[Nobody]

Edit: Update to this whole thing. So apparently we are safe for now as the White House opposes it and the bill itself has been pulled. Thanks for the good discussion that the original article below caused.

---

Some of you may have seen the chatter in our shoutbox about a USA bill called SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and its neighbor the Protect IP Act (PIPA). I've been debating whether or not to post about it. After all, we are an international site and try not to get into regional politics. Unfortunately, if SOPA/PIPA are passed, the ramifications would be far reaching for this web site and could potentially shut us down (we are hosted in the USA). Let me explain.

The intent of SOPA is to stop online piracy and that's a good thing. I would love it if the gold sellers that copy AionSource articles and then repost them with kinah links were taken down for good. You'd think that game companies would be solidly behind this effort due to all the game piracy out there too, but they're not. The list of game companies against SOPA and PIPA continues to grow and includes such companies as Riot, Zynga, Epic Games, and Activision. Riot has a very nice letter from their CEO and founder explaining why the bill is bad for game companies and sites such as us. It's primarily because the bills are written in such a way that they threaten any website that features user generated content. So a copyright holder can file a claim that AionSource is hosting an unauthorized song in the background of somebody's PvP video. Under the new bill, ad networks, payment providers, and internet service providers are now potentially liable for their user's infringement. These services can then be compelled to remove support for the site with the single infringement - which would take AionSource completely down. Just imagine what that means for sites like You Tube, where people commonly put up songs of their children singing copyrighted materials or Google where people can search for infringing materials.

As Riot has legal counsel and I don't, I'm mostly quoting what they say below about the effects on gamers. I removed the words League of Legends as what they're saying applies to all online games. According to the Riot letter, SOPA:

Quote

• Kills streaming. If any single streamer plays copyrighted music (or alt tabs into a movie or other owned content) on their stream, there is a significant risk of the entire streaming service being taken down. In some cases, it could even result in criminal penalties for the streamer.
  
• Threatens independent content creation. Services we all use to create and share content, such as YouTube, Reddit, DeviantArt, streaming websites such as Own3d and Twitch, and more would be at risk of shutting down or greatly restricting the scope of legitimate content allowed on their sites.
  
• Attacks community. Aspects of our service such as the forums and potentially even in-game chat, could be taken down or have their features reduced based on user behavior.
  
• Other harmful effects. SOPA/PIPA undermine established intellectual property legislation like the DMCA, raise serious constitutional free speech issues, and could even compromise the basic security infrastructure of the internet.

If you are a voting US citizen, please consider contacting your congressman about SOPA. It will be coming up again on January the 24th and could pass in the House of Representatives. The EFF actually gives you the phone numbers for your reps and even allows you to send a letter to them :

https://action.eff.o...action_KEY=8173


If you are somebody that is unsure of the ramifications of the bill for how the internet is run, please be aware that a group of 83 internet engineers, including many who helped found internet protocols have written an open letter to Congress opposing the bill. They are worried about the technical issues with implementing the censorship required by SOPA and how it will effect the connectivity of the Internet.

A group of over 100 law professors have also written an open letter to Congress against SOPA, stating that it is in apparent conflict with the US Constitution in terms of suppressing speech without notice and a proper hearing.

Please feel free to check out the Wikipedia article on SOPA for more information.

I know that I've read a lot about it all and I hope that the bill doesn't pass. I like our little community here and don't want to see it torn apart. So... down with SOPA and PIPA!



Cheers,

Nobody

[0____________o]

I think mostly everyone here is in consensus that SOPA is a bad idea. Conversations will mostly involve beating a dead horse, unless anyone out there wants to play devil's advocate. The links you provided are a step in the right direction. Thanks Nobody.

[dirtyklingon]

hmm i just read the wiki article, wellllllll part of it so far, and i guess i could be at risk if i traveled to teh US because my prescription drug is still uner patent in the US* but is past patent life in canada, there fore my generic version of the drug i must take daily is illegal in the US.


