Microsoft, Apple and Others Withdrawal Support for SOPA - Polidicks

[quote]A group that represents a number of major software developers, including Microsoft, Adobe, and CA, has withdrawn its support for the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) bill, which would require Internet companies and other players in the tech ecosystem to deny services to suspected software pirates and copyright violators. In a blog post, Business Software Alliance (BSA) president and CEO Robert Holleyman said that, while he believes the proposed SOPA legislation, (H.R. 3261) is well intended, it's too sweeping in its current form. "As it now stands ... it could sweep in more than just truly egregious actors," Holleyman said. "To fix this problem, the definitions of who can be the subject of legal actions and what remedies are imposed must be tightened and narrowed." Holleyman's stance marks a reversal for BSA, which originally supported the bill. In a press statement last month, Holleyman said the bill was "a good step" to "address the problem of online piracy." Still, Holleyman said he hasn't given on up on SOPA, and believes it can be amended so that it helps stamp out Internet piracy without trampling on the rights of legitimate Internet companies. "BSA stands ready to work with (House Judiciary Committee) chairman Lamar Smith and his colleagues on the Judiciary Committee to resolve these issues," he said. Smith (R-Texas), along with 12 co-sponsors, introduced SOPA in October. The bill is meant to prevent the theft of intellectual property that's online and in particular seeks to clamp down on foreign websites that steal content from American producers. Critics, however, say the bill amounts to Internet censorship. Many of SOPA's provisions are aimed at foreign websites that stream or otherwise make available copyrighted content, such as movies and music, to U.S. audiences. SOPA allows the U.S. attorney general to seek a court order against such sites to block them, using technical means such as DNS filtering. The bill would require online service providers, like ISPs, search engines, ad networks, and payment providers, to withhold services to websites that are deemed by a court to be infringing copyrights held by U.S. content producers. Further, ISPs must block U.S. Web users' access to such sites. SOPA takes specific aim at purveyors of online pharmaceuticals that sell drugs to individuals without a prescription. It authorizes ISPs and other Web services providers to withhold services to such sites, many of which operate from India and Canada. It also requires the secretary of state and secretary of commerce to appoint intellectual property attaches to all embassies in foreign countries. Part of the attaches' remit would be to work with local authorities to establish programs to cut down on intellectual property theft. SOPA currently sits in the House Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet. It has yet to be introduced to the floor for a vote.[/quote] Source: [URL]http://informationweek.com/news/government/policy/232200069[/URL] Business Software Alliance includes [b]Adobe Systems[/b] [b]Apple Inc.[/b], [b]Autodesk[/b], Aveva, AVG Technologies, Bentley Systems, CA Technologies, Cadence Design Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Compuware, Corel, SolidWorks, [b]Dell[/b], [b]Intel[/b], Intuit, [b]Kaspersky Lab[/b], [b]McAfee[/b], [b]Microsoft[/b], Minitab, Progress Software, Parametric Technology Corporation, Quark, Quest Software, [b]Rosetta Stone[/b], Siemens PLM Software, Sybase, [b]Symantec[/b], TechSmith and MathWorks

if this goes through then its fucking magic. it won't go through though.

Cool, getting individual signatures in opposition to this is one thing, but if large software groups like the BSA are withdrawing sponsorship, then I don't see this lasting much longer.

My hope went up

My liking of Apple if it really did that did that. I've seen a lot of shit from them but mainly from Steve Jobs. But whatever, MS I've already liked, they're a bit rusty in places, but MS is rugged. The biggest names are withdrawing though, that's very, very good.

[QUOTE=butters757;33397101]Awesome, but I don't see Apple mentioned anywhere?[/QUOTE] Apple is a major part of the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Software_Alliance]Business Software Alliance[/url]. As is Adobe, Autodesk, Aveva, AVG, Dell, Intel, Kaspersky, McAfee, Rosetta Stone, Symantec, TechSmith and a whole bunch of others.

[QUOTE=Jelly;33397155]Apple is a major part of the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Software_Alliance]Business Software Alliance[/url]. As is Adobe, Autodesk, Aveva, AVG, Dell, Intel, Kaspersky, McAfee, Rosetta Stone, Symantec, TechSmith and a whole bunch of others.[/QUOTE] "The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is a trade group established in 1988 and representing a number of the world's largest software makers. Its principal activity is trying to stop copyright infringement of software produced by its members." That's very very good then.

