Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Sony Electronics have apparently followed the example of Microsoft and the Business Software Alliance, and have removed their corporate monikers from the list of supporters for the increasingly unpopular Stop Online Piracy Act. None of the three companies have commented on why they reversed their position on the controversial bill, but we imagine its because endorsing it makes the internet pretty angry with you. When asked, EA corporate told Joystiq this afternoon, "EA never expressed a position for or against SOPA." Sony and Nintendo had yet to respond as of publishing.
Note that not all of Sony's miscellaneous branches have rescinded their support, as Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Music Nashville still appear on the list. Also, the Entertainment Software Association is still shown as a supporter -- an organization which the aforementioned publishers (among others) belong to. Whether the group will remain on an endorsement list which exactly zero of its members appear on remains to be seen.
Thanks to Kristianzhe for this, since he doesn't come on the site any more.
Hacktivist group Anonymous has promised to strike back with an internet blackout if the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is approved. A vote on the legislation was delayed this week and is not likely to be held until the new year. However, Anonymous suggested that this delay is a smokescreen, and that the law "further proves the reality of corporate rule and totalitarianism".
"SOPA tramples civil rights laws, fair use, freedom of press and freedom of speech. Under SOPA an average person could be arrested, fined, sued and spend time in a federal prison for as little as uploading a video to YouTube or even linking to one," Anonymous said in a statement.
The group has vowed to strike back in a big way if the legislation becomes law, and has called on its members to deface web sites with protest messages in a bid to get the anti-Act message to as many people as possible.
"Let's replace the face of the internet with a clear message about how we feel about censorship. Replace the front page of every web site we can with a simple, clear protest page," Anonymous said.
"Encourage friends, businesses, organisations, social media to take a stand alongside us in the same way. Get this image and message everywhere online. Plant the seeds of dissent wherever they can grow."
The hackers said that supporters should also deface billboards and advertisements with similar messages.
"Get people talking. Put the truth not only where it can be seen, but where it cannot be avoided. This is something everyone can do. We are legion, this is our voice, people are listening, we will be heard," the statement said.
-TTG-F3AR- Its Because of anonymous threatened them that they would take PlayStation network down if they signed the SOPA contract.
Did you just pull that out of your arse? Don't start spreading rumors and shit, when you know yourself that what you said isn't true. I'm sure they threatened Nintendo and EA saying they were going to attack them as well did they?
Always be on your guard people, this could just be a publicity stunt, much like that of GoDadddy, let's pull our public support of SOPA but still support it on the quiet, yeah thats still a scary possibility!
Why were they ever supporting SOPA?? Makes the thought scarey as it would be pretty difficult to overturn if they have these big companies supportign them...
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