Over 120,000 People Sign Petition Asking EA To Officially Come Out Against SOPA
from the well,-they-should dept
Recently, despite some internet reports to the contrary, we noted that EA had not taken a stance on SOPA -- and it seemed clear the company had no intention to do so. It seems that many EA and video gaming fans don't find that acceptable. They've created an online petition asking EA to actually take a stand on the bills:The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is a tool that protects monopolists and targets sites relied on by small-time businesses, like indie game developers and artists, condoning disproportionate action against these sites for any evidence of copyright infringement from any of their users. If EA wants to protect their monopoly so badly, we need to let them know that they will lose far more business by supporting this bill than by allowing indie developers to operate unimpeded. It is obvious that this bill's primary use is to paint a big red bullseye on the main distributors of indie content, protecting the market shares of big-time businesses like Electronic Arts.It's too bad they don't mention PIPA too, but... As I write this, there are already about 120,000 signatures, which is pretty impressive. Will EA listen?
EA is a member of the Entertainment Software Association which supports SOPA. It's time for EA to stand up and publicly oppose SOPA. Don't mess with the internet, EA. You will regret it.
It seems likely that the company doesn't want to take a stance either way, but as the petition notes, not saying something about this could be just as bad. And it doesn't even have to be anything big. Take, for example, how NVIDIA just came out against the bill. Despite also being a member of the ESA, NVIDIA notes that it disagrees with ESA and doesn't think this bill is the right approach:
NVIDIA wasn’t consulted by ESA in formulating their position on SOPA. Our position is this: we oppose piracy, as it hurts our game-developer partners. However, we do not support SOPA. We don’t believe it is the right solution to the problem. We remain committed to working to address this problem in a constructive and fair manner.It seems like EA could do the same thing... assuming that it, too, did not work with ESA on its position. Of course, if it did... well... then things are complicated.
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Filed Under: petition, pipa, protect ip, sopa, video games
Companies: ea, esa, nvidia
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I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
I may still play EA games, but I buy them used from Gamestop. Guess how much EA gets in that.
Screw them. When they return to being a game developer and not a shareholder placating machine, I return to supporting them
SOPA has nothing to do with this.
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Re: I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
Their coming out against the bill would be a major blow to people who still like to pretend that Google and pirates are the only opposition, and hopefully provide enough of an impetus to get other big names to speak out as well. Once multi-billion dollar companies in the very areas SOPA is pushed as protecting start publicly opposing the bill, it should start to cast doubt in the minds of politicians who have ignored the public thus far, whether through greed or ignorance.
Please, continue boycotting them in other ways, but I don't see how them opposing SOPA publicly could be a bad thing.
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Re: Re: I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
Download cracked version of game.
Install cracked version of game with legit purchased game key.
Enjoy!
(I can vouch for the efficacy of this process for Spore and Sim 3--two games which have horrid computer killing DRM otherwise.)
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Re: Re: Re: I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
I'm more familiar with the Sims games, and the official EA channels for sharing user generated content are rife with what could be interpreted as copyright infringement (textures, artwork, logos, stories, characters, movies, etc. applied to game materials). Disney, as an example, could have a lawsuit field day with EA if it chose to, if EA was to be held responsible for what users upload to EA's own exchange system. EA has online exchanges in many different foreign countries as well, all of which are "visible" to US netizens.
Potentially very messy.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
What? There were no jobs? Oh heck. Just go get 'em anyway. We just can't have this going on!
So saith the RIAA, MPAA and ESA.
Here endeth the lesson.
/sarcasm
maybe
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Re: Re: Re: I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
- Buy from a competitor.
- Tell them loudly and clearly why you chose a competitor's product over theirs (bonus points for explaining that you though their game was better, but DRM/whatever made it less valuable).
- Equally loudly, encourage others to do the same.
In other words, don't make them think that you just wanted the game but couldn't be bothered to pay for it. Make them fully aware that you wanted the title, but your money went to a competitor as a direct result of EA's own actions. You might have to go without some games you'd love to play for a while, but they'll get the message more quickly than any level of playing cracked games would ever achieve.
