy. It is quoted from the press release on the Go Daddy page.
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Machin Shin, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:50am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Indeed the term "respect my opinion" is often misused I guess. At least when I see that I do not really think about truly respecting an opinion so much as "tolerate". I am not going to go and try to have anyone's opinion silenced but that does not mean that I respect it.
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Jeffhole (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:51am

I don't care.
Their initial support was the last straw, my 300+ domains will remain elsewhere.
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SUNWARD (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:52am

Re: Re: Re:
that is where I started my search.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:52am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
It isn't democracy. Forcing your neighbor to do something at gun point, otherwise you will "hurt their business" isn't freedom. That's the exact shit we fight against every day.

"do it our way or else!" is the very thing that the anti-SOPA crowd claims the IP industry has done, and yet there you are, threatening people for having an opinion different than yours.

It's disgusting, and it certainly isn't anything about freedom.

You have the right not to do business with them. But really, should you have the right to threaten them until they change their opinion?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:53am

Re: Re:
Actually, that's the problem - they waited too long to "comply" with public opinion. They weren't in touch with their customers or their industry, and they lost.

It's a learning experience for GoDaddy, be more in touch with your customers, or face the consequences of being late to the party.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:56am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Yes, by threatening not to do business with them... GOD you're an idiot.
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Justin Olbrantz (Quantam), 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:58am

Re: Re: Re:
Hahahaha.

So first opponents of things like this are an "immoral minority". Now that they're demonstrating they're not so minor they're a bunch of "jackbooted thugs". Never underestimate the creativity of an anonymous coward to see things from whatever angle necessary to insult people.

Boycotting is a fundamental component of capitalism, and serves a critical role of helping to keep companies from acting immorally in pursuit of ever more profit. Why do you hate capitalism? Or is it just that you hate morality?

...I suppose that was a rhetorical question.
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Scooters (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:00pm

Too little, too late. I closed my account weeks ago (which reminds me, they owe me money).

2012, I find a new host for my domain I just renewed for two years.

No regrets.
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Rekrul, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:00pm

Re: Re: Re:
GoDaddy (and other companies) should not be subject of boycotts for having an opinion and working with it. You have the choice not to do business with them, but pressuring others to not do business with them as well based solely on their stand against piracy is just not right.

Isn't that exactly what SOPA seeks to do?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:01pm

Re: Re: Re:
And let it be a lesson to the others too - you don't automatically "Get of Jail Free" when you flip-flop your position after being a bully...

When the media industry finally realizes that they've been making a fatal mistake after years of abusing their customers, I still won't buy their crap. I will have moved onto greener pastures by then, supporting independents and artists who are in touch with their fans. They are dead to me.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:04pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Wow. Analogy fail. Boycotting a business is something any individual is free to do for any reason they want. It is hardly the same as forcing someone to do something at gunpoint. It's simply a way to express your opinion.

Also, it's ridiculous to suggest that free speech says anything about "respecting the opinions of others". Absolute B.S. and I have no respect for your opinion in this case. Are your free speech rights violated by that? Nonsense.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:06pm

Re: Re: Re:
"Jackbooted thugs couldn't do a better job."

Are you going to do business with Techdirt? You're forcing them to change their position by not doing so. Are you a Techdirt Insider? NO? You're a Jackbooted thug. Give your money to the EFF or the pirate party and buy something from them or else you're a Jackbooted thug!!!! You thug, not even doing business with Techdirt and giving them your money as an attempt to make them change their position!!! HOW DARE YOU!!! And you're a freetard, you get their bandwidth and services for free!!!!

Free speech is not about preventing boycotts against companies that support socially unpopular causes and positions, they're about enabling them. Free speech is about enacting change and giving everyone the power to do so.

The only thing that's a violation of my free speech are government granted broadcasting and cableco monopolies that enable self interested monopoly gatekeepers to abuse their monopoly power to brainwash the population into subscribing to their self interested, pro-IP, viewpoints while censoring any criticisms. and that's what we have today and broadcasting and cableco monopolies should be abolished.

Free speech is about not allowing the government to use its power to dissuade, curtail, or direct public speech and opinions. Cableco and broadcasting monopolies do just that. They should be abolished.