*the us has very long patents on everythign compared to other western nations, espoecially pharmaceutical products. here in canada the patents don't last nearly as long, and drug manufacturers can create generic versions sooner. which is a big part of why our prescription drugs are *AFFORDABLE*, that and our government buys them in bulk and sells them at their cost to pharmacies, which further reduces cost to consumers.


so basically if i traveled to the US as a canadian citizen, if i brought any digital devices including my smart phone, it would be searched for copyright material such as video and mp3s(including ringtones) and if they weren't int eh right DRM format and attached to something like itunes, my device would be siezed and i would get a fine(pre sopa)

as well my prescription drug would be found ot be a generic version and thus in violation of us patent law, so it would be siezed as well and i would get another fine for that.

if SOPA passes, the above would carry extra weight it seems of criminal charges and detention, as well i could possibly have my online assets such as my website an dyoutube channel investigated and siezed via court order- nevermind that all the copyright material on my youtube channel is licensed, and i coudl recieve additional criminal charges as a result.

because youtube tracks where people have viewed my videos, such as when i post them in chitchat or c&m here on AS, curse could then be held liable for "hosting" copyright infringing material, and their ad services revoke income, domain names siezed and such, unless they write a letter to convince the us attourney general they are not infrginign copyright.

it's not clear who decides at that point if youa re infringing copy rights, is the USAG? a judge? from what i'v ebeen reading the language of these two bills is broad and heavily vague to the extent that it lends broad powers to both the current IPR regime(ie riaa, mpaa) and US law enforcement to work together to take down any site they wish.

in fact the us law enforcement has laready actively been sieizing and shutting down websites from blogs to forums to social networks simply because the RIAA/MPAA asked them to.

what are the RIAA/MPAA? these are lobbies and legal teams paid for by insanely profitable movies like avatar and the record companies that prodice insanely profitable artists liek lady gaga and rhianna to sue end user pirates, and lobby congressmen to enact treaties like ACTA which requires signees to search and size IPR infringign media/devices at their borders and add criminal liability to IPR infringments, and enact US legislation liek SOPA/PIPA, while pressuring foreign governments like canada and holland and other countries with sane IPR law to americanize their IPR laws entirely in the interest of BIG corporate USA.


movie and music industries have taken the road that the us big pharma has in term so flobbying to legislate to protect their outmoded methods of doing business while still mainitnng year after year record profits, at the expense of consumer rights and well being, rather than adapt their business models to the ever changign paradigms of the dynamic market and new technology.

despite the fact that the recor dindustry adn movie industries have been slow to adapt online sales services such as itunes netflix and so on in a way that would rive theri profits into the current century and beyond, and cut costs on adveritsing as free user generated buzz is far more effective than 10 million dollars in ad spots, they still make record profits year after year despite 90% of their product being complete nyerk that never sells enough to turn a profit.

[Device]

dirtyklingon, on 12 January 2012 - 09:47 AM, said:

movie and music industries have taken the road that the us big pharma has in term so flobbying to legislate to protect their outmoded methods of doing business while still mainitnng year after year record profits, at the expense of consumer rights and well being, rather than adapt their business models to the ever changign paradigms of the dynamic market and new technology.

I very much agree with this. They are very slow to adapt to the growing interest in online streaming, like a lot of stuff still isn't on netflix and netflix is not even available in the EU. Also it's bullnyerk that as a legitimate customer have to watch stupid 'ads' about not pirating while pirates never even see it. Also the fact that a simple dvd costs 15 euro in my country (twice the price of a cinema ticket) and a bluray 20+ euro is simply retarded. You can argue it's because of the need of manufacturing the product, but why not stream it online for a margin of the cost.

[dirtyklingon]

Device, on 12 January 2012 - 10:32 AM, said:

I very much agree with this. They are very slow to adapt to the growing interest in online streaming, like a lot of stuff still isn't on netflix and netflix is not even available in the EU. Also it's bullnyerk that as a legitimate customer have to watch stupid 'ads' about not pirating while pirates never even see it. Also the fact that a simple dvd costs 15 euro in my country (twice the price of a cinema ticket) and a bluray 20+ euro is simply retarded. You can argue it's because of the need of manufacturing the product, but why not stream it online for a margin of the cost.

physical media like dvd's and blu rays are extremely cheap to mass produce and ship to retailers.


so much so that media companies routinely over produce to such extreme on non viable products that you go into target in the us you can get movies and albums from 6-12 months prior for a couple bucks and they are nyerk full of them, then a few months later they go straight to the trash bin.


movie and music industries could make a killing with their own itunes/movie,usic versions of steam etc especially if they sold those products in regions they don't normally.

if they lose money to piracy in places liek spain it's because hte legit media isn't available for legit purchase there, and less to do with lost sales "due to piracy" those people can't buy those products to begin with, so them priating the media isn't a loss sale, the product not beign sold there to begin with is lost sales.

