A Big Shoutout To Ron Wyden!

[unhappycamper]

Oregon Senator Wyden effectively kills Internet censorship bill
By Stephen C. Webster
Friday, November 19th, 2010 -- 4:27 pm

It's too early to say for sure, but Oregon Senator Ron Wyden could very well go down in the history books as the man who saved the Internet.

A bill that critics say would have given the government power to censor the Internet will not pass this year thanks to the Oregon Democrat, who announced his opposition during a recent committee hearing. Individual Senators can place holds on pending legislation, in this case meaning proponents of the bill will be forced to reintroduce the measure and will not be able to proceed until the next Congress convenes.

Even then, its passage is not certain.

The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA) would have permitted a blanket takedown of any domain alleged to be assisting activities that violate copyright law, based upon the judgment of state attorneys general.

"Deploying this statute to combat online copyright infringement seems almost like using a bunker-busting cluster bomb, when what you need is a precision-guided missile," Wyden said.



unhappycamper comment: My first thought was Ron needs to work on his metaphors. But then I realized he's talking to the major league warmongers in Congress.

[pinboy3niner]

1. Yeah, not crazy about the metaphors--but Ron did good!

[JackRiddler]

2. (Bravo Wyden) For more info and discussion see yesterday's thread on this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9589905

[JackRiddler]

3. www.limewire.com

By mentioning that link, did I just advertise limewire?

No actually, but in the new media environment who can definitively determine the difference between a link and an ad?

Under the new legislation, this post, the site, or DU's ISP might be rendered subject to preventive injunction, depending on an AG's understanding.

If you go to limewire, you will see that they have, in fact, under current law, been put under an injunction for copyright violations, without need of the expansive definitions and vague powers that the new legislation would authorize.

Again, check out the running thread for links to the legislation text and critiques, as well as some "arguments" in support.