Changes

==Oppositions==

==Oppositions==

===Objections from Technology Giants===

===Objections from Technology Giants===

Many organizations particularly the global technology companies are protesting the passage of SOPA including [[Google]], [[Yahoo]], [[Facebook]],[[eBay]] and [[Twitter]]. According to them, ''"the bill will only expose law-abiding U.S. Internet and technology companies to new uncertain liabilities, private rights of action, and technology mandates that would require monitoring of web sites."'' They asked the proponents of the bill to develop alternative measures that will target illegal websites dedicated to copyright infringement and trademark counterfeiting. They emphasized that the measures should preserve innovations and dynamism, which is a great contributor in creating more jobs and economic growth.Wikipedia co-founder [[Jimmy Wales]] said it will shutdown Wikipedia temporarily to express its objection to the bill.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-57343637-501465/house-committee-votes-on-sopa-today/ House committee votes on SOPA today]</ref>

Many global technology companies protested the passage of SOPA including [[Google]], [[Yahoo]], [[Facebook]], [[eBay]] and [[Twitter]]. According to them, ''"the bill will only expose law-abiding U.S. Internet and technology companies to new uncertain liabilities, private rights of action, and technology mandates that would require monitoring of web sites."'' They asked the proponents of the bill to develop alternative measures that will target illegal websites dedicated to copyright infringement and trademark counterfeiting. They emphasized that the measures should preserve innovations and dynamism, which is a great contributor in creating more jobs and economic growth.Wikipedia co-founder [[Jimmy Wales]] said it will shutdown Wikipedia temporarily to express its objection to the bill.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-57343637-501465/house-committee-votes-on-sopa-today/ House committee votes on SOPA today]</ref>

[[Microsoft]] has also come out in quiet opposition of SOPA, despite being a longstanding supporter of increased copyright law in the U.S, and supporting [[PIPA]] earlier this year. Microsoft is a part of the [[Business Software Alliance]], a trade association representing the interests of Microsoft and several other corporations in the U.S. government. BSA is one of the seven members of the [[International Intellectual Property Alliance]], along with the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] and the [[Recording Industry Association of America]].<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57330078-281/surprise-microsoft-quietly-opposes-sopa-copyright-bill/ Surprise! Microsoft quietly opposes SOPA copyright bill]</ref>

[[Microsoft]] has also come out in quiet opposition of SOPA, despite being a longstanding supporter of increased copyright law in the U.S, and supporting [[PIPA]] earlier this year. Microsoft is a part of the [[Business Software Alliance]], a trade association representing the interests of Microsoft and several other corporations in the U.S. government. BSA is one of the seven members of the [[International Intellectual Property Alliance]], along with the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] and the [[Recording Industry Association of America]].<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57330078-281/surprise-microsoft-quietly-opposes-sopa-copyright-bill/ Surprise! Microsoft quietly opposes SOPA copyright bill]</ref>

===ISOC Joins the Protest===

===ISOC Joins the Protest===

The [[ISOC|Internet Society]] also joined the organizations in protest of the passage of SOPA and raised concerns over the provision of the bill that allows DNS filtering. According to the statement released by ISOC, ''"Policies mandating DNS filtering undermine the open architecture of the Internet and raise human rights and freedom of expression concerns and often curtails international principles of rule of law and due process"''ISOC President and CEO Lynn St. Amour pointed out that it is not a feasible option for the development of the internet.<ref>[http://isoc.org/wp/newsletter/?p=4932 Internet Society Joins Opposition to Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)]</ref>

The [[ISOC|Internet Society]] also joined the organizations in protest of the passage of SOPA and raised concerns over the provision of the bill that allows [[DNS]] filtering. According to the statement released by ISOC, ''"Policies mandating DNS filtering undermine the open architecture of the Internet and raise human rights and freedom of expression concerns and often curtail international principles of rule of law and due process"''. ISOC President and CEO, [[Lynn St. Amour]], pointed out that it is not a feasible option for the development of the Internet.<ref>[http://isoc.org/wp/newsletter/?p=4932 Internet Society Joins Opposition to Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)]</ref>

===Internet Engineers Against SOPA===

===Internet Engineers Against SOPA===

More than eighty internet engineers also signed a petition letter against SOPA addressed to the members of the House of Representatives. In their letter, the internet engineers explained that once the bill is enacted it ''"will create an environment of fear and uncertainty and it will harm technology innovations as well as the credibility of the United States as the steward of key internet infrastructure."'' In addition, the engineers also stressed that censorship of the internet infrastructure will cause inevitable network errors and security problems just like what happened in China and Iran where censorship is imposed.<ref>[https://www.eff.org/sites/default/files/Internet-Engineers-Letter.pdf An Open Letter From Internet Engineers to the United States Congress]</ref>

