Just two days after the biggest strike in world history, US Congressional representatives have bowed to public pressure.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on Twitter that proceedings on Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) have ground to a halt. The bill was due to go to the ballot on January 24th 2012, but its hearing has now been indefinitely postponed.
Shortly afterwards, the Chairman of House Judiciary Committee, Lamar Smith, released a statement. He wrote, 'It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products.'
He concluded, 'The House Judiciary Committee will postpone consideration of the legislation until there is wider agreement on a solution.'
Chairman Smith didn't mention Stop On-line Piracy Act (SOPA) specifically, but as its main sponsor the inference can be made.
The climb down will not mean the end to all legislation pertaining to copyright infringement on the internet. But it has been recognized that neither SOPA nor PIPA was the correct response to those issues. They will be rewritten or completely replaced with legislation that can find a 'wider consensus'.
It is expected that future proposals will be made targeting those who ignore the legalities of intellectual property in cyberspace. No doubt a lot of lessons have been learned about the scope that those bills should seek to take.
Comments
*happy dances alongside you*
I'm sorry, was I supposed to be acting neutral on reporting this? LOL
WOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! Enough said.