GoDaddy is not entitled to anyone's business so not doing business with them because I don't support their actions or positions is not immoral. It's little different than avoiding doing business with businesses that unnecessarily pollute the environment (and encouraging others to do the same). No one, no government, is forcing GoDaddy to change its position, but no one should force anyone to do business with them either.
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Franklin G Ryzzo (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:06pm

Re: Re: Re:
Exactly. If people back down now, it's a sign of weakness on the part of the consumers and next time GoDaddy might think they can just call the "bluff". They need to see that any support for draconian, unconstitutional legislation whether retracted or not will not be tolerated, and the only way they will feel these consequences is through a loss in their business. Some companies don't seem to understand the monetary value of a loss of goodwill until it hits their bottom line. Hard lessons are the ones that are normally retained.
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Trails (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:07pm

Re:
I've had good experiences with mediatemple.net and peer1.com
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:13pm

Re: Re: Re:
Trying to destroy their business in which they are trying to criminalize the customers who make up their business seems like a natural consequence type of justice to me. It doesn't make much sense in the business department to take the position in the first place.

A GoDaddy mass exodus is inevitable if the law passes as people move to quickly move their businesses off shore or route around the DNS system their company relies on.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:17pm

Re: Free Speech?
Sorry, I know most of this is a repeat of others, but I just wanted to jump in.

It is NOT intolerant of free speech to disagree with GoDaddy's support of SOPA. Why is that so hard to see?

It is NOT intolerant of free speech to try and persuade others to your POV. They might agree or not.

It is NOT intolerant of free speech to stop doing business with GoDaddy or any other company.

I'm pretty sick of this free speech argument.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:18pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"Also, it's ridiculous to suggest that free speech says anything about "respecting the opinions of others". Absolute B.S. and I have no respect for your opinion in this case. Are your free speech rights violated by that? Nonsense."

If you use your power to show me down, if you threaten my business or my career in order to get me to "shut up" or "switch sides", then yes... I feel my rights are violated. What happened to GoDaddy isn't just people saying "you should change your mind, and here is why", it's people saying "change your mind, or we will try to drive you out of business".

The first rule of removing free speech is making everyone say the same thing, even if they don't believe it.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:18pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
but I'm sure he boycotts Techdirt, the pirate party, the EFF, various artists who give their work away for free, and others who disagree with him and act in ways he doesn't approve of, by not becoming a techdirt Insider and giving various entities his money, right?

I guess boycotting is OK only when his side does it, right?
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Barry Cogan, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:19pm

Re: Re: Re:
"What these actions did was force GoDaddy to publicly change their position, even though their support for SOPA was well stated before. They aren't changing because they "saw the light", they are changing to stop you guys from trying to destroy their business.

Jackbooted thugs couldn't do a better job."

People have opinions.

Companies serve their customers. Without without this hard earned money companies would not exist.

If customers of a service are not feeling that their money is well spent why is it wrong to leave? How is this any different from selling shares on Wall Street?
Should a service based company choose to gamble on a legal position which would greatly affect customer loyalty then they have every right to leave.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:20pm

Re: Re: Re:
They should be, corporations don't have any morals. They will gut everything for a simple penny. We need to make clear that they are not free to do whatever they want.

Society matters, nothing else.
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Paul Pentz (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:20pm

Re: Re:
Yes!
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jhn, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:24pm

People who disagree with the motives of a boycott frequently argue that boycotts per se are illigitimate.
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Barry Cogan, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:27pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
You are personifying a business?! So if a business changes its terms of service and you disagreed with it you have 2 options. Leave or suffer it.

So does that violate your rights too?

Businesses exist to serve the people. That has all been forgotten in the glorious pursuit of capitalism. :)
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:28pm

Re: $$ talks
"I'm glad to see they finally have woken up and realized how bad this bill is and how strongly against it the internet community is."

The thing is, they have not realized how bad the bill is, they have only withdrawn their support of the bill they helped to write because they finally realized how strongly against it the internet community is. They couldn't tell how bad the bill stinks, and that hasn't changed just because of the planned mass transfer of doamins; they still don't oppose it.
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Franklin G Ryzzo (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:31pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
GoDAddy made the decision to support legislation that the general public is adamantly against. The general public then called for a boycott of the company that stands for things that are anti-consumer and against their wishes. This is a consequence of taking a public stance supporting legislation that isn't in the interest of the public ie: your customers. When you piss off your customers you can't bitch about it when they stop doing business with you and tell all their friends not to do business with you either.

