Internet wins: SOPA and PIPA both shelved

[DainBramaged]

Source: Ars Technica

Just hours after Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) announced he was delaying a vote on the PROTECT IP Act, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), the sponsor of the Stop Online Piracy Act, followed suit and announced he would be delaying consideration of the companion legislation.

“I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy," Smith said. "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."

"The Committee will continue work with both copyright owners and Internet companies to develop proposals that combat online piracy and protect America’s intellectual property," Smith continued. "We welcome input from all organizations and individuals who have an honest difference of opinion about how best to address this widespread problem." (He may want to check out our thoughts on the matter.)

Even former Senator Chris Dodd, the head of the Motion Picture Association of America, seemed to concede defeat. "With today’s announcement, we hope the dynamics of the conversation can change and become a sincere discussion about how best to protect the millions of American jobs affected by the theft of American intellectual property," he said in a statement. "It is incumbent that they now sincerely work with all of us to achieve a meaningful solution to this critically important goal."

The ideas present in both SOPA and PIPA may return, but both bills in their present form—and with their present names—are probably done for good.



Read more: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2012/01/internet-wins-sopa-and-pipa-both-shelved.ars

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Sopa Pipa is dead, it cut a fart and exploded it's head.

[RC]

1. Oh, they will be back. They will be smuggled in unrelated bills.

They are far from dead.

[KoKo]

2. Not so sure about this. What seems to be good news and a win for Activists

often turns to "sour milk" after a few days, weeks, months.

Just saying.... that's been the pattern for a long while now...even before Obama. But, I understand your enhtusiasm. But, I no longer feel that "watching your back" isn't prudent in these times.

:hi: :-)'s

Edited for typo in "Enthusiasm." One can't be too careful these days with folks on Dem sites looking for Trolls because they do typos or spelling errors. ;-)