This short article deals with Prof. McKinney's earlier post about SOPA. The site megaupload was shut down today as the company was charged for breaking piracy laws. The US government claims that the site cost copyright holders $500 million in lost revenue. The sites leader claim that they are operating legally. Do these sites have a right to share this material? More importantly, how are we going to be able to do research in the future if a reliable site for information like wikipedia is shut down?
I agree, Nick. I have spent countless hours researching all types of things on wikipedia and I am not sure that I will be able to continue my production as a student or make informed contributions to conversations when my main source for information is shut down. I also think that the whole SOPA thing is ruining the integrity of the internet as we know it. SOPA is just another attempt by the government to take some more control over our lives. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if we found out that somehow the Illuminati was behind this...they are always trying to take over the world and SOPA will just make it that much easier for them to achieve that. But honestly, if they restrict our access to things on the internet what will stop them from controlling television and movies and radio? I hope it's not too late to save a few of our basic freedoms.
ReplyDeleteI agree dude, this affects all of us...basic freedoms. Im finishing my coffee.
ReplyDeleteI agree as as well Jon
ReplyDeleteIf these restrictions continue, it will force students to do something drastic. Like read a book...
ReplyDeleteI read Mike's comment and LOL. Wouldn't it be just terrible to have to read again? Seriously though, the economics of publishing have changed radically because of the internet. We can't go back. I have some problems understanding how intellectual ideas can be protected by copyright. Films, yes. But ideas are amorphous (back to public good theory). Hope your coffee was good this morning, Jon.
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