SOPA and Protect IP Act

I'm sure most of you have heard the news by now about Wikipedia blacking out their homepage in opposition to SOPA, or have at least noticed Google's blacked out logo.

If you really want to understand why this matters to you personally, there's a very well articulated lecture by lawyer Lawrence Leesig in an easily watched video. That man is a genius. This is from 2002, but you'll understand SOPA and the Protect IP Act better than most of the news reporters who are currently talking about Wikipedia if you watch it:

--> http://randomfoo.net/oscon/2002/lessig/free.html <--

By the way, chief sponsors Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) both have TV/Movies/Music as top supporters. The TV/Movies/Music industry is Lamar's top supporter, and Disney is mentioned by name as one of Patrick's top supporters:
ref: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00009918&cycle=2012
ref: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00001811&cycle=2012

The money trail's not surprising considering that SOPA/Protect-IP suddenly have bipartisan support with 27 Republicans sponsors. This immediately follows virtually unanimous Republicans opposition to Net Neutrality because (the punchline): they don't want to regulate the Net. Do the math.
ref: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/244538/net_neutrality_is_t...