It's quite sad that you would condemn the public for taking actions against a corporation with the only power we have: our business. If anything, the boycotters should be commended for standing up for what they believe in and they should be encouraged to do this more often. The market is who should be running the show, and the businesses that serve the market need to realize their place in the equation.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:32pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"If you use your power to show me down, if you threaten my business or my career in order to get me to "shut up" or "switch sides", then yes... I feel my rights are violated."

Well then thank God our civil rights aren't predecated on such whimsical and highly stupid things like your "feelings". Shouting down opposition, as you call it, does not violate free speech one iota, as you're still free to voice any opinion you like just as loudly. Threats of boycot don't violate free speech on iota, since you can still voice your thoughts as you please and your customers can react accordingly (BTW, you do realize that the power of speech with your spending dollar is free speech too, right dummy?).

To conclude, you're the worst kind of citizen, one who advocates rights they don't understand, argues legal terms they cannot grasp, yet do both in a manner suggesting some self-deluded state of confidence in their own opinion. You've got as much credibility as a talk show host, and only nearly as much intelligence and forethought.

Still, all that said, you have your free speech, no matter little insignificant "feelings"....
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Atkray (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:36pm

Re: Re:
But.

But..

But...

99� domain names!
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average_joe (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:39pm

"Fighting online piracy is of the utmost importance, which is why Go Daddy has been working to help craft revisions to this legislation -- but we can clearly do better," Warren Adelman, Go Daddy's newly appointed CEO, said. "It's very important that all Internet stakeholders work together on this. Getting it right is worth the wait. Go Daddy will support it when and if the Internet community supports it."

What spinelessness. "We'll like it when you like it too." Give me a break. I don't care whether Go Daddy supports it or not, but I think it's hilarious that they're being such transparent weasels about it. Score one for the "file sharers."
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Justin Olbrantz (Quantam), 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:41pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Undoubtedly. When he does it he's being an upstanding and dutiful citizen. When people he disagrees with do it it's genocide.
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Alexander Edbom, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:42pm

Fake and gay
That statement is so fake.

They still support SOPA just not as officially as before because they don't want to lose money.

They are still supporting controll and censorship of Internet, continue moving from GoDaddy.
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Dark Helmet (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:42pm

Re:
"What spinelessness. "We'll like it when you like it too." Give me a break. I don't care whether Go Daddy supports it or not, but I think it's hilarious that they're being such transparent weasels about it. Score one for the "file sharers.""

I happen to agree with this. This is shameless capitulation. It would've been one thing if they said something like, "look, we happen to think the legislation is good, but since our customers have voiced their opposition en masse, we are going to refrain from further public support", but this whole "we'll support whatever you waaaaant! Please don't leeeaaavve!" act is pathetic...
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Alex, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:45pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
I don't know how much you know about the world but paying for something is the same thing as voting.

Corporation have no souls, only greed for more money and controll.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:54pm

It's a trick...
...get an axe.

(See "Army of Darkness" if you don't recognize this.)
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:55pm

Re: Re: Re:
Part of free speech is respecting the opinions of others, even if you don't agree. It's something that is sorely lacking around here

The hypocrisy here is palpable.

pressuring others to not do business with them as well based solely on their stand against piracy is just not right.

This has *nothing to do* with GoDaddy's position on "piracy", and everything to do with their support of an unconscionable bill that will censor the internet and *not* stop piracy. The reasons for this have been made abundantly clear, and yet you keep spouting it here, completely ignoring everything that's been said, and then complaining that us explaining why you're mistaken is somehow "lacking" us respecting your opinion.

Telling others about this is not "pressuring" anyone to do anything, and if you had a shred if intellectual honesty, you would admit that.

Jackbooted thugs couldn't do a better job.

Sorry, did we steal them from you?
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Ben (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 12:57pm

Re: Re: Re:
Part of free speech is respecting the opinions of others

Uh, I don't think it is, especially if those opinions are morally wrong or even insane.
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Grae (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:01pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Your argument fails because no one is being coerced against their will to stop spending money with GoDaddy. GoDaddy's customers are simply being given facts regarding the conduct of GoDaddy's executive staff and information about where they can go if they disagree with this conduct and wish to take their business elsewhere.

The bottom line is that no one is being forced to do anything. Lots of customers are getting factual information and making decisions based on that information, but that falls a long, long way short of "making everyone say the same thing, even if they don't believe it."

