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**Sly Hedgehog** · 01-04-2012, 10:56:23 AM

can i copy and paste your post at other messageboards? if i don't then my friends at other boards will not go to Facebook or Google anymore if those lameass bills passes

**dlevere** · 01-04-2012, 12:43:56 PM

Yes, feel free to copy and paste it.

**dlevere** · 01-05-2012, 06:12:38 AM

Google, Amazon, Twitter and Facebook consider 'nuclear' blackout

By Charlie Osborne

Summary: Internet giants are considering a ‘nuclear option’ against the SOPA bill. Should they press the button internationally?

The online war against SOPA is reaching new levels. In the aftermath of the Reddit ‘Boycott Go Daddy’ campaign, now a number of Internet giants are considering their own moves in the SOPA game.

Wikipedia was the first to consider a blackout of their services, in order to demonstrate what SOPA could potentially do to any website that allowed user-generated content. Now, a number of sites including Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon are considering coordinated downtime on their platforms.

(Source: ZDNet)

Markham Erickson of NetCoalition recently confirmed that the extreme move was “under consideration” by the Internet companies. The director commented:

“This type of thing doesn’t happen because companies typically don’t want to put their users in that position. The difference is that these bills so fundamentally change the way the Internet works. People need to understand the effect this special-interest legislation will have on those who use the Internet.”

The “nuclear option” will cause major Internet service providers to go simultaneously in to the dark in a coordinated effort to show their displeasure at the proposed legislation.

However, a move of these proportions will no doubt have severe consequences. Consumer anger, backlash from online users, lost revenue and perhaps catalyst user boycotts as a reprisal may be on the cards.

Whereas Wikipedia asking its online community what they thought about a blackout yielded some interesting results, it did not get full press attention. A service suspension of Google, however, would no doubt end up blasted across every newspaper in the West within minutes.

I would not be impressed if one morning if I wake to find Google, Twitter and Facebook are denying access to their domains. I’ll admit, I would become furious. If this suspension goes ahead, the companies better make sure they explain to the general public why this is happening.

What better way to expose the farcical bill, and ensure that user anger is cajoled in to the right directions?

If it goes ahead, taking Google as an example, I’m all for it. Something I’ve found as a London-based blogger is that no-one in Britain knows anything about the act whatsoever. They need this.

I’m expecting commentary, as I’ve witness across the web, stating that service blackouts should only affect the American community. That, in a nutshell, is why ‘nuclear’ options need to affect every international domain. This legislation, in one country, is enough reason to press the nuclear button.

SOPA is not legislation that will be confined within U.S borders — so in order to ’spread the word’, go ahead. It is time to light the fires of anger that many informed U.S citizens already feel, so members of Congress understand what the SOPA legislation may do to international relationships as well as altering the opinions of the general public.

There is currently no released formal decision on the matter. However, considering the Senate is scheduled to resume debating the bill on January 24, it may be before this date that the internet giants potentially most affected will choose to make a stand.

Press the button. You’ll be forgiven for a day’s worth of inconvenience if it can achieve some damage limitation in regards to the SOPA bill.

**bungholio** · 01-05-2012, 12:24:18 PM

I'm all for the temporary blackout all over the place. While the sites are down or when the sites come back online they should have a tiny article on why they did it. It will make people aware of this evil law.

**dlevere** · 01-06-2012, 07:56:00 AM

Rock, Paper, Shotgun's Big SOPA List

Rock, Paper, Shotgun has put together a nice little list of where each member of the ESA stands on SOPA. While many of the member companies have not responded, the list shows that - when pressed - many don't support it.

Here’s a guide to ESA members and their current positions on the Stop Online Piracy Act. RPS has called for all members to publicly denounce the dangerous and censorious bill. If we know a company’s position, we’ll state it below. If we’re waiting to hear back from them, you’ll see just “Contacted”.

Here goes:

38 Studios

Against. Rather quietly in a comment on Facebook, they have expressed they are not in favor of the current version of the Bill.

345 Games

Contacted. However, they are owned by Viacom, who have publicly supported the Act.

505 Games

Contacted.

Capcom USA, Inc.

Undeclared. According to Digital Trends, Capcom told them that they support SOPA. However, since then Capcom have issued a statement explaining the rather woolly position that the ESA represents them, but they don’t have a position themselves. I’m pretty sure that’s meant to work the other way around. They also get very pissy that people interpreted their saying that the ESA represents them as meaning they agree with the ESA stance, calling it “bad journalism”. Think they might want to turn that pissy attitude inward there, and think a bit more carefully. And have the balls to say what they think as a company. Because statements like this:

“At Capcom, we’re game makers, not legislators. We do not have an internal stance on this particular issue and are not planning to. We’ll get back to making games. Thanks.”

