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John Kerry

In reply to the discussion: SOPA, PIPA stance? [View all]

beachmom

(15,239 posts)
3. This is not an area of expertise for the Senator
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 01:00 PM
Jan 2012

For example, there was another bill about performance royalty payments (another pet project from the content industry), for which Sen. Kerry never gave an opinion:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=273x158657

Here is a list of Senators who have come out definitely against PIPA:

http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/19/25-senators-oppose-pipa/

Scott Brown is down as opposed.

It looks like more Republicans than Democrats are opposed but it's still a bipartisan list. Thing is, this battle is a Big Tech vs. Big Media ongoing war. There are little guys on both sides as well (small blogs and independent artists). I oppose the bill as written because it may have "unintended consequences" buried in its language, but let's not act like Google is some full scale Good Guy. The truth is, go right now and type in any song title: in addition to legitimate sources, you will get hits for FREE mp3s on the first page. I can't figure out why Google can't fix this. Well, the truth is they probably could but it would expose them to other problems, like accusations of censorship and maybe people would try another search engine that would give them the pirate hits. So they're not exactly innocent here.

I just think this is NOT a black and white issue. Sure this site and DailyKos are opposed but that is because it is against their self interest. Independent music labels have a different set of interests and actually support the bill (it's not just the majors and large corporations that are for this bill).

In the end, the Congress should first do no harm. Since the bill might harm, then it should not go forward. But it's not like piracy isn't a problem. And with everything that has been outsourced to China and India, our entertainment industry still is a major export that creates a lot of jobs stateside. The Chinese are pretty jealous about this, by the way. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/world/asia/chinas-president-pushes-back-against-western-culture.html?scp=1&sq=china%20culture&st=cse

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

SOPA, PIPA stance? [View all] politicasista Jan 2012 OP
Warren has come against it? First news. Mass Jan 2012 #1
I agree with you karynnj Jan 2012 #2
Makes sense politicasista Jan 2012 #6
Not necessarily against it, politicasista Jan 2012 #5
So finally Warren and Brown posted something yesterday. Yeah!!! Mass Jan 2012 #10
My mistake politicasista Jan 2012 #11
This is not an area of expertise for the Senator beachmom Jan 2012 #3
Just another small comment about Sen. Kerry beachmom Jan 2012 #4
Guess people expect more? politicasista Jan 2012 #7
Except it's not up for a vote. beachmom Jan 2012 #8
To answer the question, politicasista Jan 2012 #9
OT Hi... YvonneCa Jan 2012 #12
Thanks. politicasista Jan 2012 #13
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