You seemed to be dancing awfully close to the entitlement attitude that you or your business has a "right to profit". Which is so backwards and asinine that I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you don't actually support such a notion.
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Atkray (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:02pm

Re:
awww,

poor lil feller his favorite bill is no longer on the fast track for passage so now he is lashing out.

You should get some anger management classes.
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gorehound (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:03pm

Re:
email or call of the Companies on the list from the official government site.If they were willing to support it then I will still boyoctt all I can possible.
They never should of had agreed to it in the first place !!!
And if they did once they will again once they think people have calmed down.
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Someantimalwareguy (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:20pm

Re: Re:
And this is how you get led down the garden path. If they are going to say something, they should know what they are talking about before opening their mouths...
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btrussell (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:23pm

Re:
Might want to pursue that money before they declare bankruptcy.
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hothmonster, 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:24pm

I guess the leavings from ICE and DOD were not enough for them once all their customers started running away.

I sure fucking hope its too late to save their business
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Rich, 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:28pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
How does it feel? The corporations and people like you that shill for them have been trying to steal OUR government. It's disgusting, and it certainly isn't anything about freedom.
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ACitizenNotAConsumer, 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:29pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Yes, because the business/politician/service provider is their at MY whim. I don't owe a business anything. I can and will change my opinion at any point. It's on them to respect MY WILL not the other way around.
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Justin Olbrantz (Quantam), 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:34pm

Fascinating
It seems a lot of companies are suddenly realizing that all these thieving pirates that want everything for free and will never pay for anything ever actually buy stuff, and if you attack them they are liable to buy it from somebody else in the future.

Funny how quick some non-media companies learn.
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The Infamous Joe (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:34pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
One can respect a person's right to have an opinion without respecting the content of that opinion. See: Westboro Baptist Church
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:34pm

My dollar is a vote when I buy. I treat it like that. I don't like how you do your business by my beliefs (whether they are right or wrong has no bearing on a belief) then you are not getting my money. Like it, lump it, I don't care. That business has no right to pull the money out of my wallet. I'm in charge of that. Everything about free speech, economy terrorism, whatever means nada. Get this...it's MY CHOICE.

Since this business went viral on Reddit with closing hosting accounts held by those doing it through GoDaddy, the pressure is why GoDaddy is changing it's tune. Like all businesses, economic health comes first.

That doesn't mean it's changed its ways, it means it sees poor times ahead if it doesn't do a disclaimer.
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Anonymous Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 1:37pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
One caveat, corporations should not have free speech rights. A corporation is not an individual.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 2:01pm

Re: Re: Re:
.GoDaddy's actions in this are necessary but not sufficient to indicate that they are not honourable

They've already proven that, long ago. Their own spamming history and their ardent, large-scale, sustained support for tens of thousands of spammer/scammer/phisher domains has demonstrated that beyond all possible argument. This latest episode is certainly sleazy and duplicitous, but perfectly in keeping with their established pattern of behavior.

The best way to understand anything GoDaddy does is to remember that they will do ANYTHING for money...if they can get away with it. That's the only "principle" they have. It drives every corporate decision, and it's the only concern their PR staff, legal counsel, and executives have.
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Richard (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 2:07pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
"Part of free speech is respecting the opinions of others"

Uh, I don't think it is, especially if those opinions are morally wrong or even insane.

He is confusing respecting the right to express an opinion with respecting the opinion itself.

This lack of logical precision is typical of his arguments.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 2:09pm

Re: SOPA Was The Perfect Racket For GoDaddy
This is EXACTLY the business model they've used with their pet spammers for years. They offer bulk domain pricing (with a sly wink) because they know that they only people on the entire Internet who need to buy domains 500 or 1000 at a time are spammers. When they're eventually pressured to shut down 1 or 2 or 150, they just sell the same spammers more. Meanwhile, they pass on complaints to the spammers so that they can list-wash complainers, reducing the probability that their newly-spamming domains will be detected. And then, of course, GoDaddy sells them another 500 domains. Everybody's happy: the spammers get to keep operating with low overhead and useful intelligence, GoDaddy keeps ringing the cash register.

