SOPA keeps going on!!

Now there is a debate on how an amendment doesn't need a court order to take down a site. Mel Watt, says "I'm not convinced there doesn't need to be a court order to take down a site" and in fact, there is no recourse if an ISP takes down a web site for the web site's owner. The owner will not be notified and poof, their web site is gone, simply because there's no need by the amendment to inform or allow for any notice to the web site owner. And there's no court order required if the ISP is asked to take it down. Issa is asking to add a requirement for a court order before any legal action is taken.

And now the vote, and the result is the same as it's been all day, NO. So far all of the amendments that break the terror that is the SOPA are not being broken down. The bill is going to remain venomous and onerous as it started off. If anything it's getting worse. The voting has been consistently 10 for freedom of speech and 24 for squelching the right to fair use rights.

Jared Polis is making everyone aware that anyone could issue a website take down. And he's asking that a court order is required before issuing any take down notice, and there has to be some merit before the order is issued.

Smith insists that the "media publishers" cannot take down web sites if there is a court order required. He's got all of his reasons written for him. Berman is also on the side of the chairman. Stating that "good faith" is the only thing that's required for a take down. DMCA offers a counter notice. SOPA tosses out the notice. Lofgren is still pushing toward adding some court order to limit the ease of any company "Like Comcast" who could take down any site just because it might compete with their services.

Polis chimes back in to remind people that only a letter is required without any checks or balances to take down someone's business. Chaffetz, Jason is reminding people that any web site that's taken down can be someone's work, their business, and their lively hood. Reminding the committee that all it takes is a paper to reduce the competitive nature of the internet as a business. And we need to protect peoples rights, not take them away.

OMG Mel Watt says a compromise with a notice is worth amending.

However, it seems like the hearing tonight will end with no free speech or internet business positive amendments being made. All of the votes are failing 2 to 1 with the minority being the only people speaking and making any moves to change the bill.

so frustrating.