The internet makes it easy to redistribute unauthorized copies - SOPA is an effort to put an end to that, albeit at the price of getting rid of the internet. But the internet also makes it easy to reach audiences. From the point of view of the big distributors represented by the MPAA and the RIAA it's all bad. I'm pretty sure buggy-whip makers didn't much like automobiles either. But what about the artist? Chris Phelan points us to a recent article about Louis C.K. a successful but not superstar comedian. Rather than taking the $200K that the big distributors would have paid him, he put up $170K of his own money to produce the video of his show. Unlike the big distributors who hate their customers as much as their customers hate them - Louis C. K. has a good relationship with his customers. He put the video on-sale for a quarter of the price the big guys would have charged - $5 each copy. He did it without DRM, and simply asked politely that people buy it from him and not redistribute it. He took in $2 million, a net of about $1.8 million.

It's funny how old fashioned business sense - produce a product people like and treat them well - works as well on the internet as anywhere else. Unfortunately crony capitalism if you can afford the politicians is even better.

I am a little disappointed that this web site is not covering the increasing opposition to SOPA and PIPA. Perhaps a blackout similar to Wikipedia to show support?

The good news is that it appears that both SOPA and PIPA appear to be doomed. Obama says he will not sign the legislation.