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...

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

32 Comments

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

You mess with LoLCats and there will be blood!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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fb39ca4, 27 Jan 2012 @ 6:47am

No, the MAFIAA think Fox is a good source of news.
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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.
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Mesonoxian Eve (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:04am

Re:
Seconded.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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demented, 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:57am

Re:
We rainz da furie of 1000 lolcats upon u!
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demented, 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:57am

Re:
After all, they were pro-SOPA too.
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8bitkieran, 27 Jan 2012 @ 7:59am

Re: Re:
The Onion is as reliable and reputable as Fox news IMO...
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AdamBv1 (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 8:18am

Re: Re: Re:
Where's that "Sad but true" button again?
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el_segfaulto (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 8:32am

Re: Re:
Dear Lord, not the furries!
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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.
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 8:58am

Re: Re:
we needz over 9000 lolcats to make dem pays
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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.
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Anonymous Coward, 27 Jan 2012 @ 9:41am

Re:
woosh

Oh wait my sarcometer is blinking on this one too. Nice.
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Franklin G Ryzzo (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 10:32am

Re: Re: Re:
9001 lolcats approved. We can haz vengens!
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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 :(
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Atkray (profile), 27 Jan 2012 @ 10:36am

Re: Wow. Talk about "fair use".
y u hate Loolcats?
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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.
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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/
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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?
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nasch (profile), 28 Jan 2012 @ 5:52pm

Re: Re:
The MPAA and RIAA probably think

Whoa, you lost me there.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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
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