Stop SOPA/PIPA
THIS SITE WILL BE DOWN ON 18TH JANUARY 2012
Hull LUG does not normally get involved with politics, but there is an issue that is being discussed in American politics at the moment that has the could affect the we all use and view the internet.
The Stopping Online Piracy Act and The Protect IP Act (SOPA and PIPA) seek to stop illegal downloading and distribution of copywrited material. Both good and worthy sounding pieces of legislation. However it appears that the legislation is badly worded, and these Acts are likely to deprive users of the easy use of the internet that we enjoy today.
You may have read that sites such as Wikipedia, Reddit, and Boing Boing are taking part in the blackout, but there are also many thousands or even millions of smaller sites, such as ours that will be blacked out or showing alternative content for the day.
Our Content for SOPA/PIPA
Many say that this is a US National issue, and is of no consequence to others around the world. This is not the case. Only this week courts ruled that Richard O’Dwyer, the owner of the TVShack website could be extradited to the US, a country to which he has never been. If SOPA and PIPA are passed then it is likely that many more UK citizens could face trial in countries where they have never been, and certainly face the risk of a judicial system less rigorous, or at least as fair as that which we enjoy in the UK.
I hope that you understand the reason why, as the host of hulllug.org I am blacking out the site for the day, and I ask you to join me in our stand against SOPA and PIPA
Dave
Needless to say (but you said it anyway!) Hull LUG isn’t the only site going dark on 18 January. All but one of the sites on my server have agreed to blackout too.
There’s a good reason why we’re all doing this. Let’s hope it makes a big enough statement to the ‘powers’ (hah!) that be!
The site won’t be ‘black’ as such, more explaining why it’s not actually up:
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http://downagainstsopa.com/images/computer.png,