We're happy to see SOPA and PIPA have been shelved. They were imperfect and poorly written bills that, because of their vague language and questionable definitions, were certain to be abused.
There was a good deal of confusion about whether a website based in the U.S., but which also has servers overseas or a foreign domain name, would be considered domestic or foreign.
The bill also obligated owners to monitor their sites constantly to keep copyrighted material or links to such material from being posted again after the original complaint is made to the Department of Justice.
Worst of all was the lack of due process for site owners. A complaint from any copyright holder could be quickly acted on, allowing the government to blacklist--and for all intents and purposes kill--a site.
These bills were simply heavy-handed disasters crafted with no concern for the thousands of sites that make the Internet such a powerful tool.
This is not to say we oppose all copyright legislation. We believe copyrights can be enforced online without taking a flamethrower to the whole of the Internet.
We also believe it should be enforced. Intellectual property is just as important as physical property. The automobile, the iPod and the lightbulb were ideas before they were things.
Copyright holders have a right to protect what they created, and to such an end they must be encouraged. An idea has no value to its creator if he or she doesn't have the power to protect it.
We recognize the fragile nature of the Internet. It's a new and empowering technology beyond anything the world has ever known. Never before have the people of the world had the means to defy distance and time to instantly communicate with one another. Keeping the Internet free should be a concern equal to copyright protection in importance.
We can happily say this dodged bullet taught us, and should have taught you, a couple of things.
The first and most obvious is that politicians, like a child, require the constant observation of the people. It's no rare thing to find a politician changing his or her mind on principles and campaign promises. If we slack on oversight, we'll find ourselves servants to our servants.
Who knows--they could even stray far enough to sponsor a bill that transforms the free and wonderful Internet into a frustrating, beauracratized line at the DMV.
Liberals and conservatives alike supported these legislative catastrophies. Small-government conservative Marco Rubio from Florida supported PIPA before the blackout. In the House and Senate a host of Democrats and Republicans supported the bills. It doesn't matter what a politician says. What matters is what he or she does, and to know that you must keep your eye on them.
The second is that the people are powerful not just in their voting, but in their control of their representatives. The blackout resulted in thousands of calls and letters and emails descending upon Washington from citizens concerned about their freedom--and Washington responded. We hope Americans now understand the power and responsibility they've always had in their hands.
Americns must understand it. We no longer have the luxury of silent majorities, which can only be a majority on voting day. Through the rest of the year their silence is music to the ears of irresponsible and short-sighted politicians. Outside of election season a silent majority is no different than an army of useful idiots.
Never be hesitant to phone Washington, America.
*Content has been changed from original publication.
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