We're written before about Senator Leahy (D-Vt.) and the PIPA ("Protect IP") Act. (The actual name is long and noble-sounding — the "Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act". "Economic creativity" — that's code for "Big People's money".)
For a nice backgrounder, click here. PIPA is a second attempt to shut down websites that link to sites that show protected content. You got it — shut down the linking site.
That original bill was dubbed the Internet Blacklist Bill, for good reason. According to that original bill (quoting myself here):
Targeted sites could be placed on a required-to-block list via a court order, or on a suggested-to-block list by the Attorney General. You read that right; the exec branch gets to unilaterally "suggest" which sites to block.Executive censorship, no appeal process (that I could find), and the "crime" is linking, not hosting. What do they call that in soviet-style national security circles? Mission Accomplished, of course.
Last week, in a seriously under-reported move, a large Tea Party group has signed on to oppose PIPA. The Hill:
The opposition to Sen. Patrick Leahy's (D-Vt.) Protect IP or PIPA Act got a lot broader this weekend when the Tea Party Patriots came out against the legislation on Facebook. The conservative umbrella group has almost 850,000 supporters on Facebook and linked to an editorial from Demand Progress executive director David Segal and Don't Censor the Net executive director Patrick Ruffini on Saturday, arguing the coalition of political opposition from the right and left shows the bill is bad for consumers.Is "bad for consumers" what the focus groups say to call it? I guess "bad for civil liberties" just doesn't have that zing.
The article goes on to note:
"This is very interesting. Left and right both opposing severe government overreach in the area of intellectual property. Have your own website? Maybe the government will shut it down tomorrow...without any notice to you," Tea Party Patriots posted to its profile.Over 350 firms sent a letter to Congress urging that PIPA be passed. The letter was organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. However, the bill remains on hold.
Watch this one. The name is PIPA and Big Money wants it bad. So far, Sen. Wyden (D-Ore.), a real Democrat, is the choke-point.
Action Opportunity. You might want to thank him:
Washington, DCAny bets the Chamber is sending lots of Thank You money to the bill's supporters? The Internet doesn't protect itself, you know.
223 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-3703
Phone: (202) 224-5244
Fax: (202) 228-2717
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