This is quite an urgent matter, gents. There is a new “PROTECT IP” act being pushed in Washington, and it is alarming to say the least. TorrentFreak has a great write-up on it and a link to the EFF website where they have a great tool to easily e-mail the senators and reps for your state. I suggest you take action to keep the flow of information on the Internet free. We don’t want to end up like China.

Now, you may be asking why is the PROTECT IP bill so bad? To put it simply, it is worded FAR too loosely. For instance, take their definition of a DNS server:

“a server or other mechanism used to provide the Internet protocol address associated with a domain name.”

This definition alone could be applied to operating systems, email clients, web clients, routers, and the list goes on. Anything that could possibly provide an IP addresses when given a domain name. This is really scary. If you care at all, (or even if you don’t) I urge you to aid me and many others in the fight for a free internet. It is really very easy to visit the EFF website and write a short message to your representatives in congress.

For example, here’s my message:

“I am a constituent and I urge you to reject S. 968, the PROTECT IP Act. I am deeply concerned by the danger the bill poses to Internet security, free speech online, and innovation. The PROTECT IP Act is dangerous, incorrectly worded, and short-sighted, and I urge you to join Senator Wyden and other members of Congress in opposing it.

There are much better ways of handling copyright infringement online, and I feel we need to urge our lawmakers to consider other points of view. This bill is far too loosely worded to be considered a good law in my opinion. The definition of “DNS Server” alone in this document may make it easily exploitable by law enforcement to infringe upon our right to privacy as a people.

I myself produce music and video for Television, Internet and Cinema. As much as I would like my copyrights protected as other holders do, I do not feel this is the proper manner in which to do so.

Please, I urge you to take a look at this bill and use your well-founded common sense to prevent our rights from being walked upon. “

Thank you for reading and doing your part to save the internet that we all know and love so much.

Peace friends,
Mic-B