Like Freedom of Information? Protect the Internet !

For my American friends,

Today is a day of protest across the internet and if you are not familiar with the issue of the SOPA/PIPA bills it is imperative that you become aware. The idea of stopping piracy and protecting intellectual property rights is noble. I am a writer and I have dealt with theft of my work - HOWEVER, these laws as written are dangerous and a threat to free speech and freedom of information. The threat is so real that many large web entities are participating vigorously (thankfully) to help put a halt to this.

These laws, if passed, would essentially put all websites at risk. If someone say visited my blog and used a copyrighted image or text - if someone complained, my site could be shut down by the government without warning and with no recourse. Is that what we want? All under the guise of protecting us from criminals? There will always be criminals - and they will find a way to circumvent any system - why should innocent people potentially suffer at the hands of unreasonable laws?

We cringe at human rights violations when other countries censor the internet (like China for example) - Don't let the citizens of our country meet the same fate because of Hollywood and entertainment industry lobbyists. They already HAVE the power to sue and get peer to peer sights shut down (remember Napster?) Think about it - These laws are too far reaching and a HUGE risk to a free people.

The freedom of information we enjoy every day should never be taken for granted - call or write to your representatives and tell them why you are against SOPA/PIPA and let's give these bills the knockout punch they deserve. It's easy to do type in http://www.google.com TODAY and on their landing page they link directly to the petition you can sign - a minute of your time for your freedom? Yes. I think so.

Sorry to go political on you all today - this issue however is extremely important to me. I have been passionate about it and fighting it for months now because I know how easily it can be used to put the deathblow on small businesses, not to mention what it has the potential to do for freedom of information. Thanks for hearing my side of the issue