{"id":12046,"date":"2012-01-24T20:00:41","date_gmt":"2012-01-24T20:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aidanfinn.com\/?p=12046"},"modified":"2012-01-24T20:00:41","modified_gmt":"2012-01-24T20:00:41","slug":"irish-government-sean-sherlock-td-want-to-quietly-force-through-their-own-version-of-sopa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aidanfinn.com\/?p=12046","title":{"rendered":"Irish Government & Sean Sherlock TD Want To Quietly Force Through Their Own Version of SOPA"},"content":{"rendered":"

SOPA was an American bi-partisan bill that presented itself as an anti-piracy law.  In fact, it was a hell of a lot more.  It was promoted by Hollywood, who has refused to change their ways to reflect how Internet business can work (see the possibility of Netflix), and by companies such as GoDaddy who allegedly had something to gain from it (hosting for redirected URLs).  The law was really about uncontrolled censorship that was in the control of the rich and powerful.  They could shut down your web site with absolutely no possibility of defence on your part.  There was a popular revolt in the USA, and SOPA (and the equally bad PIPA) were crushed before they came to vote.<\/p>\n

Enter the Irish Government made up of Fine Gael, Labour, and a bunch of unknown government mandarins, all supported by the likes of IRMA, the recording industry which has also fought fair e-business at every turn.<\/p>\n

Blacknight\u2019s (the hoster of this site) Michele Neylon issued a press release overnight and posted<\/a> on his blog.  Thank you Michele, because it seems like our \u201cfree\u201d press took a snooze on this one \u2026 or they decided to silently support it.<\/p>\n

Sean Sherlock, who\u2019s details I\u2019ve shared below, is a Labour party government minister and is trying to introduce this law by ministerial order.  That means that there would be NO VOTE BY OUR DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PARLIAMENT.<\/p>\n

If you are in favour of a free democratic Republic of Ireland, then check out the StopSOPAIreland<\/a> site, sign the petition<\/a>, and let Fine Gael, Labour, and Sean Sherlock know what you think of their treason.  In my opinion, this puts them in the same place as Fine F\u00e1il and their \u201cindependent\u201d supporters of the last government that sold our country\u2019s future down the toilet for their banker & construction friends, and the irresponsible bond holders of Anglo Irish.<\/p>\n

BTW, here\u2019s how to contact Sean Sherlock, TD (Cork East TD, Labour Party, Minister of State for Research and Innovation):<\/p>\n