[BlackOrchid]

Well I have always had the idea that 90% of the crap the world gets has its origin in the US. The US likes to call itself the land of the free and home of the brave, however it's a country in wich its citizens are binded by laws and restrictions everywere that question they're liberty directly. I know that our freedom ends were another one starts and that the US have alota people to keep in control and living in a civilized maner, however the lobys in the US do not care for the people, they only care for the money ...if you consider that the US is a country run by Lobys ... I think you can expect this law to be passed.

This law is a serious and direct threat to the US internet users and they're liberty. I think you guys should start gathering and petitioning online ...thats my 5 cents.

[0____________o]

BlackOrchid, on 12 January 2012 - 11:08 AM, said:

Well I have always had the idea that 90% of the crap the world gets has its origin in the US.

Please elaborate. I love blaming problems on someone else.

90% of what crap? the world gets from whom? said crap having origins from us, but where does us originate from? im on the edge of my seat, really

BlackOrchid, on 12 January 2012 - 11:08 AM, said:

This law is a serious and direct threat to the US internet users and they're liberty. I think you guys should start gathering and petitioning online ...thats my 5 cents.

if you think its serious and threatening, why would you value your opinion at 5 cents?

[Mihomine]

tbh I agree with most of the S.O.P.A. plan.

[0____________o]

before i spew arguments, can you outline which parts you do agree with? and which you dont? if i start now, you can just say those were the parts you didnt agree with. thanks.

[BlackOrchid]

Quote

if you think its serious and threatening, why would you value your opinion at 5 cents?

Because its not my country, my vote or even close ... so my opinion has as much value as you wanna give it.

Quote

90% of what crap? the world gets from whom? said crap having origins from us, but where does us originate from? im on the edge of my seat, really

I just hope you don't fall. Do you really need me to elaborate on the crap everyone knows? Laws in the US are made to suit major economic group lobies heck even war is declared and fought to suit the economie and the lobies, so yeah C. R. A. P.

[0____________o]

you're blaming america for 90% of the world's problems. hell, lets be more specific, you're blaming america for 90% of your country's problems. you're exaggerating, and its hard to take it without a grain of salt after. I want to take you seriously, but you're contradicting yourself by pointing to a country and putting 90% blame towards, then putting your hands up like it doesnt matter because youre not from there.

[Mihomine]

0____________o, on 12 January 2012 - 11:52 AM, said:

before i spew arguments, can you outline which parts you do agree with? and which you dont? if i start now, you can just say those were the parts you didnt agree with. thanks.

I disagree with the search engine thing and some part of the advertising.

Quote

she agrees with criminalizing youtube uploaders so youtube videos can no longer be used to win arguments against her about superior musical technic

Quote

was a troll *GOSH*

[BlackOrchid]

Quote

you're blaming america for 90% of the world's problems. hell, lets be more specific, you're blaming america for 90% of your country's problems. you're exaggerating, and its hard to take it without a grain of salt after. I want to take you seriously, but you're contradicting yourself by pointing to a country and putting 90% blame towards, then putting your hands up like it doesnt matter because youre not from there.

When I refer to the worlds problems I am not refering to my country, I am refering to the world(the round thing wich we inhabit).

Here is a sample of a few wars fought on the past century, with a litle aid from the USA...(if you want more recent ones take a look at the news;)

http://www.huppi.com...IAtimeline.html

Here is how the enviroment is looked uppon (you should look up were USA stands regarding emissions):

http://environment.a...otoprotocol.htm

Economic

http://en.wikipedia....impact_timeline

I don t think you needed me to point this out to you as you already knew it. I could do a wall of text with all the wrongs that were and still are being done...but really whats the point?

And no there is no contradidtion in saying I honestly won't be afected directly by Sopa ... at least not now. It will afect everyone as much as china's blockcage has afected europe and the states. Still for now this is you're fight, not ours. We get Aion FtP... in return you get SOPA ! :P

[0____________o]

I thought you'd get this from looking at your avatar, as well as your signature, but I assume too much at times. I'll use an analogy:

I walk into a room and there's you and 7 of your friends all hanging out and having a good time. I point a gun to your heads and demand 50% of everything in the room. You, in turn, give me 50% of your stuff, along with every one of your friends.

