Just last week it seemed like almost every major company with an interest in the Internet was expressing support for the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Now the Business Software Alliance is withdrawing their support of the bill, which aims to stop copyright infringement online but would likely result in widespread censoring of websites.
The Business Software Alliance represents a slew of IT companies like Microsoft, Dell, Apple, IBM, and HP. Up until this week the BSA had been in support of SOPA, largely due to the vested interest that all of the IT companies involved have in copyright infringement online. Now, the BSA has decided that SOPA goes too far and has withdrawn support of the legislation. BSA president and CEO Robert Holleyman wrote on the BSA blog,
"Valid and important questions have been raised about the bill. It is intended to get at the worst of the worst offenders. As it now stands, however, it could sweep in more than just truly egregious actors."
Holleyman shares the concern of many consumers and even large companies like Google, that SOPA is so broad and vague that it will allow too much power. SOPA not only enables the government to be involved in removing copyright infringing websites based in the U.S. but also in blocking international sites.
Holleyman continues,
"Due process, free speech, and privacy are rights that cannot be compromised. And the security of networks and communications is indispensable to a thriving Internet economy. Some observers have raised reasonable questions about whether certain SOPA provisions might have unintended consequences in these areas."
It's refreshing to see the BSA pull back their support of this legislation as they realize just how far reaching and damaging it could be. Even the European Parliament is calling for SOPA to be abandoned and numerous groups have written letters to Congress to push for the bill to be thrown out.
Currently a number of other technology companies like Sony and Nintendo are still supporting SOPA via a letter written by the Global Intellectual IP Center. That letter was signed by dozens of major companies showing their support of the bill. It will be interesting to see what those companies do now that the BSA has pulled their support.
Remember to voice your concerns about this legislation to your local Congressmen. The more voices that get heard about this restrictive legislation, the more impact it will have.
