Jimquisition: Sony, Nintendo, EA and SOPA

[Citizen Box]

I don't think most people grasp the gravity of a bill like this being passed in the United States. I have even seen people here on the Escapist saying things along the lines of

"Well I am not in America so it doesn't effect me."

Oh yes it does.

Any site hosted in the United States, including the Escapist, can be shut down by any corporation that feels fit, as long as they can "prove" there is copyright material on the site, this can include images, music, videos, links to aforementioned items, etc.

Any site hosted or not hosted in the United States that has advertisers in the United States will be forced to stop doing business with the website in question, which can and will shut down the site do to lack of funding. See a lot of ADs from Google? Not anymore.

Also, as much as people will hate to admit this, United States has A LOT of power and say in other countries around the world. They have and will tell other countries to pass equally stupid laws in their own countries censoring the internet even more. Don't believe me? See '3 Strike' laws, all "encouraged" by the United States government to prevent online piracy in other countries.

Edit:
You what is the worst part of it? More money gets point into the economy via the internet then the entertainment industry this bill was set out to protect.

 

[AxelxGabriel]

I live in Canada, What exactly can I do to help?

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

That was really rather eloquent for something that's apparently off the top of your head. Bravo, good sir.

And everyone else needs to listen to Mr Sterling! He speaks the truth.

 

[Eri]

First thing is first.

Jim, I don't know how much your acting for effect but I think you overdid it a bit this time as you seemed a little bit off your rocker and a little incoherant at times.

That's because he wasn't acting.

 

[Elf Defiler Korgan]

Sounds bad, could really screw things up. Some of the best stuff, jokes, material shut down. The Americans can't of course control the whole internet, they have never been able to do it thus far, beyond their jurisdiction; but they certainly can make things terrible for those within the world's greatest country (propaganda lol). So yeah Jim, really can feel your pain and anxiety here.

Redd the stock, cautionary messages from metal gear indeed.

 

[GeneralFungi]

As if companies don't ALREADY have enough power over their games, (A lot more then most other mediums have over their content) now they want to be able to delete things on a whim and mark off anyone involved in reviewing a game to be in the same league as someone who shoplifts their local game store?

This is completely unacceptable.

Even if this was used in a completely controlled and responsible manner, (not likely) I won't believe anyone who tells me that they WON'T abuse this power.

"Oh dear, a bad review. Oh look, gameplay footage! DELETE."

"Ah, a good review. Let's just pretend we never seen these pictures..."

It's nice to see that the people who fought for hundreds of years in a struggle for human rights is having ALL of their work undermined due to a single piece of paper threatening to take a lot of that away. If I lived in America I would SAY NO TO THIS SHIT.

 

[Stevepinto3]

Fortunately we're not alone in this. Google, Yahoo, and Facebook are all avidly against this bill. Which shouldn't be too big of a surprise since they would all have something to lose. Still, it's nice to know that some of the big corporations are on our side for once.

 

[Halcyone3]

Game companies are not scared, no1 with that kind of money ever is. They are just plain and simple greedy as hell.

 

[Vivace-Vivian]

Making people aware is all well and good but what can we actually do?

Honestly, is there a way we can actually help stop this or will it just be a lot of angry faces in the internet crowd we're making?

Heck knows that probably won't change anything.

 

[RandV80]

Out of curiosity when they say Sony and Nintendo are in on this is it specifically the American counterparts going for it? Like is it Nintendo of America being stupid like usually, or are the actual big wigs in Japan supporting it too?

 

[Metalrocks]

this world is getting crazier by the minute. whats next, downloading games over steam will be a crime too???
are these companies so retarded that they think they lose money that way if youtube etc, shows videos of games? not every one buys magazines to checkout for the latest or upcoming games.
not for long and we will have this kind of crap as east germany over 20 years ago that you cant say anything about the system.

 

[ShadowKatt]

I'm going to laugh when Obama passes this(or rather, does nothing to stop it since these guys are paying for it) and then cry when the internet dies because there is/was nothing that I could do.

 

[lord.jeff]

I'm not really surprised companies are jumping onto this bill, it gives them a lot of control and it's smart for them to support it, granted I don't agree with the bill and hope it doesn't pass but I'm not going to blame a company or person for supporting something that benefits them.

 

[Something Amyss]

Y'know, if it takes some exaggeration to point out the problem, he should go for it. The problem of this act is seriously dangerous for the internet as is. Companies would go crazy blocking sites left and right. Legislation like this shouldn't even be written. There are already copyright laws in place to punish the kind of things this act would be used to go after first. Piracy is a problem, but banning the internet isn't the way to stop it.

But fabricating a panic scenario simply makes him look like he's making shit up and undermines the problem.

 

[Kintobor92]

I really want to hear all the major videogame companies stand up and explain themselves for this insanity of supporting this self destructive bill.

It's absolutely frightening how powerful corporations have become in just the last few years, we don't need to give them any more. It's not even about money anymore, it's all about the control because that's all that's left that they can grasp for. I'm really losing hope in the process of reversing this horrible trend of putting all of the political power in the hands of a select few CEO's. You can't win against people who have near-limitless funds to destroy opposition.

Firefox had a thing on their front page where they'll send a canned email in your name to your representatives to tell them to not let this thing pass. I've already sent it in myself.

That makes me love Firefox SO MUCH. And I was already a fan.

 

[Akimoto]

SOPA = Sign Off People's A**

Those companies signed on the dotted line to sell off the loyal customer. I feel a disturbance in the Derp.

 

[Flight]

I've been signal-boosting regarding this horrible bill. Besides seeming self-destructive, it's frighteningly vague, and I've been considering abstaining from purchasing products made by the companies who have supported this. I do not pirate, and I do not support piracy, but this is just plain ridiculous.

As a side-note, I also ended up buying Haunting Ground after watching a playthrough of it online and becoming intrigued. It's not one of my favorite horror games. If I hadn't watched that playthrough, I never would have bothered with the purchase.

 

[MB202]

I've already been spreading the word like made about SOPA, but at least now you have Jim Sterling to explain it for all of you poor souls who aren't convinced that this is a bad idea.

 

[ultimatevideogamer]

I heard that BSA (Business Software Alliance), a supporter of SOPA and associated with Microsoft and Apple, no longer supports it. Now if only there was a way to convince Sony, Nintendo, Electronic Arts, and the ESA about why SOPA should not be supported. I should also note that Nintendo of America and Sony are both members of the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association), who doesn't support SOPA, and CEA may cancel its membership to the United States Chamber of Commerce because it supports SOPA, just like Yahoo! did, and Google may cancel its membership to the USCoC as well.

 

[Infernai]

Oh sweet crispy jesus christ...Kojima was right, i get the feeling that man is laughing manically right now proclaiming "I TOLD YOU!"

If this gets through, then things are probably going to get really fucking bad really fucking quickly. *sighs* God i hate this planet sometimes...Ah well, here's to hoping that it won't get through at all in any way, shape or form whatsoever. I might be in australia, but i know this will put a big dent in the internets freedoms. And considering what Australia's been through in regards to that and games recently, i really wouldn't want to inflict such a thing on the rest of the world.