In the next couple of weeks, Congress will come back to Washington to start debating, once again, legislation that would severely limit innovation online, limit free speech and weaken cybersecurity, all in the name of protecting the big content companies. [log] => [revision_timestamp] => 1326379865 [format] => 7 [name] => Art Brodsky [picture] => files/pictures/picture-4.png [data] => a:6:{s:7:"contact";i:0;s:10:"form_token";s:32:"8ccae93257cd5bd08279c4b915d339a4";s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:15:"googleanalytics";a:1:{s:6:"custom";i:1;}s:14:"wysiwyg_status";a:1:{i:7;i:7;}} [path] => blog/congress-needs-sopa-mars-needs-moms [print_display] => 1 [print_display_comment] => 0 [print_display_urllist] => 1 [print_mail_display] => 1 [print_mail_display_comment] => 0 [print_mail_display_urllist] => 1 [print_pdf_display] => 1 [print_pdf_display_comment] => 0 [print_pdf_display_urllist] => 1 [last_comment_timestamp] => 1326321406 [last_comment_name] => [comment_count] => 0 [taxonomy] => Array ( [321] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 321 [vid] => 5 [name] => SOPA [description] => This bill, H.R. 3261, or "The Stop Online Piracy Act" (SOPA), is supposed to curb infringing websites by allowing the Department of Justice to block them, but—to add insult to injury—it doesn't even do that effectively. But don't even consider talking about the easy work-arounds, because the government can go after you for that. Bellow you will find resources on how you can take action as well as our latest blog posts and analysis on the issue. [weight] => 0 ) ) [files] => Array ( ) [iids] => Array ( ) [page_title] => [nodewords] => Array ( [abstract] => Array ( [value] => ) [canonical] => Array ( [value] => ) [copyright] => Array ( [value] => ) [dc.contributor] => Array ( [value] => ) [dc.creator] => Array ( [value] => ) [dc.date] => Array ( [value] => Array ( [month] => 1 [day] => 11 [year] => 2012 ) ) [dc.title] => Array ( [value] => ) [description] => Array ( [value] => ) [keywords] => Array ( [value] => ) [location] => Array ( [latitude] => [longitude] => ) [pics-label] => Array ( [value] => ) [revisit-after] => Array ( [value] => 1 ) [robots] => Array ( [value] => Array ( [noarchive] => 0 [nofollow] => 0 [noindex] => 0 [noodp] => 0 [nosnippet] => 0 [noydir] => 0 ) [use_default] => 0 ) ) [build_mode] => 0 [readmore] => 1 [content] => Array ( [#content_extra_fields] => Array ( [title] => Array ( [label] => Title [description] => Node module form. [weight] => -5 ) [body_field] => Array ( [label] => Body [description] => Node module form. [weight] => 0 [view] => body ) [revision_information] => Array ( [label] => Revision information [description] => Node module form. [weight] => 20 ) [author] => Array ( [label] => Authoring information [description] => Node module form. [weight] => 20 ) [options] => Array ( [label] => Publishing options [description] => Node module form. [weight] => 25 ) [comment_settings] => Array ( [label] => Comment settings [description] => Comment module form. [weight] => 30 ) [menu] => Array ( [label] => Menu settings [description] => Menu module form. [weight] => -2 ) [taxonomy] => Array ( [label] => Taxonomy [description] => Taxonomy module form. [weight] => -3 ) [path] => Array ( [label] => Path settings [description] => Path module form. [weight] => 30 ) [attachments] => Array ( [label] => File attachments [description] => Upload module form. [weight] => 30 [view] => files ) [image_attach] => Array ( [label] => Attached images [description] => Image Attach module form. [weight] => 0 ) [itunes] => Array ( [label] => iTunes feed information [description] => iTunes specific information. [weight] => 0 ) [page_title] => Array ( [label] => Page Title [description] => Page Title form. [weight] => -4 ) [path_redirect] => Array ( [label] => URL redirects [description] => Path redirect module listing [weight] => 30 ) [print] => Array ( [label] => Printer, e-mail and PDF versions [description] => Print module form. [weight] => 30 ) [xmlsitemap] => Array ( [label] => XML sitemap [description] => XML sitemap module form [weight] => 30 ) [nodewords] => Array ( [label] => Meta tags [description] => Meta tags fieldset. [weight] => 10 ) ) [#pre_render] => Array ( [0] => content_alter_extra_weights ) [body] => Array ( [#weight] => 0 [#value] =>

In the next couple of weeks, Congress will come back to Washington to start debating, once again, legislation that would severely limit innovation online, limit free speech and weaken cybersecurity, all in the name of protecting the big content companies. [#title] => [#description] => [#printed] => 1 ) [#title] => [#description] => [#children] =>

In the next couple of weeks, Congress will come back to Washington to start debating, once again, legislation that would severely limit innovation online, limit free speech and weaken cybersecurity, all in the name of protecting the big content companies. [#printed] => 1 ) [links] => Array ( [node_read_more] => Array ( [title] => Read more [href] => node/6523 [attributes] => Array ( [title] => Read the rest of Congress Needs SOPA Like Mars Needs Moms. ) ) ) )

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This week the tech world will descend on Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show.  While there is nothing subtle about a 152-inch 3D plasma TV there are plenty of subtle forces coming from DC that shape what you see at shows like CES and at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.  Here are just four examples.

