The Fascist American anti-piracy act was recalled on Friday, which came as no small victory for hacktivists who launched history's largest attack on several websites – including that of FBI – in protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act.
“I have heard from the critics, and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy,” Smith said. “It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products.”
Those opposing the controversial law have grown jubilant, with many seeing Friday's news as real victory in a sort of war for online freedom. The vote on the anti-piracy legislation, which was due on January, 24, has been postponed. The words of House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith – who was the chief sponsor of SOPA – came as a bombshell: he stated that American legislators would delay action on similar proposals until the matter is more widely agreed upon.
“I have heard from the critics, and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy,” Smith said. “It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products.”
“The Committee will continue work with copyright owners, Internet companies, and financial institutions to develop proposals that combat online piracy and protect America’s intellectual property.” He said in a statement that the Judiciary Committee welcomes input “from all organizations and individuals who have an honest difference of opinion about how best to address this widespread problem.”
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said that he decision was taken “in light of recent events.” “There is no reason that the legitimate issues raised by many about this bill cannot be resolved,” Reid said Friday morning in a prepared statement. While he condemned illegal activity on the Web, Senator Reid added that lawmakers will “continue engaging with all stakeholders to forge a balance between protecting Americans’ intellectual property, and maintaining openness and innovation on the Internet.”
The bills – PIPA (PROTECT Internet Privacy Act) in the Senate and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) – in the House, target access to overseas websites that provide pirated content and counterfeit products like movies and music.
Hacker group Anonymous and its supporters celebrated after the bill's postponement was announced, writing “This is victory!” in their Twitter account following the statement by Lamar Smith. However, they cannot but realize that the fight is far from over. “A small battle has been won with the death of SOPA, but the war has just begun. PIPA & ACTA are still alive,” they wrote in their feed, reminding followers of one more significant abbreviation, for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. In October 2007, the United States, the European Community, Switzerland and Japan simultaneously announced that they would negotiate a new intellectual property enforcement treaty – the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, or ACTA. Source
Angelo: This whole case shows the importance of twisting the meaning of words to get your way. Just label the protection of monopoly as piracy and suddenly this blog is theft on the high seas? It's a stain with which our society is now virtually saturated baring the rare Ron Paul type. Another good one is regarding fathers rights. Innocence is irrelevant, just call rape. It's so easy, then nanny state will go into just in case mode and you win de facto. Justice and what might really be best for the children be damned, the example having been set from above as this style slight of hand has been used so many times before by our largely corporate bought governments for their wars of convenience.
Angelo: This whole case shows the importance of twisting the meaning of words to get your way. Just label the protection of monopoly as piracy and suddenly this blog is theft on the high seas? It's a stain with which our society is now virtually saturated baring the rare Ron Paul type. Another good one is regarding fathers rights. Innocence is irrelevant, just call rape. It's so easy, then nanny state will go into just in case mode and you win de facto. Justice and what might really be best for the children be damned, the example having been set from above as this style slight of hand has been used so many times before by our largely corporate bought governments for their wars of convenience.