With Everyone Busy Opposing SOPA, Sister Bill “PROTECT IP” Might Enjoy a Free Pass

SOPA has been worrying all Internet and free speech enthusiasts, but in the midst of the entire SOPA outcry, we forgot the PROTECT IP (PIPA) bill, which passed unanimously at the Senate Judiciary Committee. Given this fact, although not as dangerous as SOPA, PIPA poses an immediate risk to us all. PIPA needs to be opposed next, as its next hearing is due on 24 January next year.

The PROTECT IP Act (Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011; United States Senate Bill S.968) is a proposed law with the stated goal of giving the US government and copyright holders additional tools to curb access to “rogue websites dedicated to infringing or counterfeit goods”, especially those registered outside the U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and 11 initial bipartisan co-sponsors introduced the bill on May 12, 2011.

With SOPA being opposed by every Tom Dick and Harry out there, its backers were left with no choice. Therefore, they decided to jump on the PIPA bandwagon. According to a post on Reddit, PIPA has already gathered a support of 40 senators and needs 20 more to pass to the House. Now, Redditors are up in protest against PIPA. They are working hard to let senators know that PIPA is as undesirable as SOPA. If you think this bill does not do justice to the Internet and to free speech, you can join them in this fight.

The US is keen on censorship. It is introducing one offensive bill after another. Burns from COICA last year had not healed, when PIPA arrived and now SOPA was barely averted. Apparently, the media industry is trying its best to push the Internet into censorship, the people are opposing it to their best capacity, and the Government only stands as an enabler with no wise decision of its own!