PRESENTATION ON STOP ONLINE PIRACY ACT (SOPA)

-BY P R AT E E K S A X E N A R A J N I S H YA D AV

 Internet has always been a free source for all the information across the globe.
Having internet access makes one instantly connected to the entire world. With the passage of time the web has become more and more personal especially after the advent of the social networking sites. The web however now faces a big question mark upon its

very existence because of SOPA.

 SOPA stands for Stop Online Piracy Act. Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) The is a United States bill introduced by U.S. Representative Lamar S. Smith. It aims to expand the ability of U.S. law enforcement to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods. Foreign websites will also come under its jurisdiction.

Requesting of court orders to bar advertising networks and payment facilities from conducting business with infringing websites
Requesting of court orders to bar search engines from linking to the sites Court orders requiring Internet service providers to block access to the sites Law would expand existing criminal laws to include unauthorized streaming of copyright material, imposing a maximum penalty of five years in prison

 Claiming flaws in present laws that do not cover foreign owned and operated sites. Citing examples of "active promotion of rogue websites" by U.S. search engines.
Supporters say stronger enforcement tools are needed.

 American Bankers Association (ABA).

American Federation for Radio and Television Artists(AFRT). Recording Industry Association of America(RIAA).

Association of State Criminal Detective Agencies(ASCDA).

It is threatening free speech and innovation. It enables law enforcement to block access to entire internet domains due to infringing material posted on a single blog or webpage.

By now we have had an in-depth description of what has been documented in SOPA but the real truth has been very finely hidden between the lines by the creators of this document. What SOPA is proposing is totally unacceptable in the current scenario because SOPA is actually-: Aiming to restrict the freedom of expression Aiming at strengthening the copyright laws to an extent where every person is likely to be charged with criminal charges. Increasing the financial penalties manifold

To quote an extract from the bill:

An `Internet site is dedicated to theft of U.S. property if [a portion of the site is US-directed] and is used by users within the United States and is primarily designed or operated for the purpose of offering services in a manner that enables or facilitates [copyright violation or circumvention of copyright protection measures].

If implemented in current form then the first sites to be banned would be facebook, youtube and wikipedia. Easily the most browsed websites all over the globe.

SOPA has encountered many protests ever since it was introduced but the most powerful of them came on the 18th of January 2012 when 86 sites including wikipedia, mashable etc. blocked itself for the entire day. This protest coincided with the acts of the hackers who did denial of service attacks on pro-SOPA sites and made many of their servers to crash.

The Bill hasnt been passed in the US Assembly as of yet and it remains highly unlikely that it will pass in its current form because the vocal protests all across against this bill. Even Lamar. S. Smith has admitted the same.

 www.wikipedia.o rg www.mashable. com