SOPA: Protecting you from reality and creativity

We all know that unlawfully using copyrighted material is "bad," especially in the advertising and PR industries. But, where does one draw the line? As of yesterday, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) was shelved. Although many have breathed sighs of relief, it doesn't mean the issue has died. SOPA will, inevitably, be resurrected and put back on the table; which is why popular sites like Reddit and Wikipedia are still moving forward with their plan to blackout their sites tomorrow in an attempt to garner more support in their opposition to SOPA. In a world that essentially revolves around the internet, bills like SOPA are a major threat, especially to advertising and PR professionals. If a bill like SOPA were to pass, the way we utilize the web would change dramatically...in a very negative way. Sites like YouTube? Gone. Slideshare? Done. Even sites like PayPal and Google AdSense would take a hit. Google’s Sergey Brin put it best: “I am shocked that our lawmakers would contemplate such measures that would put us on a par with the most oppressive nations in the world.” Personally, I don't want my internet content monitored like it is in countries such as China. People in the business of communication should take a stand because SOPA is likely shelved momentarily.