Home Gaming The ESA drops SOPA support – after SOPA’d already died

The ESA drops SOPA support – after SOPA’d already died

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awwwwwyeah

SOPA, and its little cousin PIPA – both bits of legislature that would break the internet, by giving too much power to clueless men in suits – have been shelved following last week’s vociferous protest.  All of us who use the internet can breathe a sight of relief. PHEW. The Entertainment Software Association, or ESA (The group of software publishers who bring use E3 every year) has spent up to $200 000 lobbying and campaigning to bring the ill-fated bills in to effect.

They’ve now dropped support of the SOPA, saying it has problems. Y’dont say!

“From the beginning, ESA has been committed to the passage of balanced legislation to address the illegal theft of intellectual property found on foreign rogue sites,” the group said in a statement. “Although the need to address this pervasive threat to our industry’s creative investment remains, concerns have been expressed about unintended consequences stemming from the current legislative proposals. Accordingly, we call upon Congress, the Obama Administration, and stakeholders to refocus their energies on producing a solution that effectively balances both creative and technology interests. As an industry of innovators and creators, we understand the importance of both technological innovation and content protection and are committed to working with all parties to encourage a balanced solution.”

We at Lazygamer certainly don’t agree with piracy – but we can’t abide by a far-reaching bit of legislature that would allow entire chunks of the internet to disappear (and this is the important bit) without due process. As the recent indictment and closure of Megaupload – the file-sharing pirate haven – shows, the laws that are in place already are sufficient when processes are followed properly (although, apparently – there was all sorts of other shady goings on at Megaupload headquarters).

“I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy,” said Lamar Smith, the guy behind the bill in an online statement this weekend. “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.”

Goodbye SOPA….and good riddance.

Last Updated: January 23, 2012

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