Can you explain the “direct threat to Free Republic?” Is Free Republic a site engaged in piracy located on foreign shores?
Please review the comments on the following thread for a detailed explanation of the danger of SOPA/PIPA:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2824948/posts
I oppose giving the government or global corporations the right regulate and to decide what internet sites we should have the right to see, or not see. This is a slippery slope away from freedom.
If companies wish to keep their copyrights and intellectual property from others then they have an obligation to protect it just as we all have an obligation to spend money for a safe deposit box or gun safe. The obligation to protect data should be put on the owners of the copyright, through civil action, not by taking taxes and freedoms from taxpayers. Too many take down claims and violations digital piracy have been determined to be false.
Anyone who hosts a blog or discussion site should be concerned about their exposure to blockage and charges.
Here’s how it works:
1. I post this link on Free Republic:
http://www.filefactory.com/bmg.mp3
2. SOPA enforcement contacts the Registrar (www.gkg.net) where the domain name www.freerepublic.com was registered and confiscates the domain name.
3. Now when Freepers attempt to pull up Free Republic their browser returns nothing.
The likelihood for this power to be abused by the government is certain. It won’t just be for sites like this one either, post a video link you think is neat or funny on Facebook? Zap - the next day Facebook nukes your account.