In the last two days, a tidal wave of SOPA opponents have come out of the woodwork and found their targets: the companies officially supporting the act.
Ever since Congress released a list of corporations supporting the legislation, the Internet has been in a frenzy. GoDaddy has taken the brunt of the criticism. It started with ICanHazCheeseburger’s Ben Huh declaring that they would transfer their domains from GoDaddy if it didn’t withdraw its support of SOPA, but hundreds — if not thousands — of people are now transferring their domains (update: GoDaddy has withdrawn its support of SOPA).
That’s not all. Y Combinator will no longer allow SOPA-supporting companies to attend YC Demo Day (say goodbye to Comcast Ventures) and thousands of people are attacking the long list of companies supporting SOPA.
Focusing our attention on these companies is a waste a time, though. We are wasting our precious energy and resources on these corporations when we really should be doubling down our efforts on getting people to call, email and snail mail their Congressman.
The Stop Online Piracy Act (and its sister Senate legislation PIPA) have good intentions, but it is a flawed bill that inadvertently goes against the foundations of an open and free Internet. (The Verge has a great summary of SOPA if you are not up-to-speed.)
There are far better ways to fight piracy than SOPA.
Our goal is simple: to stop SOPA and PIPA from reaching the President’s desk. To that end, let’s put some real pressure on the congressional leaders trying to push this bill through.
You may think that contacting your Congressman doesn’t work, but trust me: it does. I used to work for the House of Representatives. I know first-hand what impact jamming the phone lines has on a Congressman looking to get re-elected.
So here is my proposal:
On Wednesday, January 18, when Congress is back in session, we the people shall send a massive wave of emails, phone calls and letters to the following people:
- Your local House representative. You can find the phone number and website for your representative here.
- The 31 cosponsors of SOPA. The bill will die if they back down. Here is the full list of cosponsors of the bill.
Clog their phone lines. Fill their inboxes. Make your voices heard.
We are setting up a website now to facilitate this effort and drum up much-needed attention against this bill. We need your help, though. Please send an email to me at ben[at]benparr[dot]com if you want to volunteer to help run the site.
Together, we can stop SOPA. Together, we can protect free speech and the open web.
~ Ben
Image courtesy of Law Blog Law
Count me in. I’ve already registered my views with my congressman, but 31 phone calls is a small effort that could produce big results. Thanks for organizing this. I’ll promote it through my podcast, blog and other channels.
I’m in too! Thanks for organizing this Ben.
I disagree that it’s a waste of time to go after the corporate sponsors: Â who do you think is spending the money to make this the political issue it is? Â We have to accept that Politics are bought, and threatening all supporters pocket books is the only way to get it done.
Politicians are spineless: they are just doing what they are paid to do … people just have to realize the common taxpayer isn’t the one who pays them.
I also disagree that a boycott is a waste of time.  The only reason this bill has support in congress and has any chance of survival is because of the companies that have bought a voice in politics.  “Follow the money.”  I don’t think it’s one or the other, but let’s be real, most congress people don’t care what their constituents think, they care about campaign funding.  I’m a little surprised that you take this stance.
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s968
Voice your opinion (opposition) of SOPA (H.R. 3261: Stop Online Piracy Act) on POPVOX.com at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr3261! A message will be sent to your representatives!!
Also do the same for the Senate version of this bill, PIPA (S. 968: Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011, also known as the Protect IP Act) on POPVOX.com at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s968! A message will be sent to your senators!!
If congress men react to the money lobbyists are putting in their pockets, wouldn’t it be better that the internet creates its own lobbying firm, and we all pitch in millions and millions of dollars? I bet all those congress people would back out in an instant with an unbeatable “campaign contribution”
Our democracy seems to be based on dollar votes, instead of voters opinions.
start tweeting to them asking them to back down, must congressmen are on twitter.
I’m in.
There is an online petition to veto the bill if it ever reaches the desk of the president. Â Please sign.
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/veto-sopa-bill-and-any-other-future-bills-threaten-diminish-free-flow-information/g3W1BscR#thank-you=p
These criminals need to hear from us! There is a handy list of the congressmen supporting SOPA, with their email (contact form) addresses, phone numbers, and Twitter accounts here: —>Â http://tcot.co/sopa-basics-the-stop-online-piracy-act
SOPA Is an Agent Provocateur’s Dream.
Â
If SOPA is passed by Congress, Private and Government Agent Provocateurs to censor free speech will need only publish Text at Targeted Websites that constitute (copyright infringement). Websites that have large numbers of posted comments and information could not possibly investigate every posting to avoid being shutdown by the Justice Dept.
How can we have it not us and against them model. Â It’s so tiring. Â Who is going to police monitor this? Is this away to pocket money, use money to hire people to create jobs? Â