AllVid or Why Can’t Apple, Google, Microsoft, Roku, and Boxee Boxes Get Cable Channels?
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But don't even consider talking about the easy work-arounds, because the government can go after you for that. Bellow you will find resources on how you can take action as well as our latest blog posts and analysis on the issue. 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This week the tech world will descend on Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show.  While there is nothing subtle about a 152-inch 3D plasma TV there are plenty of subtle forces coming from DC that shape what you see at shows like CES and at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.  Here are just four examples.

AllVid or Why Can’t Apple, Google, Microsoft, Roku, and Boxee Boxes Get Cable Channels?
[#title] => [#description] => [#printed] => 1 ) [#title] => [#description] => [#children] =>

This week the tech world will descend on Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show.  While there is nothing subtle about a 152-inch 3D plasma TV there are plenty of subtle forces coming from DC that shape what you see at shows like CES and at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.  Here are just four examples.

AllVid or Why Can’t Apple, Google, Microsoft, Roku, and Boxee Boxes Get Cable Channels?
[#printed] => 1 ) [links] => Array ( [node_read_more] => Array ( [title] => Read more [href] => node/6514 [attributes] => Array ( [title] => Read the rest of CES is Shaped by DC Policy. ) ) ) )

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I keep getting asked if the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) is better or worse than the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Even without addressing how misleading relative terms like "better" can be, it's impossible to give an unequivocal answer because of several significant differences between the details of the bills, even if they both do many of the same things (and do them badly).

So while both bills try to curb online infringement by tampering with the domain name system (DNS); allow private actors to de-fund targeted sites, and grant blanket immunity to certain intermediaries for taking copyright law into their own hands, each has its own peculiarities that cause additional problems.

Is PIPA worse?

I keep getting asked if the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) is better or worse than the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Even without addressing how misleading relative terms like "better" can be, it's impossible to give an unequivocal answer because of several significant differences between the details of the bills, even if they both do many of the same things (and do them badly).

So while both bills try to curb online infringement by tampering with the domain name system (DNS); allow private actors to de-fund targeted sites, and grant blanket immunity to certain intermediaries for taking copyright law into their own hands, each has its own peculiarities that cause additional problems.

Is PIPA worse?

I keep getting asked if the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) is better or worse than the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Even without addressing how misleading relative terms like "better" can be, it's impossible to give an unequivocal answer because of several significant differences between the details of the bills, even if they both do many of the same things (and do them badly).

So while both bills try to curb online infringement by tampering with the domain name system (DNS); allow private actors to de-fund targeted sites, and grant blanket immunity to certain intermediaries for taking copyright law into their own hands, each has its own peculiarities that cause additional problems.

Is PIPA worse?

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Congress is currently on recess, which means that Members are back in their states and districts. It also means that Members will be holding local town hall meetings to find out what bills are important to constituents. Bringing up issues at a town hall is one of the most effective ways to convince your representatives in Congress that an issue is important to you.

However, town halls meetings are harder to find than you might think. They are often announced only a day or two in advance, so they are easy to miss if you do not check in with the district office regularly. Enter Real People Against PIPA + SOPA!

Congress is currently on recess, which means that Members are back in their states and districts. It also means that Members will be holding local town hall meetings to find out what bills are important to constituents. Bringing up issues at a town hall is one of the most effective ways to convince your representatives in Congress that an issue is important to you.

However, town halls meetings are harder to find than you might think. They are often announced only a day or two in advance, so they are easy to miss if you do not check in with the district office regularly. Enter Real People Against PIPA + SOPA!

Congress is currently on recess, which means that Members are back in their states and districts. It also means that Members will be holding local town hall meetings to find out what bills are important to constituents. Bringing up issues at a town hall is one of the most effective ways to convince your representatives in Congress that an issue is important to you.

However, town halls meetings are harder to find than you might think. They are often announced only a day or two in advance, so they are easy to miss if you do not check in with the district office regularly. Enter Real People Against PIPA + SOPA!

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To start, there is no such thing as an infinite filibuster based on one person objecting to a bill passing.  Such a dynamic is the stuff of Hollywood movies (ironically) and has not existed in the United States Senate for decades.  Below I will summarize how the process will work and why citizen involvement over the next few weeks is critical.  For a very detailed explanation of how the Senate filibuster works you should read this Congressional Research Service report.

To start, there is no such thing as an infinite filibuster based on one person objecting to a bill passing.  Such a dynamic is the stuff of Hollywood movies (ironically) and has not existed in the United States Senate for decades.  Below I will summarize how the process will work and why citizen involvement over the next few weeks is critical.  For a very detailed explanation of how the Senate filibuster works you should read this Congressional Research Service report.

To start, there is no such thing as an infinite filibuster based on one person objecting to a bill passing.  Such a dynamic is the stuff of Hollywood movies (ironically) and has not existed in the United States Senate for decades.  Below I will summarize how the process will work and why citizen involvement over the next few weeks is critical.  For a very detailed explanation of how the Senate filibuster works you should read this Congressional Research Service report.

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