The MPAA has taken notice of the many websites blacking out their content today in protest of SOPA, and thinks these companies would be better off supporting efforts to combat piracy rather than protesting. Chris Dodd, former senator and current MPAA CEO, starts his statement under the guise of concern, saying sites participating in blackout day (such as Reddit and Wikipedia) are "irresponsible" and "resorting to stunts that punish their users." He goes on to say that these blackouts are a "dangerous and troubling development" and an "abuse of power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace."
Closing with a bit of "you're with us or against us" rhetoric, Dodd says that this blackout is designed to "punish elected and administration officials who are working diligently to project American jobs from foreign criminals." Apparently, Dodd wants support in combating piracy from these sites, not protests — if that's the case, he's fishing for that support in an awfully strange way.

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Man, I can’t wait for people who grew up with the Internet to be our elected officials. There’s no way they’d pass crap like this.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:51 AM EST reply Recommend (54) Flag actions
Jared Polis. Best Congressman out there. :D
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:59 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I think I’ll look him up tomorrow when Wikipedia is back up. :p
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:09 AM EST reply Recommend (17) Flag actions
FireFox with the NoScript extension. You’re welcome.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:31 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
There are a bunch of workarounds. I was very surprised when I visited Wikipedia this morning to see it there, only to have it blank out several seconds later. Took us about a minute to work around it.
I’m half inclined believed they did it in this half-arsed way deliberately so that people who really need the resource, could access it.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:50 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
It’s probably also the easiest option from a programming POV if you only want to temporarily impose a drastic change like this.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:54 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I would also say that it’s probably because people like us who know how to work around that sort of thing are already aware of SOPA, we are NOT the target audience.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:57 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
They do intend to let people work around. They say so in their blackout FAQ and link to instructions on how to do so: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:SOPA_initiative/Learn_more
under “Is it still possible to access Wikipedia in any way?”
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:38 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
http://en.mobile.wikipedia.org/?useformat=mobile
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:44 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Just so everyone knows
Jared Polis is an openly gay Representative from Colorado.
He is an avid gamer and plays League of Legends, was actually posting in the forums about SOPA/PIPA.
He is married.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:19 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
And winning.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:45 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Indeed good sir.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:17 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
or just add “?baner=false” to the end of the URL.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
sorry, that’s “?banner=false”
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:11 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The mobile site still works:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_pollis
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
that all depends on who is putting money in their pockets, and big business have got deep pockets
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:02 AM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
I don’t know if deep pockets can defeat a deep love of the Internet. If you grew up with it, you’d know what you were destroying.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:46 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I wish I shared your optimism, but I’m afraid that money tends to talk louder. I’m sure some of these officials know EXACTLY what they’re doing.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:54 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I concur these old people who don’t even know how to use computers correctly think they know what’s best for the internet? That’s like leppers judging a beauty contest… It’s just stupid.
We have to wait for the majority of baby boomers die, so we can actually have some people in congress that know wth they are talking about.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:51 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Hopefully somebody can catch Dodd with a gay prostitute or something. I’m sure he’s got eclectic habits…
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:58 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Flashback to the 60s…
"Man, I can’t wait for people from our generation to be our elected officials. There’s no way they’d pass crap like this."
And here we are.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:56 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Yeah, it’s naive to think that it’s a simple issue of age. Money and power are the problems here. They’re trying to control the Internet to preserve their old way of business.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:19 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
A good example of an internet savvy official is at the very top: Obama and his staff. I recall that the most advanced computer used in the White House under Bush was a Windows 95 PC.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:19 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
H.W. Bush or W. Bush? Because Windows 95 in the H.W. Bush administration would be quite groundbreaking! Even if it was W. Bush, he entered the White House before Windows XP, so especially considering how businesses and governments are slow to upgrade software, 95 is not a stretch.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:33 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
“I can’t wait for people who grew up with the Internet to be our elected officials.”
