Oppose bill for the US government to block websites.

[Eric J in MN]

An email I sent to my Senators. Feel free to use some of my words if you contact your Senators about this.

Please vote against 'S. 3804: Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act.'

We shouldn't have a fast process for blocking websites.

The bill allows an injunction to block websites instead of at least requiring a trial first.

YouTube would have been blocked for copyright infringement in its early days if this legislation had existed then.

Even after a trial, YouTube would have stayed blocked:

The bill only considers commercial value ('commercially significant purpose') of a website and not social value.

YouTube wasn't making money in its early days, and so couldn't have claimed a 'commercially significant purpose.'

But YouTube was allowing millions of people to communicate for free through video.

It had great social value then and now.

I hope you will vote against the 'Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act.'

[The Northerner]

1. K&R

[HEyHEY]

2. Yeah, if it's commercial the courts should figure it out on a case by case basis

This can and will be abused. Case in point, China. Youtube is blocked under the guise of public security, it's really blocked so the two Chinese versions are the only game in town.

[Eric J in MN]

4. Regarding abuse of the proposed copyright law

...a worst-case scenario would be that the news-article excerpts at Democratic Underground are used as a pretext by a future Republican administration to block Democratic Underground.

[HEyHEY]

6. Oh, it would happen, you can bet

[ixion]

3. Censorship... just like China and Russia

we should be so proud. :eyes:

[Shandris]

5. Don't like what a site is saying?

Upload something with commercial value then call the regulators. Censorship on Demand.

[Eric J in MN]

8. Exactly.

The proposed law doesn't make any distinction between content uplooaded by the owner and content uploaded by visitors.

[BeFree]

7. I should complain, but

If I complain and it pisses someone off, then where will I be? On a list.

If Obama thinks we should be regulated into a pigeon-hole, then who am I to complain?
I voted for him, so I should just do as he pleases, right?
I mean, people right here on DU have been preaching that idea for a long time now.
And they aren't disappeared. Isn't that proof they are right?