The last week has been pretty eventful with the numerous blackouts from Wikipedia, Reddit & a bunch of online games. Thankfully this got people talking and, for a change, people seemed to listen.
Several key Senators have now dropped support for both PIPA and SOPA and the bill has now been shelved until a more appropriate version can be hammered out. As a site that has been firmly against this Bill coming into Law we can safely say that we were happy about the whole outcome.
However…
There’s been one niggling thing about this entire incident. Despite the number of high profile developers coming out against SOPA, the Entertainment Software Association remained firmly in support of this until last night:
“From the beginning, ESA has been committed to the passage of balanced legislation to address the illegal theft of intellectual property found on foreign rogue sites. Although the need to address this pervasive threat to our industry’s creative investment remains, concerns have been expressed about unintended consequences stemming from the current legislative proposals.
“Accordingly, we call upon Congress, the Obama Administration, and stakeholders to refocus their energies on producing a solution that effectively balances both creative and technology interests. As an industry of innovators and creators, we understand the importance of both technological innovation and content protection and are committed to working with all parties to encourage a balanced solution.”
This backtrack only came about when nearly everyone else had given up on the bill. To be blunt, it kinda makes the ESA look like the world’s biggest assholes. This remission by the ESA looks to us, and to everyone else too, that this is a last ditch effort to win back the growing number of journalists who are taking part in the E3 boycott headed by Penny Arcade later this year.
But it’s cool right? They don’t love SOPA, that’ll win everyone back. Idiots.
