E desta vez quem aplaude é o Facebook
A lei mais controversa imposta na Internet, SOPA, juntamente com a PIPA, estão a dar que falar. E um dia após o FBI ter encerrado o maior site de partilha, Megaupload, e o grupo Anonymous ter retaliado ao colocar vários sites do governo americano, de música…, em baixo, inclusivé o do próprio FBI, eis que o criador do projecto SOPA, indica que este será adiado até que haja um acordo e uma solução sobre o mesmo.
Lamar S. Smith, autor da lei SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) anunciou hoje que vai adiar o projecto “até que haja amplo acordo e se chegue a uma solução”.
Declaração de Smith sobre o adiamento do projecto SOPA, divulgada no Commitee on the Judiciary:
January 20, 2012
Statement from Chairman Smith on Senate Delay of Vote on PROTECT IP Act Washington, D.C.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement in response to the Senate decision to postpone consideration of legislation to help combat online piracy.
Chairman Smith: “I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy. 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 problem of online piracy is too big to ignore. American intellectual property industries provide 19 million high-paying jobs and account for more than 60 percent of U.S. exports. The theft of America’s intellectual property costs the U.S. economy more than $100 billion annually and results in the loss of thousands of American jobs. Congress cannot stand by and do nothing while American innovators and job creators are under attack. “The online theft of American intellectual property is no different than the theft of products from a store. It is illegal and the law should be enforced both in the store and online. “The Committee will continue work with copyright owners, Internet companies, financial institutions to develop proposals that combat online piracy and protect America’s intellectual property. We welcome input from all organizations and individuals who have an honest difference of opinion about how best to address this widespread problem. The Committee remains committed to finding a solution to the problem of online piracy that protects American intellectual property and innovation.” The House Judiciary Committee will postpone consideration of the legislation until there is wider agreement on a solution.
O comunicado acontece um dia após o FBI ter encerrado um dos maiores sites de partilha online, o MegaUpload, e dois dias após vários sites dos mais acedidos na Internet – Wikipédia, Reddit, Wired, etc,.. – terem encerrado como forma de protesto e descontentamento pelas leis SOPA e PIPA (Protect Intellectual Property Act).
Por enquanto ambas as leis foram “retiradas da mesa” e adiadas e, nas palavras de Harry Reid, líder maioritário do senado de Nevada, “À luz dos recentes acontecimentos, eu decidi adiar a votação de terça-feira sobre a Lei Protect IP”.
Por sua vez, Lamar Smith que, apenas há dois dias referia ao The Wall Street Journal que não pretendia voltas atrás com o projecto lei SOPA e esperava avançar com o mesmo já em Fevereiro, admite hoje que este será adiado até que se chegue a um acordo e se encontre uma solução.
Quem já veio mostrar o seu contentamento por esta decisão foi Mark Zuckerberg, CEO do Facebook que, embora não tenha também encerrado o site como forma de protesto pelas leis SOPA e PIPA, sempre demostrou a sua oposição às mesmas. Após ter conhecimento do adiamento das leis, a página do Facebook Washington DC mostrava a seguinte mensagem:
Facebook Washington DC
We are relieved that Congress has recognized the serious damage the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) could cause to the Internet and are pleased that congressional leaders have decided not to move forward on these bills. We want to thank the millions of Facebook users who shared their views with us, with members of Congress, and with their friends and families on this important issue, and who changed the direction of this harmful legislation. We appreciate that lawmakers have listened to our community’s concerns, and we stand ready to work with them on solutions to piracy and copyright infringement that will not chill free expression or threaten the economic growth and innovation the Internet provides. You can read more about Facebook’s view on this legislation by clicking the “Anti-Piracy Bills” tab on the left side of the Facebook Washington DC