Nintendo, Sony, EA support Stop Online Piracy Act

Nintendo, Sony, and EA were all listed as corporate sponsors of a letter urging lawmakers to create new anti-piracy legislation, which has now been introduced as the Stop Online Piracy Act.

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The Stop Online Piracy Act (HR 3261) has been creating a stir over free-speech concerns recently. The bill before the US Congress is ostensibly meant to prevent copyright infringement, but it also broadens the legal definition of "willful infringement" and has raised concerns of free speech suppression and government censorship. Now we've learned that Nintendo, Sony, and EA are counted as supporters of the bill.

A letter (via Joystiq), written before SOPA was drafted, urges lawmakers to enact such a bill, and the three video game giants are listed among the sponsors. Sony is actually listed more than once, split among its various brands of Sony Electronics, Sony Pictures, and Sony Music.

Obviously, all three have a vested interest in preventing piracy, but the bill has gained opposition in the tech sector as well. Companies such as Google, Zynga, Facebook, and Twitter oppose the bill, along with organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

The bill itself has a decent chance of passing, as it's gained bi-partisan support under the premise that it will protect US jobs. If you want to take action, your best bet is to contact your local representative.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    November 18, 2011 1:15 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Nintendo, Sony, EA support Stop Online Piracy Act.

    Nintendo, Sony, and EA were all listed as corporate sponsors of a letter urging lawmakers to create new anti-piracy legislation, which has now been introduced as the Stop Online Piracy Act.

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      November 18, 2011 1:25 PM

      Well, that's it, I'm never buying a Nintendo game again. After Skyward Sword.

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        November 18, 2011 1:48 PM

        mine shipped today!!!!!!

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          November 18, 2011 2:08 PM

          Two days... TWO DAYYYSS!!!!

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      November 18, 2011 1:29 PM

      They would.... I hope that thing never passes.

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      November 18, 2011 1:33 PM

      "It would also make unauthorized web streaming of copyrighted content a felony with a possible penalty up to five years in prison" The biggest load of horseshit ever to be carried in one cart. I can't watch a friend play a game from the other room? Or I can't watch a friend compete in EVO?

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        November 18, 2011 1:36 PM

        EVO will have to get a license to stream it then

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          November 18, 2011 3:37 PM

          [deleted]

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            November 22, 2011 12:39 PM

            A bit of narrative evidence: I ran out and bought TvC after watching an EVO. I also bought SC2 because I liked watching GSL. I never would have bought either of them if it weren't for streams.

            Granted, GSL is a fully licensed event.

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        November 18, 2011 2:45 PM

        Yeah, this would allow Blizzard to completely dictate who could run competitions as they all have streams now.

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      November 18, 2011 1:37 PM

      [deleted]

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      November 18, 2011 1:41 PM

      The ESA also signed this letter, which includes Epic, Ubisoft, Take Two, THQ, Eidos, Capcom, Square and nVidia. It also includes a ton of apparel companies.

      This letter was also drafted before the bill, so being on the side of "hey, we would appreciate something being done about black market retailers selling people knock off versions of our stuff" is not the same as supporting widespread internet censorship.

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      November 18, 2011 1:58 PM

      hahahahhah welp that's guaranteed i never buy their products at full price.

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      November 18, 2011 2:03 PM

      Based on the reports from those that attended the hearings, SOPA looks like it ain't passing anywhere close as is. Several senators, once on board, have stated they won't be voting for its passage.

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        November 18, 2011 2:05 PM

        Best news I've heard in a while regarding this whole issue. I'm not in favor of piracy, at all, but this bill is just awful as written.

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        November 18, 2011 2:48 PM

        even if it did pass I think it's pretty much a given that it would get overturned in the supreme court. it's way too far-reaching and general to not infringe on the first amendment.

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          November 18, 2011 3:19 PM

          Don't call anything a "given" with this ultra-capitalist Supreme Court.

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            November 18, 2011 5:03 PM

            that doesn't even matter. it puts the burden of piracy control onto parties that aren't even distributing it, like ISPs and other service providers, or social networks. it's fucking absurd that someone could potentially show up on any random website and post a link to the pirate bay or something and it's the fault of the website he posted it on. it would basically cripple the internet, which is about 10000x worse for capitalism than all the piracy that has ever taken place combined.

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        November 18, 2011 2:49 PM

        good for them, but they're still no closer to a budget deal

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      November 18, 2011 2:42 PM

      all of you do realize that this will impact ALL of our gamer sites including Shacknews..... right ???

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      November 18, 2011 3:34 PM

      lmao

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      November 18, 2011 4:35 PM

      Great. At least two of those companies AREN'T EVEN IN the United States. :/

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      November 19, 2011 8:01 AM

      To everyone who has / will post a comment, go ahead and write a meesage to your rep as I did. It took 6 mins and its the least we can do for our future generations.

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