4 ms·

Perhaps I'm simply out of the loop, but could someone please explain to me why SOPA is such a huge threat to Wikipedia? As far as I know they do a fairly good

by cjfont 15y ago

Perhaps I'm simply out of the loop, but could someone please explain to me why SOPA is such a huge threat to Wikipedia? As far as I know they do a fairly good job at keeping copyrighted material off, is there something else I'm missing aside from pure speculation?

scythe 15y ago
SOPA doesn't really care about that, though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOPA#Bill_targets_more_than_infringing_website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOPA#Bill_targets_more_than_inf... Wikipedia links to The Pirate Bay. Furthermore, it would be absurd for Wikipedia not to link to The Pirate Bay.
- cjfont 15y ago
  Regardless, who do you know that would fit the profile of someone willing to go after Wikipedia because of it? They would look like an asshole and throw away their political career, if they have one.
  - gbhn 15y ago
    Unfortunately, this is becoming increasingly the enforcement reality in the United States -- the law at this level is used selectively as an intimidation weapon rather than being applied uniformly. Examples abound: which "leakers" are prosecuted? The ones "leaking" secret government data which the government wants you to know (i.e. how Iran is supposedly in dealings with Somalia), or the ones leaking government data which it doesn't want you to know (i.e. Bradley Manning)? When the law is so broad that everyone's a criminal, and enforcement is capricious and politically motivated, we are at a low point in the tradition of a just society governed by the rule of law.
  - reissbaker 15y ago
    No politician would have to, if the bill passed. The RIAA would do it for them, and Wikipedia's only resort would be to take it to court -- where it would, after spending buckets of money, lose. Or more accurately, Wikipedia wouldn't take it to court: they'd censor themselves instead, so that they could stay on the internet. Which makes SOPA an existential threat to Wikipedia as a source of knowledge.
morganw 15y ago
SOPA removes the DMCA's safe harbor provision. Presently a publisher is immune to infringement liability by responding to takedown notices. Wikipedia publishes plenty of copyrightable text and photos and also what could be construed as circumvention devices: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AACS_encryption_key_controversy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AACS_encryption_key_controversy

by cjfont 15y ago

scythe 15y ago

SOPA doesn't really care about that, though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOPA#Bill_targets_more_than_infringing_website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOPA#Bill_targets_more_than_inf... Wikipedia links to The Pirate Bay. Furthermore, it would be absurd for Wikipedia not to link to The Pirate Bay.

cjfont 15y ago
Regardless, who do you know that would fit the profile of someone willing to go after Wikipedia because of it? They would look like an asshole and throw away their political career, if they have one.
- gbhn 15y ago
  Unfortunately, this is becoming increasingly the enforcement reality in the United States -- the law at this level is used selectively as an intimidation weapon rather than being applied uniformly. Examples abound: which "leakers" are prosecuted? The ones "leaking" secret government data which the government wants you to know (i.e. how Iran is supposedly in dealings with Somalia), or the ones leaking government data which it doesn't want you to know (i.e. Bradley Manning)? When the law is so broad that everyone's a criminal, and enforcement is capricious and politically motivated, we are at a low point in the tradition of a just society governed by the rule of law.
- reissbaker 15y ago
  No politician would have to, if the bill passed. The RIAA would do it for them, and Wikipedia's only resort would be to take it to court -- where it would, after spending buckets of money, lose. Or more accurately, Wikipedia wouldn't take it to court: they'd censor themselves instead, so that they could stay on the internet. Which makes SOPA an existential threat to Wikipedia as a source of knowledge.

morganw 15y ago

SOPA removes the DMCA's safe harbor provision. Presently a publisher is immune to infringement liability by responding to takedown notices. Wikipedia publishes plenty of copyrightable text and photos and also what could be construed as circumvention devices: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AACS_encryption_key_controversy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AACS_encryption_key_controversy