The Senate begins voting on January 24th on two bills before Congress now; PIPA (Protect IP Act) PIPA and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) that many experts say is a threat to privacy…

❝The consensus among many experts, internet users, web companies and even the White House, is that SOPA is too restrictive, too dangerous, too complicated and too big a threat to our privacy. Simply put, it must be stopped before it’s too late.❞ –Mashable

Google says “End Piracy, Not Liberty…

❝It will censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business.❞

and they’ve put together a petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and SOPA before it is too late as has WordPress who’s blacked out their site today along with a great video on the subject… PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet.

Canadians Take Heed!

Daniel Schwartz, CBC News explains how these laws will far outreach the USA and will effect Canada, in his January 17th post… Wikipedia shuts down to protest U.S. online piracy laws. His post explains in laymens terms that SOPA treats all dot-com, dot-net, and dot-org domain as domestic domain names for U.S. law purposes, domain extensions many Canadian companies use.

Michael Geist urgest Canadians to take action!

Michael Geist, Law professor called “Black Wednesday: In Protest of SOPA, Darken the Web” explains how this negatively effects Canadians and suggests Canadians take the following actions:

1. If you have a website or blog, turn it dark for the day with information on SOPA, Bill C-11 and why this issue matters. If not, consider adding “Stop Sopa” to your Twitter or Facebook image.
2. Write to your Member of Parliament to register one more objection to the digital lock rules in Bill C-11. The digital lock rules are the Canadian version of SOPA — overbroad, ineffective legislation that targets technology and that is widely opposed by most stakeholders. While many are frustrated by the sense the government simply ignores these objections, the SOPA protests are attracting attention and it is important to remind Canadian politicians of the similar concerns here.
3. Speak out against the copyright provisions in the Trans Pacific Partnership, particularly the plans for copyright term extension and the digital lock rules. The government consultation is open until February 14, 2012. All it takes a single email with your name, address, and comments on the issue. The email can be sent to consultations@international.gc.ca. Alternatively, submissions can be sent by fax (613-944-3489) or mail (Trade Negotiations Consultations (TPP), Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Trade Policy and Negotiations Division II (TPW), Lester B. Pearson Building, 125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2).

SOCAN says…

❝Anything that helps copyright owners get paid for the use of their works is welcome.❞

What do YOU think?

Are you going to take action?  Would love to hear your opinion on this topic!