GoDaddy is sleazy and evil, but they're not stupid. They've already calculated that they can make a fortune off SOPA (or similar legislation) by working this same trick. No doubt they've ALSO calculated that they can get up on the soapbox and proclaim what great, upstanding, fine citizens they are because they've "confiscated 1,982 domains this year"...which the naive and the stupid will believe, failing to notice that all it means is that GoDaddy also sold at least another 1,982 domains as a result.
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Violated (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 2:11pm

So Long, Fair Well
I moved my own domain away from GoDaddy yesterday and I sure won't return all the time GoDaddy supports censorship and dangerous bills like this one.

Well I trust they read my email which was only one of the many thousands they did receive.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 2:13pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
I can support someone's right to smoke cigarettes without supporting their choice to do so (ie: financially or otherwise).

Same thing here. I can support someone's right to their opinion without supporting their choice of that opinion and without supporting or funding it myself.
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Rich Kulawiec, 23 Dec 2011 @ 2:15pm

Re: Re: Re:
"[...] what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
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jccar, 23 Dec 2011 @ 2:17pm

Re: Re:
Here's a quote from their new CEO, I found it in this post on BetaBeat.com http://www.betabeat.com/2011/12/23/godaddy-ceo-adelman-credits-reaction-from-the-masses-for-sopa-swi tch/

If ever a quote deserved to be described as 'weasel words,' it's this one.
[here's the quote]
"But withdrawing its support for the bill doesn�t necessarily mean that GoDaddy will put its political muscle towards stopping it, at least right now. �We�re going to observe and see what others propose,� Mr. Adelman said, noting that GoDaddy was not precluding trying to actively prevent the bill�s passage in the future, but, at this time, they were content to let �others� take more of a leadership role around this bill."
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Dennis S. (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 2:22pm

Don't stop boycotting GoDaddy just yet. The Techdirt Article may need an update.
Gizmodo - 2011-12-23 - Brave GoDaddy CEO Says He�s Neither For Nor Against SOPA
http://gizmodo.com/5870920/brave-godaddy-ceo-says-hes-neither-for-nor-against-sopa

Quote: "Adelman said GoDaddy would be willing to resume its support of SOPA if there were a "consensus" among "internet leadership," but wouldn't tell me what such a consensus would even resemble."
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 2:32pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Isn't it fucking weird how, in order to have an affect on the political system, you have to have an affect on businesses first?
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what_Idonteven, 23 Dec 2011 @ 2:32pm

Re: Re: Re:
"GoDaddy (and other companies) should not be subject of boycotts for having an opinion and working with it. You have the choice not to do business with them, but pressuring others to not do business with them as well based solely on their stand against piracy is just not right."

It's not their stand on piracy that caused people to boycott them. Everyone agrees that piracy needs to be stopped, but this bill would effectively allow any corporation to shut down any website based on them claiming that there was a copyright violation. Not to mention that "Polis pointed out that SOPA and Smith�s amendment already excluded certain operators of sub-domains, such as GoDaddy.com, from being subject to shutdowns under SOPA." - Source (http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/sopa-hearing-will-never-end.php) So basically they're eliminating their competition while being exempt from the same law. Using greed to justify eliminating free speech.

So what do you think is going to happen when corporations have that power? Seeing as how corporations don't abuse any power they have, they would probably only use it when they absolutely need to, right?

Please educate yourself on SOPA before commenting on it. Also, Happy Holidays everyone!
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Ilfar, 23 Dec 2011 @ 2:43pm

Re: Re:
I would like to change my plea from not guilty to guilty, do I get to walk free now?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 2:58pm

Well no wonder.
Well no wonder GoDaddy was in favor of SOPA, they were exempt from it from the beginning. . The fucking cunts.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 3:00pm

Re: Well no wonder.
Basically, GoDaddy supported SOPA because it would kill their competition while exempting them from having to deal with it altogether. Conniving little assholes.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 3:08pm

Re: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Furthermore, what we need to do is create a bill that does the following

A: Substantially shortens copy'right' lengths retroactively

B: Reduces infringement penalties to something reasonable

C: Increases the penalties for (even non-intentional and especially intentional) copyfraud to make them greater than the penalties for infringement

D: Makes copy'right' opt in in a way that requires works to first be registered with and submitted to the LOC so that people can better reference protected works to avoid infringement and so that those works can be released to the public upon their protection expiration date

F: Perhaps increases the scope of fair use.