Now, instead, I walk into the room and you're alone. I point the gun to your head and demand the same thing. You're still giving me the same amount, regardless of whomever else is there to offer their share.

Making a blanket statement that America is responsible for 90% of the world's (that round little thing you condescendingly pointed out to me, ty btw) problems uses the same logic. Take away everyone else in the room, and America is still the root of 90% of your problems. See how immature that sounds?

And btw, nothing you pointed out about America's problems, of which duh there are many, shows me how they are the root of every other problem in the world; just pointing out its flaws. Kudos to you. You should get a gold star for pointing at the obvious kid with downs and saying he has downs.

Maybe I should draw even longer lines back to before America was a nation and there were still nyerktons of problems, which snowballed into bigger problems, bla bla bla and somehow our hands are miraculously wiped clean now too. Now who do we blame? Certianly not ourselves. Where would self responsibility get us?

[dirtyklingon]

Mihomine, on 12 January 2012 - 11:36 AM, said:

tbh I agree with most of the S.O.P.A. plan.

Mihomine, on 12 January 2012 - 03:47 PM, said:

uses the word troll

>use internet
>support foreign law that would destablize the infrastructure of luxury service you use
>say you agree with most of it
>except when it comes to the ad and search engine things
>because we can't hurt big business ever now can we?
>but it's ok to go after mom and pop business and you and me
>mfw the US export criminal IPR infringment law to your back yard
>mfw when you post youtube videos and face jail time over it'
>mfw you don't understand the basic premise of this law or the obvious consequences of it



i wish i could be 19 again... lol


EDIT: those japanimationz you like that are fansubbed, that use ICANN for their domain name registrars, would have their DNS entries blacklisted over night, an dthat WOULD AFFECT YOU AN DPEOPLE IN YOUR COUNTRY.

do you understand that this law is about exporting US IPR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FOREIGN NATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN UNWILLING TO CAPITULATE FULLY ON BENDED KNEE TO THE US MUSIC AND MOVIE INDUStry big business lobby?

those free/ad supported user uploaded content sites you use daily would all be criminalized and shut down over night.


so by saying "you like the sopa plan" you are saying" i like the idea of me and everyone else no longer being able to enjoy user generated and uploaded content that uses IP even if in a fair use method or if that content is not available for sale in my region at any price"


this is essentially the same as saying, i support a law of a froegn country which would impact me personally and directly over 3k miles away in a sovereign nation and dramatically change my day to day activities overnight"

This post has been edited by dirtyklingon: 13 January 2012 - 07:18 AM

[Mihomine]

Quote

>but it's ok to go after mom and pop business and you and me

ow.... I see, so you mad coz you're a nyerk that just pretend to know how to make music ?

Not my prob, still waiting for your mp and anyway I'm not going to argue with you for anything again.

Quote

i like the idea of me and everyone else no longer being able to enjoy user generated and uploaded content that uses IP even if in a fair use method or if that content is not available for sale in my region at any price

Yes, I do. However I agree that most company should make it easier to buy their stuffs but this is not part of SOPA plan. I just support the idea, the rest will come later.

[0____________o]

Miho, you should read a little more about SOPA. has nothing to do with and DK's feud

[tamagoyaki]

Mihomine, on 13 January 2012 - 11:46 AM, said:

the rest will come later.

our government doesnt work that way

[Mihomine]

0____________o, on 13 January 2012 - 12:08 PM, said:

Miho, you should read a little more about SOPA. has nothing to do with and DK's feud

What's the difference between this and what I said ? (not to DK)

Quote

our government doesnt work that way

Which means that the idea is bad because your government sux.

[Grayy]

is funny how people post a "i agree with SOPA, it's a cool thing " without any arguments to back their statement.

Imagine tomorrow you wake up and you no longer have access to popular sites like Youtube, Reddit, Facebook, Twitter etc etc because they got shut down for hosting and promoting copyrighted material by user/fun made projects.

I would agree with it too if it was reasonable piracy hunting, although to be honest in the times that we live, for example, who would pay 20euro for a dvd movie instead of downloading for free from a torrent site? Is wrong, "unethical" but if nyerk were in reasonable prices there wouldn't be a need to start making all this piracy fuzz.

Anything that tries to deny user freedom or creativity should be casted aside.

nyerk SOPA.