This is similar to the rallying cry of the peace movement of the ’60s, too. But look what happened when the Baby Boomers started running the government…
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 5:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I understand the former senator part now
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:54 AM EST reply Recommend (19) Flag actions
Yeah, he was so bad they practically ran him outta town. Constantly involved in scandals.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:33 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
He probably got paid 10K$ to utter that bull/ohno/.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:58 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
As MPAA CEO, and a confirmed pocket ex-senator, it’s his job to say crap like this.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:04 AM EST reply Recommend (12) Flag actions
I guess you are trying to say that he got paid a lot more than $10k to utter that bull.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:04 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You can bet on that.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:08 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Add at least one zero.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:28 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He gets $1.5m/yr. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/02/business/02dodd.html?_r=1
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:28 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This is the same person who utterly failed to regulate the financial sector properly, who is now running the MPAA and has the gall to say that SOPA opponents are enabling corporate interests and foreign criminals?
The projecting on his part is duly noted.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:59 AM EST reply Recommend (20) Flag actions
Nice avatar! Cecil was my fave character :D
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:23 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Just remember that his avatar could lead to the Verge being taken down with SOPA or PIPA in effect.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:33 AM EST reply Recommend (13) Flag actions
No, Rydia FTW!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:12 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
In what world does he think that people will be one over by all of this chauvinist talk of “foreign thieves.” This is the internet, not a Minutemen rally.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:00 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
He simply showcased how out of touch he is. Sadly his conviction leads me to think he fully believes in what he said.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:01 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Well, that’s just a bunch of ¦!!POST BLOCKED BY SOPA!!¦
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:01 AM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
You win twice: once for your comment, once for your avatar/UN.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:02 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Thanks! By the way, have you seen my copy of
Oh La la… umm I mean gray’s sports almanac around here?Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
“elected and administration officials who are working diligently.” Congress and diligent should never be in the same sentence.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:01 AM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
Eh I kind of disagree. The longer they debate about topics, the more time they’re giving into considering your rights as the delay in the SOPA bill has shown. If you speed it up, then your rights will go away at the same speed.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:05 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
`wonders if I can get a refund on my laps…`
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 8:49 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I liked the bit about him being a former senator
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:02 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Being the MPAA CEO is probably worth a lot more money in the bank.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:12 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yep. He served the MPAA well in congress so he could get this job.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:30 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Sadly no longer being a senator doesn’t hurt his income. After serving one term he receives 100% retirement with full benefits. Does it surprise anyone that once elected, those servants of the people no longer care about the people? The only incentive to get re-elected is to keep receiving the perks of power, such as the contributions from many interest groups, big business, and government paid vacations under the guise of fact finding trips.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 2:39 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
“abuse of power given the freedoms these companies enjoy in the marketplace.”
Freedoms and power SOPA would limit.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:02 AM EST reply Recommend (12) Flag actions
I love how he implies that freedom is a privilege and not a right. This is the god damned USA.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:25 AM EST reply Recommend (16) Flag actions
Fuck Yeah!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:55 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Tone deaf.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:05 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Also, has the MPAA or any other group actually proven significant harm from piracy? Would those people who pirate be buying if the content was magically unavailable?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:07 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
No, most of the numbers are inflated in at least one way.
For instance, the assumption that every pirated copy would have been purchased rather that rented, subscribed to, or just plain not consumed.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:32 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This guy has no shame.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:05 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Former Democratic senator.
Pretty sure if he was republican this article would’ve made sure to point that out. They’re all a bunch of power and money hungry lawyers.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:06 AM EST reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
Exactly. The Verge should have put “former Democratic senator…” in the original post. The Verge is getting like the NY Times – objective but not so objective.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:23 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Hello, hypocircy!
Punish their users is what MPAA members have done for years now. Restrictive DRM, regional exclusivity deals that cut out any access to their product…
I quote the Valve CEO Gabe Newell: “Piracy is almost always a service problem”. And MPAA members make sure that their services are awful or unavailable.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:07 AM EST reply Recommend (16) Flag actions
Came here to point out that exact same thing. The gall…
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:32 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He goes on to say that these blackouts are a “dangerous and troubling development”
No, what is a truly “dangerous and troubling development” is the way that big businesses can wield excessive influence over government and policy-makers. And not in a backwater former Soviet republic, but in the USA.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:07 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
I’m totally at a loss as to how he could consider this stuff in any way dangerous. Maybe he read this The Day Without Wikipedia piece and thought it was serious?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
What he found dangerous is that the general public is more empowered now with the internet and its ability to provide information as well as a way for the voice of the people to be heard.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 2:50 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
When all else fails, go the xenophobic route.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:11 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:12 AM EST reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
Because as we all know, screaming and ranting like a lunatic is going to get people go along with what you say.