More than eighty Internet engineers also signed a petition letter against SOPA addressed to the members of the House of Representatives. In their letter, the Internet engineers explained that once the bill is enacted it ''"will create an environment of fear and uncertainty and it will harm technology innovations as well as the credibility of the United States as the steward of key internet infrastructure."'' In addition, the engineers also stressed that censorship of the internet infrastructure will cause inevitable network errors and security problems just like what happened in China and Iran where censorship is imposed.<ref>[https://www.eff.org/sites/default/files/Internet-Engineers-Letter.pdf An Open Letter From Internet Engineers to the United States Congress]</ref>

===Vinton Cerf Statement Against SOPA===

===Vinton Cerf's Statement Against SOPA===

[[Vinton Cerf]], former chairman of the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers]] and considered as one of the fathers of internet sent his letter of opposition to Cong. Smith regarding SOPA. In his letter, stressed that despite the amendments on certain provisions of the proposed SOPA, the bill is still problematic particularly the issues on site blocking. According to him, ''"These will undermine the architecture of the Internet and obstruct the 15 year effort by the public and private sectors to improve cybersecurity through implementation of [[DNSSEC]], a critical set of extensions designed to address security vulnerabilities in the [[DNS]]."'' In addition, he also emphasized that the bill would result to an ''"a worldwide arms race of unprecedented censorship of the Web."'' Furthermore, Cerf encouraged the Congress to create a more effective and tailored legislative actions that will focus on the "follow-the-money" tactic or cutting the ability of illegal foreign websites to generate advertising revenue and to process payments.<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57344028-281/vint-cerf-sopa-means-unprecedented-censorship-of-the-web/ Vint Cerf: SOPA means 'unprecedented censorship' of the Web]</ref>

[[Vinton Cerf]], former chairman of [[ICANN]] and often considered as one of the fathers of Internet, sent his letter of opposition to Cong. Smith regarding SOPA. In his letter, he stressed that despite the amendments on certain provisions of SOPA, the bill is still problematic, particularly the issues on site blocking. According to him, ''"These will undermine the architecture of the Internet and obstruct the 15 year effort by the public and private sectors to improve cybersecurity through implementation of [[DNSSEC]], a critical set of extensions designed to address security vulnerabilities in the [[DNS]]"''. In addition, he also emphasized that the bill would result in an ''"a worldwide arms race of unprecedented censorship of the Web"''. Mr. Cerf encouraged the Congress to create more effective and tailored legislative actions that will focus on the "follow-the-money" tactic or cutting the ability of illegal foreign websites to generate advertising revenue and to process payments.<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57344028-281/vint-cerf-sopa-means-unprecedented-censorship-of-the-web/ Vint Cerf: SOPA means 'unprecedented censorship' of the Web]</ref>

===Afilias===

===Afilias===

===Name.com===

===Name.com===

GoDaddy competitor, [[Name.com]], was a huge proponent of the GoDaddy protest, the SOPA blackout, and the other efforts to fight the organization. They announced that they would be donating $1,000 to each of the following organizations: [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]], Creative Commons, and The Case Foundation.<ref>[http://blog.name.com/2012/01/shedding-some-light-during-the-blackout-sopa-pipa/ Shedding Some Light During the Blackout SOPA PIPA, blog.name.com]</ref>

GoDaddy competitor, [[Name.com]], was a huge proponent of the GoDaddy protest, the SOPA blackout, and the other efforts to fight the legislation. They announced that they would be donating $1,000 to each of the following anti-SOPA organizations: [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]], Creative Commons, and The Case Foundation.<ref>[http://blog.name.com/2012/01/shedding-some-light-during-the-blackout-sopa-pipa/ Shedding Some Light During the Blackout SOPA PIPA, blog.name.com]</ref>

===Lawmakers Against SOPA===

===Lawmakers Against SOPA===

Several members of the House of Representatives also joined the different organizations against SOPA. In a statement, the lawmakers pointed out that the current form of the bill used overly broad language and targets legal domestic websites and it created uncertainty to the  technology and venture capital industries. In addition, the lawmakers also said that the bill may cause innovation-killing lawsuits and litigation. The lawmakers against SOPA include:<ref>[http://politechbot.com/docs/sopa.house.opponents.letter.111511.pdf Lawmakers Statement Against SOPA]</ref>

Several members of the House of Representatives also joined the different organizations against SOPA. In a statement, the lawmakers pointed out that the current form of the bill used overly broad language and targets legal domestic websites and it created uncertainty for the  technology and venture capital industries. In addition, the lawmakers also said that the bill may cause innovation-killing lawsuits and litigation. The lawmakers against SOPA include:<ref>[http://politechbot.com/docs/sopa.house.opponents.letter.111511.pdf Lawmakers Statement Against SOPA]</ref>

* Rep. Anna G. Eshoo

* Rep. Anna G. Eshoo

* Rep. Jared Polis

* Rep. Jared Polis