G: Bans software patents

H: Substantially reduces the length of tech-related patents

and we should explicitly favor businesses that support this new bill over those that don't and boycott any previous SOPA/PIPA/pro-IP supporters that later changed their stance if they don't support this new bill to reduce IP laws.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 3:38pm

Also remember...
All this talk is only about SOPA. GoDaddy, though they can't even seem to get their turnaround statements right, STILL supports PROTECT IP. Nowhere do they say otherwise. With all the current focus on SOPA, it's no wonder why Harry Reid decided to try again and slip PROTECT IP through again next month.

Any boycott should continue until BOTH bills are dead.
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Anonymous, 23 Dec 2011 @ 4:31pm

B.S. ALERT!!!!!
� GoDaddy's CEO released a statement saying his company isn't firmly against the bill(s) even saying the "internet leadership" doesn't have a "consensus" for or against SOPA when it clearly does have a consensus against it.

� Christine Jones testimony to Congress supported the legislation and there's been no retraction. She has bragged about how her company shut down thousands of domain names without the government's involvement: 30,000+ domain names in 2010 alone. They've repeatedly shown how much they don't care about their customer's ability to remove UGC with a scalpel and they just nuke entire sites. They notoriously shut down seclists.org in 2007 because a list of some MySpace users passwords were posted to one of the many security lists it archives, ignoring the fact the list was elsewhere anyway and the owner of seclists ability to just remove the post in question.

� IPEC Deputy Andrew Kline resigned in July to be GoDaddy's chief liason to the government. GoDaddy's press release on the hire applauded how he had a hand in ICE's domain name seizures. Also in the Andrew Kline press release they claim "the Go Daddy legal team has helped create federal laws to aggressively fight intellectual property violations, protect children from online predators and shut down rogue online pharmacies."

� GoDaddy has been receiving thousands of allegedly trademark infringing domain names the courts have been seizing for Chanel, Tiffany's and more luxury brands since last summer. No matter what registrar they were at, they all get transferred to a courted owned GoDaddy account and then forwarded to pages on servingnotice.com.

December 29th is still on. Keep up the boycott and make them feel the pain!
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 5:00pm

Why is this filed under PIPA mike?
Their press release has no mention of PIPA.

Hint: It's because they still support that bill.
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Marcel de Jong (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 5:33pm

Re: Re: Re:
Not only did they wait too long, at first they were even taunting the bear by stating: "we're not really seeing an impact from this supposed boycott" (I'm paraphrasing here)
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Trails (profile), 23 Dec 2011 @ 7:35pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"(BTW, you do realize that the power of speech with your spending dollar is free speech too, right dummy?)."

Insightful X 1,000,000

Voting with one's wallet is probably more effective than any other vote one can cast, case in point.
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Chat, 23 Dec 2011 @ 9:41pm

Too Late
Definitely too late. I think this is the last straw GoDaddy. How could you support something like this in the first place?

Anyone have recommendations on their favorite registrar?
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 9:49pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"BTW, you do realize that the power of speech with your spending dollar is free speech too, right dummy?"

Fuck me, it's like talking to walls in here.

Helmet, I am not commenting on YOUR free speech - I am commenting on what might be called the "chilling effects" on free speech that threats like this make.

"change you mind or we will put you out of business". I know one side is using free speech, but the other side, well, they better shut the fuck up or get run out of business.

Seems they don't get a whole lot of free speech.
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abc gum, 23 Dec 2011 @ 10:20pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"One caveat, corporations should not have free speech rights. A corporation is not an individual."

Yes, and that fact makes the argument against SOPA even stronger
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 10:46pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Wans't you saying that without laws there would be no consequences?

Well there you got it why we don't need the government to police things for society, people can and are willing to stand up for things they believe in, we don't need censor laws to do it, you need because you are not a majority and so you can't call the people to help you.

This is free speech, you idiots can say whatever you want and now have to live with it.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 10:50pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Yep, that is why people need to bring the discussion to the public side and I don't mean congress it has to happen here in the open, where anybody, from Joe six pack to Kings can voice their opinions, propose something and have everybody reach an agreement on what should happen next.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:12pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Here is the difference moron, nobody can shutdown NAMBA - North American Man/Boy Love Association people can boycott them but nobody can go there and shut them down forcibly, so you can choose, you have a choice, that is very different from having the government say what is acceptable or not and with the power to shut everything down at a whim.

