I just received an email from Demand Progress, a progressive web site, proclaiming, “Wow. We just won.” The reference, of course, was to Wednesday’s Internet blackout to protest SOPA and PIPA. Indeed, it does appear we’ve won a battle, as both bills appear to be dead – for the time being.
Winning a battle is not the same thing as winning a war. The losing side in any war always wins at least a battle or two. A war isn’t won until the other side raises a white flag and agrees to terms of surrender. So far, all we’ve won is one battle.
The other side, the record companies and Hollywood studios, have so far won many battles in this war. They were fighting this war even before there was an Internet and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Did you ever own a Digital Audio Tape recorder, the technology that was going to replace cassettes? Most likely not. Why? Because the record companies convinced Congress that the technology would be disruptive to their business model and convinced them to regulate dubbing functions, making the devices nothing but very expensive high tech paperweights.
Our enemies won’t quit. They’ll be back, pushing Congress to believe we don’t need due process or the First Amendment. In the eyes of the record companies and movie studios, competition is a crime. These are the type of capitalists who only believe in “free enterprise” so long as they own it and no one else can get a piece.
This war is not yet won. Far from it. We must remain vigilant.
Christine Hall has been a journalist since 1971. In 2001, she began writing a weekly consumer computer column and started covering Linux and FOSS in 2002 after making the switch to GNU/Linux. Follow her on Twitter: @BrideOfLinux
People need to understand than this is like fire suppression in a town made of coal bricks and with a population that is 10% psychopathic arsonists.
Constant vigilance and quick action is the only way to keep the crazies from burning the town down.
The mere thought of the suppression of our right to express ourselves makes most people angry. It will depend on the perception of the mob about this idea. For some, they thought that they won the battle but others don’t even care.
Thank you for this post.
Anya Ty
@AC I like the way you say it! @Anya Ty You’re welcome.
Police had to cut by means of the Megaupload guy’s safe space to arrest him, proving that the “Uncuttable” safe room model is worth the added $.