The Deal with SOPA or the Stop Online Piracy Act

[Creative Conversation Interviews]

This is the buzz-hottest Internet issue going right now because some sites plan on blacking out January 18 to protest the potential passage of the Stop Online Piracy Act. Opponents say the act stifle free speech. Those in favor say it protects the creators of copyrighted material.

Looks like a lot of valid points on both sides but the issue of which rights outweigh other rights and the proper definition for each one was bound to come reach an Internet showdown at some point.

CCI

[Author-Poet Aberjhani]

I have to admit I've been hearing about SOPA but don't have a very thorough understanding of it. From what I do know about, I can't help feeling somewhat divided because like all authors I appreciate the right to protect my intellectual properties. And at the same time I'm all for organized access to public domain materials that have both been declared as such and that assume such a status due to their sheer proliferation within public arenas. As with all things of a public nature the issue seems to be striking the right balance. 

Aberjhani

[Creative Conversation Interviews]

At the core of this issue is the free flow of information so I just attached a pdf of SOPA bill for people to download and read so they see and understand what it is for themselves. And this is a map of where Congress stands on it for the moment.