SOPA Stopped (?)

I just read that the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) bill has been stopped and shelved. I hope I understood that right.

SOPA and its senate counterpart Protect-IP were very controversial bills. But it so happened that SOPA got more publicity, probably because it was easier to remember.

The Hill has more:

House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said early Saturday morning that Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) promised him the House will not vote on the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) unless there is consensus on the bill.

…

The announcement comes just hours after Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), SOPA’s sponsor, made a major concession to the bill’s critics by agreeing to drop a controversial provision that would have required Internet service providers to block infringing websites.

…

He had scheduled a hearing for next Wednesday to examine the potential consequences of the bill’s site-blocking provision, but he announced in his statement Saturday that he would cancel the hearing in light of Smith’s decision to drop the provision.

As some people commented in there, though, it’s expected that SOPA (or some other variation) will “return” at some point. But for the time being, we can rest a bit more.

Kudos to those who spoke out against this and especially informed their congress(wo)man what they think of SOPA. It goes to show that when there’s a will, there’s a way.

As always, feel free to share your thoughts below or spread the word. I’ll just be around.

Source: The Hill