Sopa

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
aa
Mar 4, 2008
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I'm not sure about that. SOPA demands that someone prosecute and i seriously doubt Valve would prosecute its own community, but maybe certain ISP's would dispute our activity and try to shut us down.

The kind of thing SOPA would shut down are wiki's and custom game guides or game walkthrough's that you see on youtube etc. Things that kinda act like spoilers.
 

hydragorgon

L1: Registered
Feb 20, 2011
27
8
The problem with Sopa is that it sets up the structure for an internet kill switch, like the Chinese suffer under. Sopa is a clear move to strangle the internet at it's source. Remember Egypt; the dictator in charge shut off the internet as a way to curb the protesters communications. I was on the phone with Michigan's evil legislative ghouls for 3 hours a month ago railing them about it. It's fun to make those thieves dance.

Kill the Sopa act first and than we'll move on to the Patriot Act and the Ndaa!!!

hydragorgon
 

Dragonic

L1: Registered
Dec 30, 2011
34
3
VICTORY!

Congressional attitude about SOPA/PIPA swung from 80/30 (for/against) to 64/108. One day of organized protest turned Congress completely on its head. Thanks Reddit!
 

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
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Mar 4, 2008
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Wow, you know the first thing i recognised about those stats. How the majority of those supporting SOPA look 50+ and those against it appear way way younger.

What i do find surprising though is that the republican ratio is 1:3 against where as the democrats are 1:1.
 
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Terwonick

L6: Sharp Member
Aug 25, 2010
278
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waiting for terwonick and verumae to defend this bill

I'm thoroughly confused by this statement, as I have always taken the point of view AGAINST government powers and such.

Wouldn't SOPA make tf2maps.net illegal? Or are the servers in US?

From what I have read about the bill, one link to a site infringing upon copyrights or telling you how to get around SOPA censorship would make this site illegal, basically killing it.

I was on the phone with Michigan's evil legislative ghouls for 3 hours a month ago railing them about it. It's fun to make those thieves dance.

Kill the Sopa act first and than we'll move on to the Patriot Act and the Ndaa!!!

I too live in Michigan, and besides Cali I think it's probably the most "gone" state in the US. The only thing that could save us now is basically a government restriction "drop" allowing basically anything to go on except things that would honestly affect others (rape, murder, thievery, mention some if I missed them). The inter-county highways would be regulated by the state, smaller roads would be regulated and up-kept by the counties. What are the flaws you guys see with this idea?
 
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Numerous

L4: Comfortable Member
Oct 14, 2009
150
72
I'm thoroughly confused by this statement, as I have always taken the point of view AGAINST government powers and such.

It will allow corporations to go about shutting down any "copyright infringers" without requiring permission from courts, first.

Personally, I think sopa is delicious. You really should try some.
 
Mar 23, 2010
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megaupload is STILL blacked out in protest of sopa! so brave!
 

LeSwordfish

semi-trained quasi-professional
aa
Aug 8, 2010
4,102
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The only thing that could save us now is basically a government restriction "drop" allowing basically anything to go on except things that would honestly affect others (rape, murder, thievery, mention some if I missed them). The inter-county highways would be regulated by the state, smaller roads would be regulated and up-kept by the counties. What are the flaws you guys see with this idea?

Ter isn't in favour of SOPA, he's just having worse ideas.
 

hydragorgon

L1: Registered
Feb 20, 2011
27
8
Home state what's up Terwonick. Only been to California for 1 week ten years ago, but I remember it being warm at least. I'm down near Mexicantown in Detroit, and I'll tell you it's rough. But the people are still stickin it out.

Most of what Terwonick is saying is pretty acceptable in Michigan. We're real independent, and there's alot of libertarians. Our Senator Carl Levin was one of the bastards that proposed the NDAA with John McCain. Our last governor was a carpetbagger and we had Romney's dad in the 80s. Long story short, I think it's time to take self government more seriously too. The current system is too corrupt to even work with anymore. If we rout em out we can get back to debating American style. Right now the corruption is too deep to get anything done.

hydragorgon
 

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
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Mar 4, 2008
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Dragonic

L1: Registered
Dec 30, 2011
34
3
Seriously, the feds couldn't have chosen a worse time to take take down Megaupload.
reddit said:
Anonymous' Megaupload Revenge Shows Copyright Compromise Isn't Possible -- "the shutdown inadvertently proved that the U.S. government already has all the power it needs to take down its copyright villains, even those that aren't based in the United States. No SOPA or PIPA required."