Oh sure, we’ll stand and listen, but in actuality, we’re just laughing at how ridiculous you sound.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:15 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Sadly some people do believe it.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:45 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Please someone turn off this internet something.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:15 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
So according to this guy anyone opposing SOPA is a piracy supporter.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:21 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Well yeah, this is what every SOPA/PIPA supporter implies in their arguments.
I just received an amazing response from one of my senators suggesting that if we don’t pass PIPA we would fall behind China and India. Two countries with almost no intellectual property law.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:35 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
So in order to not fall behind a country like China, we have to pass internet restrictions that mirror theirs.
I can’t find a fault with that logic.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:45 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Chris Dodd said as much a few weeks ago. “If China can restrict internet access, why can’t the US?”
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:10 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
And if you don’t support Obama you’re a racist. Don’t forget that one.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:36 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Way to bring up a totally unrelated point.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:25 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
I used to respect the guy – now not so much.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:28 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You used to believe his lies. Now he doesn’t care about keeping up appearances.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
What a tool. Hopefully no impressionable souls hear this message of lies.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:31 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The blackouts are proof that the SOPA supporters are on the right track The SOPA opponents look like paranoid conservatives clinging to their soon-to-be outdated traditions.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:46 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Except he is a democrat from Connecticut.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:50 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Yeah, but what’s the difference between our Democrats and Republicans anymore?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:32 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Aww man! You just dripped sarcasm on me! These are new shoes too!
…Unless of course you actually are voicing your support for SOPA. If that’s the case well… I don’t really know what to say that hasn’t already been said better by the writers on this very site.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:16 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yeah, because its only conservatives that censor… PUHlease.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:24 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The MPAA calling anyone out on abusing power is the definition of hypocrisy.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:48 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
What would solve all this bullshit is allowing the people to vote on shit like this, and the bill that Obama just passed I think it is NDAA or something I can’t remember
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:54 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Except that we have a representative democracy, not a pure democracy… which is why everyone doesn’t get together to vote on every bill that goes through Congress. We elect people to do our voting for us. The problem is that this system doesn’t always work out as planned…
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:17 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It’s a good thing we do too. We bitch about the speed of government now, imagine how slow it would be if we had to wait for everyone in the country to vote. Look at the snails pace of presidential elections for an example. Which also is a great way to point out the other flaw in a pure democracy (at least in a country of this size). Flood the media with your rhetoric and the majority of people will vote your way simply because they don’t have the time, or care enough about the topic to do their own research.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:21 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
He couldn’t ruin the country completely from Congress, so now he’s at the MPAA to finish the job. What a slimeball, this Chris Dodd is.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I used to think Dodd was a defender of the constitution, not I realize he’s just another mouthpiece for hire, the worst kind of prostitute.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:14 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It is not an “abuse of power” to exercise your rights.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:24 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
“You’re with us or against us”.. ahaha watch what you say.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Oh, the irony of it all.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:44 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The Internets has taken notice of the many corporations supporting SOPA today in protest of users demanding fair and easy ways to get content, and thinks these companies would be better off supporting efforts to setup better alternatives rather than protesting. John Smith, former lawyer and current Managing Editor of The Website, starts his statement in concern, saying businesses supporting SOPA are “irresponsible” and “resorting to stunts that punish their users.” He goes on to say that lobbying in support for SOPA is a “dangerous and troubling development” and an “abuse of power given the freedoms these big corporations enjoy in the marketplace.”
Closing with a bit of “you’re with us or against us” rhetoric, Smith says that the blackout is designed to “get attention to Corporations and administration officials who are working diligently to erode the freedom of American people.”
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:58 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I think you meant protect American jobs.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:13 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
But correcting that would make it a lie.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:38 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
So let me get this straight. Chris Dodd just talked about those that abuse power.
