Politics ahead. Be warned. But, this is censorship I’m discussing — and as a writer, this is a major concern.
I swear, politics is something that rears its ugly head day to day for all I try to avoid it. I prefer my politics in a fantastical world where I can devil’s advocate between two, three, five, or ten different Kingdoms without anyone looking at me as though I’ve grown a third head and a sixth eye.
But then I think about SOPA and all of the hidden caveats, the consequences, and the ripples that will sweep through the world as we know it. How will SOPA chance our lives?
How will SOPA leave me as a writer who wants to be published? I write Fantasy. I include politics in my writing. I share photography of other’s, though I give the photographers the credit they rightfully deserve. SOPA, if you consider online piracy, at first glance might be something that appeals to those who have copyrights. I can understand that. I’d like to be protected from piracy and theft if I get my precious book published. After all, it is my baby! It will be my income.
Then I thought about it a little harder, looked at it a little closer, and realized I supported a few basic principles that SOPA directly countered.
Here are the list of things I support.
- Sharing Books with Friends.
- Borrowing Movies from a Buddy.
- Catching up on a TV Episode I missed… that won’t be available anywhere for months.
- Watching TV in a language I do not speak and has been translated so I could enjoy watching it too. (I will often buy series I really enjoy and find ways to support the creators, despite the distance and language barriers.)
- Going to the Library.
The internet has made these things easier. I can see a video or recording a buddy would’ve done for me through the internet. I can read a borrowed book. Hell, I can download a movie I already own but am too lazy to dig out of the cabinet. I’ve paid the piper.
Sure, not everyone shares these morals — or wants to do these things. But, what will the next step be? Twitter could be shut down because a user posts a link to a video they don’t own. Goodbye, Twitter. Facebook? We will only wish it will exist in the same functionality it once did? The supporters of this bill claim it will not happen, but is this the truth?
Google+? Buh-bye. I feel a bit bad for the photographers who get their images shared around with links back to them. I’ve learned of a lot of fantastic photographers and beautiful images I otherwise would not have known about through others. SOPA might very well mark the end of this sort of sharing. On a technicality, fair-use only goes so far and any disgruntled employee working with SOPA in the government could shut it down.
How long will it be before ‘protecting the copyright’ becomes a method of ‘censoring the people’? That is what worries me. Especially as I am a writer. Especially as I write about people in fantasy worlds faced with oppression. As a person who will be greatly concerned about protecting my copyright (because each copy of a book old is what will put food on my table…), I find myself questioning just how this law will be applied.
I am going to watch and wait. I’m not going to take sides, because I do not fully understand the ramifications. I’m a little ashamed (more than a little) that the bill is written in such a way I feel I need a doctorate in law to understand it. But one thing is clear to me: It may be the beginning of something far bigger and may change how people interact on the internet.
I find this sad. What websites exist that I love today that may not exist anymore once this law is put into place?
Just something to think about.