Source: Reddit, The Atlantic Wire
 

Fruity Snacks

Creator of blackholes & memes. Destroyer of forums
aa
Sep 5, 2010
6,394
5,571
From what I read, shutting down Mega-upload actually required a LOT of legal action, money, etc. SOPA/PIPA would cut down the amount work needed to basically nothing. (Reddit/Other news sources from the internet)


And I'd like to remind people to keep politic discussions civil :)
 

gamemaster1996

L13: Stunning Member
Sep 30, 2009
1,064
134
Im going to be polite and reasonable about SOPA..
No i'm not Death to SOPA!
 

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
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Mar 4, 2008
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Seriously, the feds couldn't have chosen a worse time to take take down Megaupload.

You say that like society 1 up'd the government, but is all that will happen is people, congress, will be less sympathetic to things like innovation on the web because of how hostile it can be. It's basically painted a big fat target on the web saying "i am an untamed beast, domesticate me".

As amusing as the hack was it's probably undermined the opposition of SOPA and clearly wasn't well thought out. Especially considering how many congressmen are on the fence about this issue.
 
Oct 6, 2008
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SOPA would shut down this site or radically change it's existence (and not neccessarily by Valve)

If it passed, before they shut down the site (if you wanted to be compliant with it) you would have to go through every single post that you have here - making sure that links don't go to copyrighted materials, etc - they could also perhaps take it so far that the links that they do go to don't go to other sites that are 'no good' in their opinion.

In this case, I'm talikg about simplicity here - it would be easier to wipe out your entire database and start over - you would loose everything.

Then for the set up of the new site it would be a posting forum only - no links / pictures allowed. Use of Avatars would have to be proven that they are non-copyrighted materials and therefore would be frowned upon to the extent that no avatar should be allowed.

You would then have to set up a judging panel - one that should include a lawyer to make sure you're compliant - so that when one makes a post it would not be seen by anyone until the item is approved by this panel.

You would have to go through each and every map/model on the site to make sure that those items are also compliant - meaning:

Maps/Models - zero custom textures allowed - the would have to be official Valve content. There would have to be documented evidence of how the item was made, the process by which it was made and the components which make up the final product (i.e. a list of every single Valve texture used in creating it)

Maps - no custom sound tracks period, no use of the pictures in the menus when map starts since it could be argued that the use of Photoshop Etc would be using a 3rd Party Software package to modify the existing software or items derived from that software company and that by doing this it would be infringing / stealing the intellectual property of that other company even though those images are meant top be used in the originals software. It could also open up another arguement by Photoshop for example that they are against the use of their software by people, companies, organization for use that they might have moral issues with. Maybe their board ov governors are against their products being used in producing/promoting violent video games of any fashion.

Tutorials - have they or the use of pictures from Hammer used in the tutorials been approved by Valve? Again another grey area. Does writing up tutorials on another person's software on how to use it constitute trademark infringement since it could be argured that although Valve gives you the license (within reason) to use the product, does that license constitute the authorizsation to write up documentation about that program?

The Smily Faces in the right hand panel - where did you get them? Can you leagally use them? Can you prove that the person who gave them to you actually made them or are you breaking the law by using them.

Ok, well you get the drift - I could go on and on but this is the stuff that pops into mind of the top of my head about the topic.

Who knows, maybe the stuff that I've written will help you out when you revamp the site. Maybe items should be verified by the creators when they submit maps, models, tutorials as to where and how, etc.

Maybe when people sign up they will have to read and agree to a new set of "terms of use" policy that would have to be written up by a lawyer to cover your ass if someone comes knocking on your door. I don't know.

This does bring to mind a verse from Revelation that is as follows:

Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"

With the way this act is written and can be enforced - there will be no more "personal freedoms" period. SOPS's/PIPA been designed so that the little guys WON'T be able to fight it PERIOD!
 
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