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The SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) are two bills in Congress that aim to stop the illegal copying and sharing of movies and music on the Internet. Those against SOPA argue that if enacted, SOPA would put Internet companies in the impossible position of having to police the online world. This is because materials posted on a single blog or webpage that may involve copyright infringement can expose entire Internet domains to the possibility of being blocked by members...   >>>

The SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) are two bills in Congress that aim to stop the illegal copying and sharing of movies and music on the Internet. Those against SOPA argue that if enacted, SOPA would put Internet companies in the impossible position of having to police the online world. This is because materials posted on a single blog or webpage that may involve copyright infringement can expose entire Internet domains to the possibility of being blocked by members of law enforcement.



As a result of this, major internet companies, like Wikipedia, went dark last week to signify their support of the protest movement against SOPA and PIPA. Major online names like Google, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, have been vocal in their opposition of of both SOPA and PIPA as well.



Both the SOPA and PIPA have been presented as a way to protect movie studios, record labels and others. But many online companies and users have expressed a strong resistance to it.



Supporters of SOPA and PIPA, on the other hand, range from the Country Music Association to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.