Deep Silver

Contacted.

Disney Interactive Studios, Inc.

Contacted. However, Disney Publishing Worldwide, Inc. is listed in favor of the bill, as is their television arm, ABC.

Eidos Interactive

See Square Enix

Electronic Arts

Undeclared. Currently they are not actively supporting the bill, but after a few websites got themselves a bit confused over this, it’s not clear if they’ve specifically come out against it.

We've also received a tip from theorigin.de that tells us EA have said,

“there is no political comment on the part of EA (neither one way or the other).”

So yet another company not willing to take a stand, either way.

Epic Games, Inc.

Against. They posted on their forum on the 4th Jan to make it clear they do not support the Act in its current form.

Her Interactive, Inc.

Contacted.

Ignition Entertainment

Contacted.

Konami Digital Entertainment

Contacted.

LEVEL-5 Inc.

Contacted.

Microsoft Corporation

Contacted. But a confusing one. As a member of the ESA they’re de facto supporting it, but as a member of the BSA they’re automatically against it. Erk.

Namco Bandai Games America Inc.

Contacted.

Natsume Inc.

Contacted.

Nexon America, Inc.

Undeclared. Nexon got back to us to say, “At this point, we are not taking a public position this issue.”

Nintendo of America Inc.

Extremely difficult to contact. Caught up in the same confusion as EA, Sony, et al, they never did support the bill, but aren’t listed as currently supporting.

Nival

Against. Nival have gotten back to us with a statement explaining that they do not support the SOPA, and saying they’ve contacted the ESA to inform them too.

“Nival does not support SOPA, despite a deep understanding of the struggle against piracy in the games industry. Unfortunately, SOPA could do more harm to Internet freedom than good to fight piracy. We recognize the issues our partners in the online press have with this legislation. We will continue to be anti-piracy but are also anti-SOPA.”

NVIDIA

Contacted.

O-Games, Inc.

Contacted.

Perfect World Entertainment

Contacted.

SEGA of America, Inc.

Contacted.

Slang

Contacted.

Sony Computer Entertainment America

See Sony Online Entertainment, Inc.

Sony Online Entertainment, Inc.

Contacted. Sony is in an odd position, where Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony Music Entertainment, and Sony Music Nashville are all listed as in support of the bill, while SOE and SCAE are not.

Square Enix, Inc.

Contacted.

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.

Contacted. Possibly against. We’ve had an insider at 2K tip us off that Take-Two’s VP, Alan Lewis, could be against SOPA. Nothing concrete though.

Tecmo Koei America Corporation

Contacted.

THQ, Inc.

Undeclared. THQ got in touch to say they “don’t have an individual statement on this”, but encouraged us to pursue a statement from the ESA. We are, of course.

Trion Worlds, Inc.

Against. Scott Hartsmann posted to the Trion forums saying,

“Hi, folks – Extremely quick reply since I’m out on vacation: We definitely do not support SOPA.

We’ll be calling the ESA about this after the holiday weekend.”

Thanks Ten Ton Hammer.

Ubisoft Entertainment, Inc.

Contacted.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc.

In the process of contacting. Although it’s worth noting that Warner Music Group and Warner Music Nashville are listed supporting the bill, and that overall owners, Time Warner, are one of the big funders here.

XSEED Games

Contacted.

**dlevere** · 01-14-2012, 07:20:34 AM

DNS provision pulled from SOPA, victory for opponents.

**Sly Hedgehog** · 01-16-2012, 10:12:17 PM

hope you don't mind i posted this link..

a very good news for you SOPA haters as i am-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...cy-legislation

**dlevere** · 01-17-2012, 05:39:03 AM

SOPA Shelved - But What About Protect IP

Written by Sue Gee
Monday, 16 January 2012 14:50

Congress has put off action on SOPA. Although there is no explanation, I think we can attribute this to pressure from online petitioners and strike action threatened by Reddit and other prominent websites.

Update:
Wikipedia joins blackout. A community vote is still being taken about what will happen but at the moment the plan is to redirect to an "education" site.

The decision to shelve the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) was announced on Saturday morning by congressman Darrell Issa, one of the bill's opponents, who said that he had been been told by House majority leader Eric Cantor that there would be no vote on it "unless there is consensus on the bill."

**Sly Hedgehog** · 01-20-2012, 11:42:39 AM

SOPA is officially postponed indefenitely

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2012/01/...ndefinitely039

you read that right!!

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