The Onion Explains SOPA And PIPA (As Only The Onion Can)

from the cutting-through-the-onion dept

Fri, Jan 27th 2012 6:05am — Mike Masnick

Well, it took some time, but with so much disinformation that was spread online about SOPA and PIPA, we really needed someone to cut through the clutter... and who better than The Onion? They've finally done so with their simple SOPA/PIPA explainer that includes some of the finer points of the law that you may have missed if you hadn't read the bill carefully:

Music review sites can only allude to a song's title and content in vague terms

All pirated material available only at the Commerce Department's new site, Torrent.gov

Government will actively encourage people to download only public-domain music, such as Pipey Lester's "That Cat's a-Mewing!" or Ukulele Ted's "Nickel For Your Hat"

Denies future generations the ability to watch hilarious scene from Dirty Work where Chris Farley yells at the Asian hooker anytime, free of charge, which is a fundamental right of being an American

Does absolutely nothing to get rid of goddamn Lolcats

Makes the MPAA and RIAA feel better, which, if you have any shred of a soul, causes pure rage to swell through your very being

Any person suspected of Photoshopping bill sponsor Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) in an unflattering manner shall be subject to a minimum sentence of two months in prison; sentence will be increased by an additional two months if MS Paint is used

No longer legal to steal Ryan Gosling's credit card information

If only they'd shared this info sooner, so much misinformation would have been stopped...

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: pipa, protect ip, sopa, the onion

32 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

That Anonymous Coward (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 6:18am

You mess with LoLCats and there will be blood!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Mesonoxian Eve (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:04am
  
  Re:
  Seconded.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- demented, 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:57am
  
  Re:
  We rainz da furie of 1000 lolcats upon u!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - el_segfaulto (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 8:32am
    
    Re: Re:
    Dear Lord, not the furries!
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - That Anonymous Coward (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 8:56am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      *hands you lolspeak to engrish to texting to english dictionary*
      this will clear that right up.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - That Anonymous Coward (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 8:58am
    
    Re: Re:
    we needz over 9000 lolcats to make dem pays
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Franklin G Ryzzo (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 10:32am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      9001 lolcats approved. We can haz vengens!
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Call me Al, 27 Jan 2012 @ 6:40am

Whats the betting that the MPAA, or an equivalent, will highlight this as an example of the mistakes and disinformation published by the Google.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Michael S. (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 6:44am
  
  Re:
  Would not be surprised. The MPAA and RIAA probably think The Onion is as reputable a news source as FOX news.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased) (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 6:47am
    
    Re: Re:
    Any news show you watch nowadays is so absurd...so the Onion fits right in with the rest.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Hulser (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:54am
    
    Re: Re:
    The MPAA and RIAA probably think The Onion is as reputable a news source as FOX news.
    It is.
    
    But seriously folks, it's a shame that "fake news" acts as more of a watchdog than the traditional media outlets do.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - AdamBv1 (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 8:18am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Where's that "Sad but true" button again?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Franklin G Ryzzo (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 10:33am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I think the site tried to have one back in the day but Metallica sued :(
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - 8bitkieran, 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:59am
    
    Re: Re:
    The Onion is as reliable and reputable as Fox news IMO...
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Jason, 27 Jan 2012 @ 11:45am
    
    Re: Re:
    What they aren't? They are both full of sensationalized satire delivered under the guise of news.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - nasch (profile), 28 Jan 2012 @ 5:52pm
    
    Re: Re:
    The MPAA and RIAA probably think
    
    Whoa, you lost me there.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
fb39ca4, 27 Jan 2012 @ 6:47am

No, the MAFIAA think Fox is a good source of news.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- demented, 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:57am
  
  Re:
  After all, they were pro-SOPA too.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 27 Jan 2012 @ 6:53am

I don't think you could claim fair use by copying that much of the original, Mike. If you're just going to copy and paste other people's work, you should be more careful.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- surfer (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:24am
  
  damn
  I was gonna say that. oh wait, since copyright is extending to the idea as well as the expression, I can sue you for infringement in Germany and will. /s
  
  YOU should be more careful.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- nasch (profile), 28 Jan 2012 @ 5:53pm
  
  Re:
  I don't think you could claim fair use by copying that much of the original, Mike.
  
  Then you are misinformed (or joking, I'm not sure). Fair use can include copying an entire work.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Gwiz (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:22am

I don't think you could claim fair use by copying that much of the original, Mike. If you're just going to copy and paste other people's work, you should be more careful.

Mr. Gibson is that you? How's that Nevada State Bar inquiry going?

You must have forgotten that you proved that copying a full article can be fair use.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 27 Jan 2012 @ 9:41am
  
  Re:
  woosh
  
  Oh wait my sarcometer is blinking on this one too. Nice.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- nasch (profile), 28 Jan 2012 @ 5:54pm
  
  Re:
  D'oh my post is superfluous. Gwiz, you should use the "reply to this" link at the bottom of a comment you want to reply to. That way it shows up properly in threaded view.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Gwiz (profile), 29 Jan 2012 @ 11:37am
    
    Re: Re:
    ...you should use the "reply to this" link at the bottom of a comment you want to reply to. That way it shows up properly in threaded view.
    
    Yeah. Usually do. Screwed this one up. I do that occasionally, especially when replying to what was the bottom comment at the time.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - nasch (profile), 29 Jan 2012 @ 1:53pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      I do that occasionally, especially when replying to what was the bottom comment at the time.
      
      Oh, that makes sense. Sorry if I sounded condescending.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
bob, 27 Jan 2012 @ 9:11am

Wow. Talk about "fair use".
It's easy to be funny when you "share" 100% of someone else's work.

But hey, it's all okay if you just put a link somewhere and give them credit.

This site is usually above such wholesale plagiarism. It's sad to watch this happen.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Atkray (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 10:36am
  
  Re: Wow. Talk about "fair use".
  y u hate Loolcats?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- BeeAitch (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 1:13pm
  
  Re: Wow. Talk about "fair use".
  It's okay, bob: just think of it as a paywall of sorts and your world will be good again. :)
  
  Oh, and BIG content, BIG search, and BIG [noun].
  
  Feel better now, buddy?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- nasch (profile), 28 Jan 2012 @ 5:55pm
  
  Re: Wow. Talk about "fair use".
  But hey, it's all okay if you just put a link somewhere and give them credit.
  
  This site is usually above such wholesale plagiarism.
  
  You're not really trying very hard, are you?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Mark, 27 Jan 2012 @ 12:24pm

Orrin Hatch
Orrin Hatch has been in the Senate for 36 years and he's probably the most outspoken advocate of the Government regulating the Internet. He's for blowing up computers remotely and without due process to help people get the picture about IP:

http://www.dethronehatch.com/orrin-hatch-is-no-friend-of-the-internet/
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Norbert, 28 Feb 2012 @ 3:45am

Sopa and Pipa
Interesting article.

I believe in the long run, this SOPA type of behaviour by the US government will hurt the overall economy of the States.

More and more online e-commerce businesses will be considering moving their hosting to European based Web hosting companies. This will only hurt the overall economy structure of the US.

Thanks.

Norbert
[ link to this | view in chronology ]