Friday, January 20, 2012

SOCIAL MEDIA - SOPA-PIPA

I wanted discuss the intersection of social media and intellectual property.

When I was preparing my blog for my marketing class, one of the most impacting news about social media and copy rights took place around the world.

SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) – PIPA (Protect Intellectual Property Act)

I opened my Facebook and noticed people around the world where commenting about this act. I then opened Tweeter, Wikipedia, Google, and YouTube. Everyone was using social media to unite and protest in unison – NO SOPA / NO PIPA.

Ironically, those people who are trying to restrict social media and the internet with the purpose of “protecting intellectual property”,where at the same time being bombarded by the very medium they are trying to control. Because of social media, the entire world is connected and aware in open communications. Virtually nothing can go unnoticed or “under the table”.

This Act is attempting to control the billions of “clicks”, “likes”and “send” around the world by snooping around and criminalizing the flow of information. But the response we have seen in the last few days is an indication of the challenges ahead. The genie is out of the bottle. We are in for a long and hard cyber fight. This will end up costing time and money.

On the other hand we have the content owner’s argument that have seen their bottom-line eroded due to online piracy and are looking for ways to stop the leakage. Apparently, the only way they see this can happen, is by adopting measures such as SOPA/PIPA but is getting in the way of free information flow which is what social media was created for.

What do you think a fair compromise should be?


By Ana Steckler

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