Does the 'Stop Online Piracy Act' go too far?

17 Jan 2012
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SOPA would make unauthorised streaming of copyrighted content a crime, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison for 10 infringements within six months. (Getty Images)

SOPA would make unauthorised streaming of copyrighted content a crime, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison for 10 infringements within six months. (Getty Images)

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) under consideration in the US House of Representatives aims to crack down on online circulation of pirated American movies, music or other goods by forcing Internet companies to block access to foreign sites offering material that violates US copyright laws.

Supporters of the bill say it protects the intellectual property market and corresponding industry but critics say it would enable internet censorship and threaten free speech. What do you think?

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@Manfred E. Mayer

Clavdivs - from Sydney, 4 months ago

IP here stands for "Intellectual Property" not "Internet Protocol". The rest of your post is so garbled that it has no meaning.

some are full of b , , , ,

Manfred E. Mayer - from Nerang , 4 months ago

How long ago was their a discussion about that same on SBS and ABC or nearly the same , gee many have sort term memories , also that crab about IP's what happend if your computer changes it every time one connects to the Net , or it tells one , determine address , no number , as at times your IP number is registered with as and you receive from now on ??? whatever,yep it will send something in month to receive wenn the whatever comes up . Maybe Clavdivs can explain this in two words or three .

@jimbo

Clavdivs - from Sydney, 4 months ago

Yea right! Lets make this into some class struggle issue. But the fact remains that IP rewards those who use their brains to create. Look at the world economy, on its knees because big business moved all manufacturing to China, so they profit while the IP creators are bypassed. Oops now you have to compete with third world countries for your job, and forget about your education, but the toilets still need cleaning so don't worry, you can still find employment if you can reach past the S bend.

Clav and his blessed rich conservatives

Jimbo - from Brisvegas, 4 months ago

Really mature comment Clav...so respectful 2those who have 2work in industries the "blessed" such as thee deem "menial".Hope u realise that w/out these menial jobs the snotty upper class "blessed" part of society such as thee would be nothing w/out. IP is nothing but a money grad by the rich.Big business just purchases IP as they like 2control the flow of money &your beloved class structure that brings the world all the probs we face today. In reality they are useless, internet will prove this!

IP rights are vital

Clavdivs - from Sydney, 4 months ago

Of course copyright should be enforced. Copyright is not about copying "ideas" but about copying "works". The internet should enable talented people to profit by providing works that others are willing to pay for. This would encourage more people to create more works. Advanced economies spend $billions on IP, some relying almost completely on their IP for income. Without IP all of us would be working in menial jobs in manufacturing, mining, or food production and progress would stop.

What is USA copyright law ?

Manfred E. Mayer - from Nerang , 4 months ago

I purchased the whole Encyclopedia Britannica , also the one for Kids and Animal World and so on , this was 30 odd years ago and updates , so now you find the lot online under Wiki including still many missing words and explanations , I funded that lot just to see it now as Wiki and if I may donate a small fee . Who is kitting whom about copyrights ? If one doesn't have 10-30 bugs but 50 + for internet ? And who cares about downloads of bannend or restricted ones . An other farce ?

You have had your days in the sun murdoch...no beat it you pesky little worm

Jimbo - from Brisvegas, 4 months ago

this is about rupert murdoch and his billionaire friends...NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS. The guy is a sleeze bucket that has taken the world for a ride for too long. He wants control of what he can't have so he is calling in the heavy weights. Murdoch is one man the world could really do without. These tycoons want to control the flow of money in a easier manner and they know they are losing control of the newest and greatest form of media. stupid fools don't realise they will cause more harm!!

卐OPA?

Sasa - from newcastle, 4 months ago

People do not think this is about piracy, because it is not. This is big dangerous legislation that limits what sites we can visit and is no way to deal with piracy. Thats the problem with SOPA, it goes well beyond copyrigth and into our homes telling us what websites you can and cannot see.

No Question...

Fi - from Morwell, 4 months ago

The fact that SOPA (and PIPA) if passed allows Lobby groups such as the RIAA to have more power over what can and can't be bought, sold and done on the internet Worldwide should be enough for a resounding no. Let alone the fact that there is no logical way in which SOPA could ever work. All it will do is give the US a legal means for financial blockades and blacklisting to websites they dislike (ala Wikileaks) while pirating continues in one way or another like it always has.

Food for thought

Wag - from Sydney, 4 months ago

Think about this if i paint a picture or build a self designed home then sell it do i get continuing royalties ''forever'' on my creation ? movie and music billionaires should have a time limit set on their profits

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