US may be forced to see sense over piracy laws

While I'm no torch-bearer for US citizens, it seems the American public may have enough collective sense to overwhelm the proposed piracy laws.

I don't condone piracy, although the often 'holier-than-thou', money focused, web-unsavvy attitude of some of the large record companies and multimedia providers has sometimes tested my patience to the limit.  Artists should be rewarded fairly for their creativity and, in most cases, the organisations that serve to promote them also deserve recognition and reward.

That being said, the proposed anti-piracy legislation (PIPA and SOPA) currently being debated by the US legislature is an example of big business railroading money-hungry (in terms of campaign funding) Senators and Congressmen and women into a badly worded, ill thought through piece of law.  Worse still, it serves to further reinforce the US Administration's perception that it is both the proprietor and global policeman of the internet while living in some kind of Hollywood movie.

Yet, the very force it is seeking to curb is biting back and galvanising its publics.  The blackout of Wikipedia served as a reminder that governments only have so much control over the web. The apparent backlash from US citizens alone has persuaded a significant number of their electoral representatives to back away from the bills being proposed.

It can be no coincidence that the Megaupload file sharing website was shut down at the request of the US authorities only a day after the protests against the piracy legislation, even though the authorities claim they order was made a couple of weeks earlier.  It remains to be seen how this will play out in whichever courts of law become involved what will certainly be an complex case.

The reality is that the internet has blown the 'traditional' concept of copyright, public ownership and even the whole legislative process wide open and, as with most conflicts in life, moderation and collaboration are the obvious - but least favoured - solution.

As always, the only people likely to make any real money out of this are the lawyers.

Published 20th January, 2012

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