Unhappy Hollywood: Statement from SOPA-PIPA advocates

Here's a long, rambling statement SOPA supporters made after Congress decided to shelve SOPA and PIPA yesterday. Naturally, I think they're wrong.

The statement came after Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) put consideration of SOPA on hold indefinitely. A hearing on the bill in the Judiciary Committee was scheduled to resume in February. Now that's not going to happen.

"I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy," Smith said in a statement. "It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products."

In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid scrubbed a scheduled vote on PIPA for Jan. 24. He said: "There is no reason that the legitimate issues raised by many about this bill cannot be resolved." 

Joint Statement from AFM, AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, IBT and SAG  Regarding the PROTECT IP Act (S. 968) and the STOP Online Piracy Act (HR 3261) 

The following statement was issued by the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Directors Guild of America (DGA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE), Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT):

"We thank and commend Senators Reid, Leahy and Kyl as well as Congressmen Smith, Conyers, Goodlatte, Watt and Berman and all the other co-sponsors of the PROTECT IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act, who in the face of an onslaught of mistruths and great pressure to renege on their commitment, stood steadfast in their belief that the uniquely American creativity embodied in our country's films, TV programs and music deserves to be protected from illegal foreign profiteers.  We fought for this legislation because illegal Internet businesses that locate offshore expressly to elude US laws should not escape the very same rules of law that currently apply to illegal US websites – they should not be allowed to reap in profits if they knowingly sell or distribute illicitly gained content and goods which they had no role in creating or financing to the American consumer.

"We recognize that we are currently part of a complex and important debate about the future, not just of the Internet but also of creativity, the American economy, free expression, and a civil society.   We believe that the light should be being shined on every aspect of this discussion and on all of those who have a stake in it.  We believe we should discuss what an unregulated 'free' Internet means for the future of content, just as we should also discuss the importance of an open Internet.  

"We welcome this debate. We hope a new tone can be set and it is not one that turns our advocacy for this legislation into an implication that we promote censorship. Our commitment to the First Amendment is decades old and long established – it is a matter of public record from long before the word 'Internet' was part of anyone's vocabulary.  If one truly embraces free expression, they do not take down the Library of Congress websites, the very symbol of our country's belief in knowledge and learning.  We would hope a new tone can be set that does not pit the creativity and innovation of our directors, actors, performers, craftspeople, and technicians against those innovators in other industries.  We hope a new tone can be set that does not include website attacks, blacklists, blackouts, and lies. We believe an Internet that does not allow outright stealing has to be the Internet of the future or all the promises it holds will be unrealized.

"We are committed to open debate. We are equally as committed to protecting our members' ability to create and to earn a living while doing so.  We will work with Chairmen Leahy and Smith to make both possible.” 

I do agree that piracy is a major problem that demands action. Now let's see if we can do something about it without loading legislation with over-reaching power the government could use in ways that go beyond reason.

Remember: While SOPA-PIPA has been put on ice, they could still be put back into circulation. That being the case, the danger is not over. Opponents will have to keep on Congress to do the right thing as it heads back to the drawing board.