You received our message because you have Open Garden software installed on your phone. We are taking the extraordinary step of contacting you directly because of an extraordinary law that is being proposed by the entertainment industry and its lobbyists in Washington. If this law were in effect instead of the current laws governing the Internet, Open Garden would likely have never existed. And not just Open Garden, but most of the applications and sites that you know, as long as they include a user-to-user communication component.
The Internet has allowed people around the world to communicate freely in ways unimaginable before and has enabled high-tech startups around the world, such as the San Francisco-based Open Garden, to flourish and innovate.
The US Congress is currently considering a new law, called PIPA (PROTECT IP Act) in the Senate and SOPA in the House, that has the potential to end the Internet innovation as we know it today. For example, companies would be liable for uses of their tools by others; Open Garden as it exists today would not be possible in the legal climate that would be created by this new draconian censorship law. In fact, most companies and non-profit organizations using the Internet today would likely either need to radically limit their use of the Internet or cease to exist. A single comment posted by a user on a website could cause the website operator, who is very likely unaware of the comment, to be liable. Further, entire companies could be cut off from both the Domain Name System (DNS), which is what lets you access websites by name (e.g., opengarden.net instead of 50.19.242.92), and any means of receiving payment simply based on allegations by any copyright holder.
In addition to the societal implications of PIPA/SOPA that would largely end web innovation as it exists today with communication between users and with all the user-generated content like Wikipedia as well as most of Facebook, the technical consequences of breaking the DNS will jeopardize security.
Today is the day the Internet takes action to fight back against Washington lobbyists working for entertainment industry and to ensure that our freedom to communicate is preserved. This is why today Wikipedia and other sites have joined the blackout, and why we are sending you this message. We need your help. The power belongs to the people and not to the lobbyists. The power belongs to you.
We urge you to call your Senator using the form above (or directly if you prefer) and help in the fight to stop the Internet censorship law. When you speak with the staffer, make sure to say clearly what your zip code is and that you are opposed to the PROTECT IP Act that would kill Internet innovation.
Fight Internet censorship.
Call your Senator now!
Open Garden has sent this message to its users. The form to connect to your senator is provided by the Engine Advocacy initiative to fight against SOPA and PIPA.
Another freedom taken loosely by our government, is another step toward Huxley’s “Brave New World”…. Will it all stop before we’re all expected & forced to consume our soma? Precious few rights remain unchallenged as it is, infringing upon this freedom is something I wish not to abide (despite how little internet usage I pursue already, this would likely turn me away completely should it pass).
Of all things to be legalized, this is seriously being considered? When will congress be in touch with the people again??
See maybe this kind of thing will help open everyone eyes to the reality that is the government. All the entertainment on tv and video game and the limitations in school are things that they do to keep everyone under control and to keep everyone stupid. They cannot afford for everyone to be aware of what they do because they know the kind of revolution that will come to them.
If they pass the bill then their literally taken our freedom away. The internet goes beyond our Imaginations. If this is taken away from us then citizens of American would extremely be upset. This kind of technology helps kids learn, even adults are learning. People will not stand for this. By the way good way to start out 2012. SOPA WILL NOT PASS OR LAST.
Constitution! Freedoms don’t let them take any more away.
Kudos to Open Garden and all who are taking a stand. Talk about using a mallet when a scalpel is required. Congress must listen and remember it serves the people. The people demand they find a better, more targeted way to fight online piracy.
Nice to see open Garden and others standing with the people.
I called my congressman and two senators from PA to tell them to vote no.
Make your calls or watch them shut down the net, you’re choice.
Do it now!
I love all the support for the sake of the people. I have a dream that one day people will be able to vote with there computers at Google . Com nothing will get passed the people unoticed if everyone made an atempt to make things public. With all the problems we have from oil to water to people rights and the world everyone should work together for the sake of people instead of for the sake of profit. To Hell with money.