You may have heard about Protect-IP (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) currently under consideration in Congress. We would like to make sure you are aware of Appletree MediaWorks official position on SOPA.
As a national provider of online services, we oppose the Stop Online Privacy Act (SOPA) and Protect-IP (PIPA) Acts. We recognize the concerns of those worried about protecting intellectual property online. However, Appletree MediaWorks believes we must balance information access with protection against illegal use. Striking this balance ensures fair dissemination of knowledge while safeguarding creators’ rights.
The US government is reviewing SOPA and PIPA as ways to stop unlawful distribution of copyrighted materials on the Internet. If passed, these proposals would allow significant interventions into the technological and economic foundations of the Internet. Consequently, such measures could endanger the benefits and opportunities created by legitimate e-business models. Technology companies should not act as executors of authority in these matters. Requiring them to action every infringement claim without judicial review would damage customer rights. Such actions would severely threaten freedom of information and speech.
We encourage all Internet users concerned about these plans to join the debate and contact their local representatives. Reach out to members of the House or Senate to voice your opinions. We welcome Congress’s careful consideration of the potential harms to Internet freedom if SOPA or PIPA becomes law. We hope lawmakers protect the stability of the Internet’s domain name system (DNS).
One way to express your concerns could be to use one of the websites that emerged to protect user interests in the current legislative debate, such as Fight for the Future, “a nonprofit working to expand the internet’s power for good”.
At Appletree MediaWorks, we support you, our customer, and the principles of an open Internet. Thank you for being a valued customer and for taking the time to read this message.
