Due to overwhelming protests, the Stop Online Piracy Act has been suspended.
“I have heard from the critics, and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), one of those who originally proposed SOPA, in a press release.
The press release stated that the House Judiciary Committee will postpone consideration of the legislation until there is more agreement.
At Youngstown State University, many students disapprove of the act.
Junior Aaron Mrvelj said he was pleased with the decision to shelve the legislation but would like to see the bill stricken completely.
“I just don’t think it’s a very good bill for the government to consider,” Mrvelj said.
He added that SOPA could go one of two ways: either it’s postponed and the public begins to forget about it, or the government declines the bill.
Graphic design major Paya Marshall said she agrees that the bill shouldn’t go through.
“As a graphic designer, our work is out there all the time, and when other people take it, it’s not as offensive as you think it is,” Marshall said.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) pulled his support of PIPA in a statement posted on his Facebook on Wednesday. Since then, several others have followed.
“Based on the input so many of you have provided, I am removing my name from SOPA,” U.S. Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) said Thursday morning on Facebook.
Senior Korey Herron said he believes the bill’s wording could be the reason for the uproar and the postponement.
“It’s pretty vague on the sites that they could block,” Herron said.
“The committee will continue work with copyright owners, Internet companies, financial institutions to develop proposals that combat online piracy and protect America’s intellectual property,” Smith said in a press release. “We welcome input from all organizations and individuals who have an honest difference of opinion about how best to address this widespread problem.”