Success! Sure online piracy is a bitch for some companies but maybe companies like Rosetta Stones shouldn't price their products so expensive..

So it's basically just Hollywood's lobby now? I find it funny that the companies spending the most on anti-piracy lobbying are the ones swimming in money. They want us to believe they'll be driven out of business, but clearly they're doing fine.

[QUOTE=pyschomc;33397215]Success! Sure online piracy is a bitch for some companies but maybe companies like Rosetta Stones shouldn't price their products so expensive..[/QUOTE] So you take it for free.

It won't and will never pass. This shit happens [b]EVERY YEAR[/b].

[QUOTE=AceOfDivine;33397250]So you take it for free.[/QUOTE] Yes, not saying me, but... yes

It's probably petty of me that I'm enjoying the visual image of the lobbyists realising how far their boat has already sailed.

[QUOTE=The First 11'er;33397482]It won't and will never pass. This shit happens [b]EVERY YEAR[/b].[/QUOTE] I'm glad you mention that: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement[/url] I'm sure many thought the same for this beauty. Stop saying that laws can't pass. Sign in saying you dislike it then continue with your life, it won't take more than 5 minutes a month and if everyone signed against these garbage pieces of legislation then we won't have them leak through.

Apple and Microsoft, the software giants of our time, are not liking the SOPA. Any bells ringing yet, congress?

I don't understand how this is even possibly going to go through. Is politics in america so corrupt, they can pass a bill with no supporters except those who funnel them money?

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;33398103]Apple and Microsoft, the software giants of our time, are not liking the SOPA. Any bells ringing yet, congress?[/QUOTE] The only thing they hear is [I]"LOTS OF MONEY IN MY POCKETS!!"[/I]

Oh god, this is so awesome

So, nearly an entire industry withdrew support from SOPA? Yeah, this won't go through.

[QUOTE=AceOfDivine;33397250]So you take it for free.[/QUOTE] Either free or several hundred dollars [editline]23rd November 2011[/editline] Of a software program, not nearly worth as much. Sure it's useful, but overpriced.

[QUOTE=pyschomc;33397215]Success! Sure online piracy is a bitch for some companies but maybe companies like Rosetta Stones shouldn't price their products so expensive..[/QUOTE] Rosetta Stone is hardly expensive, the same level of language tutoring (I've used Rosetta Stone, it's on par with an actual tutor) would cost so much more than what Rosetta Stone costs.

[QUOTE=TheCloak;33399546]Rosetta Stone is hardly expensive, the same level of language tutoring (I've used Rosetta Stone, it's on par with an actual tutor) would cost so much more than what Rosetta Stone costs.[/QUOTE] Our Family just bought a copy.

[QUOTE=fantafuzz;33398189]I don't understand how this is even possibly going to go through. Is politics in america so corrupt, they can pass a bill with no supporters except those who funnel them money?[/QUOTE] Pretty much. [editline]23rd November 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=TheCloak;33399546]Rosetta Stone is hardly expensive, the same level of language tutoring (I've used Rosetta Stone, it's on par with an actual tutor) would cost so much more than what Rosetta Stone costs.[/QUOTE] Isn't it like $200 for per language?

well that sucks, they really need to crack down on pirates and this seemed like the only step forward they've taken. it better get through.

Man, this bill, and the people pushing it, are like some old cliche tv show villain that always gets defeated at the end of the episode and in a final spout of anger says "I'll get you next time!!!!"

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;33400361]Pretty much. [editline]23rd November 2011[/editline] Isn't it like $200 for per language?[/QUOTE] It's like $200 per language level (like beginner, intermediate, expert)

Some faith in humanity has been restored.

I was kinda disappointed that microsoft was supporting such an awful law like this one. I'm glad they no longer do.

Who cares. Their corporations, not people, their word should matter anyways. It'll be a true signal of where the power lies in this country if the SOPA is destroyed simply because some major corporations said they don't agree. when literally millions of us have signed petitions telling them NO!

they had support for it in the first place?