by Rob
20. January 2012 08:29
Yesterday was a very interesting day for the Internet.
The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is a U.S. House bill to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods. While the bill has good intentions, it poses a serious threat to emerging startups as well as established websites such as YouTube, Wikipedia and countless others.
To this end, a coordinated day of protest among websites occurred on January 18th, where each company took their own spin on how to let visitors know of the threats that SOPA presents. TechCrunch compiled a list of top onilne SOPA protests, which were particularly extensive and interesting.
While there were some memorable ones and also a few that were very effective in getting the point across, my favorite was done by The Oatmeal. Granted that the comic is a bit immature, you have to admit that it explains the risks that SOPA represents beautifully.
I believe that the best way to get through to most people about important issues is with humor. That is why I watch The Daily Show every day, because they deliver important news through the lens of comedy. It makes me more receptive and wanting to know what is going on in Iraq or what stance Ron Paul is taking on foreign policy.
What is the best SOPA protest website that you saw? Leave a comment below and let me know!