The funny part is that you told everybody else that keyboard warriors couldn't do nothing LoL

Why don't you go get the other list, you know the one with the anti-SOPA people and go boycott them?

I'm sure they don't mind, blackball every single one of them, make a coalition of companies and shut them down, don't allow them to buy anything from you or your partners.
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Dec 2011 @ 11:32pm

Die GoDaddy, die!
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Dec 2011 @ 2:33am

Re: Re: Re:
So what about all the RIAA/Hollywood cries to boycott Google and other job creating technology companies?
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Dec 2011 @ 2:37am

Re:
It's too late for them to pull out now, they've all ready shot their load and she's pregnant.
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Grashnak, 24 Dec 2011 @ 3:02am

Re:
You're mistaking "freedom of speech" for "freedom from consequences".

Nobody said GoDaddy couldn't support SOPA. They just said that IF GoDaddy supported SOPA, they would take their business elsewhere.

This is pretty much exactly how free speech is supposed to work. You can offend anyone you want, but you have to live with the consequences.
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techflaws.org (profile), 24 Dec 2011 @ 4:08am

Re: Re: Re:
Part of free speech is respecting the opinions of others,

We do respect GoDaddy's opinion but also respect our money we're repectfully investing elsewhere.
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techflaws.org (profile), 24 Dec 2011 @ 4:11am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Fuck me, it's like talking to walls in here.

Well, that usually happens if you spout inane bullshit like you have.
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btrussell (profile), 24 Dec 2011 @ 4:29am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"change you mind or we will put you out of business"

Nice spin.

But that is not what they are saying, is it?

They are saying if that is your opinion we do not wish to do business with you.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Dec 2011 @ 4:51am

Re: Re: Re:
The thing is that a corporation isn't a person, the emotional laws that govern people don't govern corporations. The corp doesn't care about its ego, it cares about its bottom line. The only way to make a corporation realize anything is to hurt its bottom line.
And I want to make it very clear. It's not done hurting yet. Personally, I'm moving my site from GoDaddy, and I'm hoping so many users move away from GoDaddy and it goes so deep into the red that no company will DARE make another move like this in the future.
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FuzzyDuck, 24 Dec 2011 @ 5:09am

Re: Re:
Their letter seems rather half-hearted to me. They're just saying they are against it because other people are to.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Dec 2011 @ 5:38am

Re: Re: Re:
GoDaddy and others would say anything to avoid financial pain, they are not a good company, they stand for nothing and care for nothing and would sell their mothers if it meant making a buck, heck they are selling the country out along with democracy and freedom.
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PaulT (profile), 24 Dec 2011 @ 8:07am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
"Seems they don't get a whole lot of free speech."

Seems to me like you don't "get" what freedom of speech is.

GoDaddy have exactly the same right to free speech as any of its customers. They can say whatever they wish. However, they don't have a right to profit from said speech, nor can they force customer to stay with them if they wish to go elsewhere.

Similarly, consumers can do business with whoever they wish. If a customer feels that GoDaddy's stance on this issue is damaging to them, or the internet as a whole, they are equally free to take their money elsewhere. In the same way as Lowes' customers are free to shop elsewhere if they disagree with their support of xenophobic bigots, or customers of Google can stop using their search engine they disagree with their stance on piracy issues.

Freedom of speech does not mean that you have freedom from the consequences of said speech.

"they better shut the fuck up or get run out of business."

It's a shame, however unsurprising, that you appear to equate the exercise of consumer rights with some kind of threat. You do seem to have great difficulty in grasping that a company can only dictate its terms of business while customers agree. Go too far against its own clients' wishes, and they lose money. This is how a free market works, deal with it.
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Jay (profile), 24 Dec 2011 @ 3:24pm

Re: Where do the seized domains go?
Verisign gets them. GoDaddy just wanted to be an architect on the censorship net.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Dec 2011 @ 4:39pm

Re: Re: Re:
I disagree. I think they would have worked too.
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Jay (profile), 24 Dec 2011 @ 8:14pm

Re:
37,000 domains have been switched so far. Let's see how bad they really make their lives with this decision to support SOPA.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Dec 2011 @ 5:42am

Re: Re:
37k and counting....

Hey, Shills, still think we are 'nobody'?
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Dec 2011 @ 5:43am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
http://venturebeat.com/2011/12/24/godaddy-domain-loss/
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Trails (profile), 25 Dec 2011 @ 8:24am

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"Fuck me, it's like talking to walls in here."

