Tuesday, January 17, 2012

NO INTERNET JANUARY 18, 2012

The following is an editorial.

As this is posted on the afternoon of January 17, 2012; there are several American based websites planning to go dark and voluntarily "blackout" themselves for the 24 hour period of January 18 to protest the possible future actions of the United States Congress.

That august body is considering the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House of Representatives and the Protect Intellectual Properties Act (PIPA) in the Senate.

While details are still sketchy at this time in regards to who will do what, all participants in this blackout will resume normal online operations January 19.
Those going dark for the day are concerned that if these two measures become law, they will damage the free and open access of the Internet.
The Free Choice E-zine itself is torn on this issue.

On one hand, we do want our Intellectual Properties protected and online piracy stopped. We certainly do not want the Internet to gain a more "Big Brother/1984" status, or lessen anyone's legitimate rights and uses.

Unfortunately, at this time we are unsure how to physically alter our presentation format to comply and participate in the "blackout".

(January 21 the format for this article was amended. See the above post for details.)
However Google, parent company to our host server Blogger, is planning to honor the blackout tomorrow.

Therefore, if you cannot access this website Wednesday, do not worry.


WE WILL BE BACK!

Take care everybody.
Lee Houston, Junior
Editor-In-Chief, The Free Choice E-zine

The above was an editorial.

ADDENDUM:
BOTH BILLS, AS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED, WERE KILLED IN COMMITTEE.

HOWEVER, PIRACY OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IS STILL BOTH AN ONGOING CONCERN AND CRIME THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED AND DEALT WITH, WHILE NOT PUNISHING OR LIMITING LEGITIMATE INTERNET USERS IN THE PROCESS!

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