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Re: Re: I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
That's not even counting Adam Savage, MC Hammer, Ashton Kutcher, Karen Alloy (unfortunately some of her facts in this clip are incorrect, but nowhere near some of the "incorrect fact" of the some of the bigger SOPA supporters, and yes that Emmy is really hers, Red 5 Studios (who will be joining the January 18th blackout, and speaking of blackout, while Youtube isn't officially joining the blackout - and I can understand why, to a degree - a coalition of Youtube channels are discussing plans to at least black out their corners of Youtube).
One of the reasons there isn't even more opposition (or at least growing as fast) is a lot of older (read over 40ish) people (and often not so internet savvy in a lot of cases) are/have been more focused on the financial trouble of the last few years (I know more than a handful who have lost thousands, in some cases tens of thousands, of dollars in investments, 401Ks, savings.
The Declaration of Independence says this:
and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
The politicians and corporate interests are starting to push themselves beyond the point of what is sufferable to a growing number of people.
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Re: Re: I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
I derailed the conversation right off the bat, didn't I. Sorry about that.
Personally, I wish EA would come out in support. However, this is not a stupid company, even though they make stupid decisions.
EA will keep quiet, if only to give them arsenal needed in the future. My predictions:
Against SOPA:
"Those who felt we opposed SOPA continue to pirate our wares and now we actively regret our decision to stop the threat of our business."
For SOPA:
"Our support in SOPA was appreciative we could combat piracy, but since it appears it's not working, we shall continue with DRM and crafting ways to circumvent the secondary gaming market."
Rock, meet they hard place. As gamers, when do we get our support.
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Re: Re: Re: I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
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Re: I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
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Re: I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
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Re: Re: I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
If you think this is justified to do to people WHO ARE BUYING THE GAME, then we're going to meet at an impasse.
Checkmate.
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Re: Re: I don't need EA to refuse support for SOPA.
Scumbag derp.
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Re:
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Anymore the only online PC games I play are MMO's.My husband was going to buy BF3 and he was very very excited about it, but their DRM stopped him in his tracks & he refuses to buy it. DRM & has made PC game companies lose at least 2 customers right here.
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Insight
"Not many like piracy but everyone hates SOPA"
I was quite impressed with the words of this petition when it takes a high degree of insight to realise that it is the Indie productions and distribution channels who are the real target and not the pirates. Follow the money trial and it soon becomes clear where the profit is to be found. Also all about protecting their monopoly.
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Re: Insight
Isoroku Yamamoto
Are you listening EA?
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EA and SOPA
Gee, I wonder what EA could possibly have to gain from supporting SOPA. :-/
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Same here. I play mostly all MMOs now - but right before starting my most recent one, I started to play Fallout NV. We bought a copy, my son had already played, finished and uninstalled it. I went to install it - had issues with Steam. When I fired up the browser to go re-install Steam, yet AGAIN - I happened to notice an email giving me some free time... and signed back up.
So sorry Bethesda - if I would have played Fallout NV, I'm sure I would have bought some DLC's and probably went on and bought Skyrim later, but alas, I'm having too much fun with my MMO, so no need.
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shared this
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But why stop there? Extend the petition to every company and organization that interface with the public. For example, I would like to know where the ASPCA stands.
After all, their collective hearts will be ripped out if legislation such as this passes in Congress.
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Re:
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SCREW SOPA/PIPA/OPEN
We do not want our lives to be Censored and those who try to do it will end up in a sorry state.
We are Americans and they do not own us.
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Stop buying EA new released games. Stop buying all new released video games until these game cartels start dropping their ESA membership and support for SOPA.
The video game industry is making more money now than Hollywood movies. The video game industry is not being affected by piracy. So then why are they supporting SOPA??
Its all about control. So lets take away that control with one simple thing- Stop buying new released video games!!
We know where to find the new games now dont we...
Utill then, Stop buying new release video games!!
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EA doesn't care that much about gamers
Gamers don't matter to EA. Profits do, and if SOPA brings in more profits, EA's fine with that.
Money doesn't talk-it screams.
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