You said it.

Refusing to spend money with a business because they support legislation you do not like is not "threatening a business".

A boycott is not extortion. You act as if it's a threat to firebomb GoDaddy offices, it isn't, and you know it isn't. Stop shilling, go get a real job.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Dec 2011 @ 8:38am

Re: Re:
According to TheDomain.com .... another 28,656 on Saturday...
(that site is now down, however lol....)
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LC (profile), 26 Dec 2011 @ 6:32pm

Bullshit.

They likely still secretly support it but are only doing this as a PR exercise in order to reduce the number of users they're bleeding (37,000+ last I heard) and in order to stop Drop your GoDaddy Domain Day. Do not be surprised when it's discovered that they continued to support the bills further down the track.

And even if they don't, you can bet their support has been paraded around by politicians who support the act. An internet company whose willing to support the bills would have significant leverage on the debate. They have to do something to make up for that. And lets not forget that the legislation they've been supporting would end up turning many of those who use their service into criminals. By supporting these acts, they demonstrated they were willing to betray their own customers. If they truly are against it, they will donate a sizable amount of money to spread public awareness of SOPA/PIPA and to support the campaigns of politicians who have or will vote against the laws. Then and only then will I believe them.

Until that happens, I would ask that anyone whose threatened to walk away from them to make good on their threat, and those who have walked away continue to make good on it. Actions speak louder than words (that goes to both those who threatened to jump ship and GoDaddy themselves). If GoDaddy goes under because of this, imagine the message it will give to other supporters of the act.

I'm happy my employers don't use GoDaddy to host their domains.
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LC (profile), 26 Dec 2011 @ 7:12pm

@ Anonymous Coward, Dec 23rd, 2011 @ 11:52am

No-one's attacking GoDaddy's right to publicly support legislation. But in turn, people also have the right to both stop doing business with a company which supports legislation they do not agree with, announce the fact they are doing so, and encourage (but not force) others to do the same. The catch is [b]ALL[/b] of that is protected by the same principle of free speech that allows GoDaddy to say they support the act.

Threatening to stop doing business with a company for any reason whatsoever is a perfectly legitimate and peaceful way to get ones point across and is most definitely NOT extortion. Extortion is the use of violence or threats of it to make someone do or not do something. You comparing someone peacefully moving their business away from a company who spends their customer's money doing something they don't agree with to someone sending a letter bomb to GoDaddy's headquarters for spending their customer's money on something they don't agree with. Saying they are one-and-the-same is fallacious, misleading and ignorant.
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Overcast (profile), 27 Dec 2011 @ 12:58pm

Too bad GoDaddy - already warned the customers I have and they are pulling their domains - they didn't like the concept that you support SOPA ever.

I don't care about attacking their rights - but I and the people I help with web pages/hosting have the right to GTFO too and it's being exercised.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Dec 2011 @ 8:35am

Re: Re: Re: FTFY
Part of free speech is respecting the opinions of others, even if you don't agree. It's something that is sorely lacking around Congress, and seems to be sorely lacking in the overall SOPA groups.

ISP's (and other companies) should not be subject of boycotts (fines) for offering a service to their customers and working with them. You have the choice not to do business with an ISP, but pressuring ISP's to not do business with their customers and advertising partners as well based solely on their 'good faith' claim that 'someone is infringing our copyrights' is just not right.

What these actions did was force Congress to publicly ignore the public, even though their opposition to SOPA was well stated. They aren't changing because they "saw the light", they are changing destroy those businesses that don't support them via lobbying.

Jackbooted thugs will do a better job once SOPA passes.
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Hatena, 16 Jun 2017 @ 7:03pm

Too bad GoDaddy - already warned the customers I have and they are pulling their domains
GoDaddy has been receiving thousands of allegedly trademark infringing domain names the courts have been seizing for Chanel, Tiffany's and more luxury brands since last summer. No matter what registrar they were at, they all get transferred to a courted owned GoDaddy account and then forwarded to pages on servingnotice.com.
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Tyler O'Kane, 20 Aug 2017 @ 2:17pm

Stand your ground
why should they have to shoulder the fight if no one else is going to chip in? I agree people should help and should not be stuck to go daddy just because they are a giant in the internet space.
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