SOPA is the acronym of Stop Online Piracy Act. To put it in layman terms, it's a law proposed to stop online piracy, which is unlicensed downloading without needing to pay a single cent to rightful owners of the material.
PIPA is also almost the same as SOPA. It is the acronym of Protect IP Act, which curb access to rogue websites dedicated to infringing and counterfeit goods.
Now at one look no doubt both act does bring good. But the truth is, hell no. Every single site that has no rights in publishing what's that not theirs will be deemed guilty of owning or acquiring something that does not belong to them in the first place.
I can't deny that IF that both acts were to be carried out, the ultimate winners will be the manufacturers of branded goods and the entertainment industry. Everyone would have to buy REAL and genuine goods and music albums, movies and so on. You won't even have wikipedia or solutions for something which usually can be googled.
Now the problem that arises, in my opinion, is how slanted or distorted our world now is. Entertainment is one of the biggest industry. At the end of the day, one must realize, that every person needs a dose of entertainment to rid the stress or boredom. It doesn't matter if it is games, songs or movies, the truth is, it is almost impossible to live without entertainment these days.
Yes it sounds right and correct to buy genuine game CDs, music albums, go to cinemas or acquire original DVDs or Blu Rays, but the problem is, how many people can really afford it? To start with it, it is not cheap. And second, is the quality really worth the price? Spending around RM50 for a music album, where only maybe 3-4 songs are of top quality. A song priced at RM10! Uh a big NO for me...
And the third reason is, the many sites available for unlicensed download. Yes technically and morally, it is wrong. But the thing is, everyone wants a profit. If there is a website that pays you to direct traffic to it's site by allowing you to upload what you own ( example the bought original CD) to it's site and allowing people to download it, maybe for free or cheaper, who wouldn't want to? Yes again, it is wrong. But there are plenty things and rules in this world that people break when it comes to generating profit.
And last but not least. Think about it. I know this point may sound really bad and makes me a staunch supporter of online piracy, but do think again. Even with online piracy raging, Our artistes from Hollywood are still making millions and gazillions. Money and untold riches that we normal people will never achieve in our lifetime. With the meager or just enough salary or pay to live through everyday. Face it people. the living standards are getting higher. Prices of food and things have been rocketing like mad. But the sucky part is, our salary will never be enough. That's why people nowadays invest, compared to the good old days of pure hard work.
If SOPA did went through, most people would have to dig deep in their pockets just for that dose of entertainment, in the end making the rich even richer, hence widening the contrast between the rich and poor. Basically I don't really care for the one's who benefit from SOPA. They have enough. Enough of a record revenue bla bla bla. The more you cooperates want to earn, the poorer we have to be.
It's sad, maybe biased. But this is what I see from my point of view in the current situation. As long as everyone is happy with what they have, piracy, to me does give a blessing in disguise to the majority.
Online piracy is just one of the great loopholes that wasn't planned all the way along. Well safe to say at least, even if one day that SOPA and PIPA were to come, the free people's of Earth would have Lulsec and Anonymous to fight for us, right?
Of course, works that are EPIC and brilliant should always be purchased. Which is why I am eager to land my hands on everything related to "The Lord Of The Rings" and "Pirates of The Caribbean", movie and soundtracks.
Yoho yoho, A Pirate's Life For Me? :3
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