Yeah, that’s rich.
I can hear Phoebe now, “Hello kettle….”
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:20 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Fuck you Chris Dodd!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:24 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
SOPA is an abuse of congressional power!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:01 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
DITTO! To the MAX! This Chris Dodd needs to be booted out! And I’m a liberal who wants him booted out!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
So this guy is an out-of-touch idiot.
There is, however, a glimmer of rationality in his point.
Copyright abuse and IP theft sucks and it would be nice to see those that benefit from it (Google) really work towards an alternative solution.
SOPA is an abortion – it’s a cure for a problem which is far worse than the problem itself written by those which don’t understand.. Like cutting out a cancer with a rusty chainsaw.
The underlying problem still exists though. and Google profits every day from blatant copyright infringement – they have some level of responsibility to help contain it.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Please post some actual sources on how the fuck Google profits from copyright infringement.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:54 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
youtube, you the fuck do you see copyright infringing material (before it;s pulled) without youtube – does google offer a refund once it’s pulled? no.
search results – how the fuck do you find copyright infringing material without Google’s help?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 6:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Google has one of the most advanced copyright protection systems in the world, probably even the most advanced. Not much gets through Content ID.
I don’t imagine that they make any significant income from copyright-infringing videos that are posted for a few days anyway, considering the relatively low number of them available.
Search results — I use Bing.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:42 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It’s a search engine. It’s supposed to let you search EVERYTHING.
Also, they block co.cc and cz.cc websites.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 6:51 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I stipped listening to these asshats years ago. Some day the whole country will and it will be awesome.
Can we send this guy something from poopsenders?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:15 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
I have noticed two things with the statements from the different congressmen, first they don’t know about the technical details of anything, and are not saying anything but buzzwords given to them.
There are a few videos on YouTube of congressmen trying to speak about the details of these bills and literally not being able to say a word.
As for MPAA, and the other major supporters, when will they realize that they are treating the symptoms, with measures like this, rather than the cause? If people had easy, readily available, reasonably priced, and more immediate access to this content then there would be a lot less piracy. They also are not helping when studios like WB put in act a 56 day rental ban on any new DVD. So rather than give the people the option to rent the movie, these people, most of whom rent because they don’t want to/can’t purchase the DVD, will either wait or pirate the content. They can’t think that in a world where p2p clients have become so widely accessible (you no longer need to be tech savvy to use them) that they can still bully people around.
I think out of the three major industries, the music industry is the one that is getting it the most; They have started to embrace single purchase and subscription music.
The movie industry is still fighting tooth and nail for their "Theater/DVD" sales, as are the TV networks (although these are starting to get better distributed (but still at a delay)). One of these networks should try to do a web TV premier and see how much ad revenue they can make; I think they might be surprised.
The game industry seems to be almost at a standstill, major studios have yet to make game demos standard and even the demos they make are not for all platforms (especially the platform most vulnerable to piracy). Who wants to spend $60 on a piece of software without getting to try it, and not being able to return it?? An example of this is the recent Driver game, where there was no DEMO for the PC, and a large number of people either decided to pirate it or not buy it at all, and something that would have cost them a trivial amount of money has lost them a large potential profit.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:30 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This is so stupid. Combating piracy is like combating terror– it can’t be done. As long as the internet exists, there will be pirates. You’d have to shut down the whole internet to stop online piracy. And then? THERE’S STILL PIRACY!
“Hey, that CD’s pretty good. Where’d you get it?”
“My friend made me a copy.”
“Can I get one?”
“Sure.”
It’s called the world we live in.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:40 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
█ ████████ ██████ ██████████ ██ ████ ██ ████ ██████████ ██. ███ ███ This post has been found in violation of H.R. 3261, S.O.P.A and has been removed.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:00 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Man what a complete scumbag. He uses his position as a senator to help the lobby for the MPAA so much that now he’s the CEO. How do these primetime a holes look at themselves in the mirror?
I thought politicians were just plain incompetent before, now I see they are much much worse than that.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:11 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You have seen the face of the greedy and amoral enemy. Remember to vote for people who do not support these types.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 4:06 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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