As Expected, SOPA Supporters Hate More Reasonable Alternative

from the of-course-they-do dept

Last week, we wrote about an interesting proposal from a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives to deal with the supposed problem of "rogue sites" without the censorship and technical problems of SOPA/PIPA, by recognizing that this is an international trade issue. It still allows copyright and trademark holders to go after the worst of the worst -- which is exactly what the supporters of SOPA/PIPA claim they want. However, not surprisingly, the truth is coming out and they hate the new proposal.

Of course, this really proves the key point that many have been making. SOPA/PIPA have never been about taking down truly rogue sites. If so, supporters of those bills would embrace a proposal that really does focus on such sites. Instead, they're about very broad internet regulation that allows the entertainment industry to try to regain control over a market that they no longer control. The entertainment industry wants SOPA/PIPA because they don't know how -- or don't want to learn -- to innovate based on the internet today. So, instead, they're seeking regulations that basically let them attack anything they don't understand or don't control. When legislation comes along that narrowly focuses on the specific issue, it doesn't serve that purpose, so of course they hate it.

Still, it pretty much reveals their true views, to react so negatively to a plan that does what they claimed they wanted. It proves that's not what they wanted at all.

Filed Under: copyright, donald issa, itc, pipa, protect ip, ron wyden, sopa, trade