The discussions surrounding SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act, and the Protect IP Act, or PIPA, have gone viral.
Websites like Google, Wikipedia and many others made a bold statement Wednesday in opposition to the proposals. The proposals would allow copyright owners to sue websites accused of enabling copyright infringement.
Texas Tech Professor Jessica Smith said online users for and against the anti-piracy bills have made a strong online presence.
"They have gone online and millions have signed petitions," she said. "They have signed form letters and had sent them to their Congress and Senate representatives," Smith said.
FOX 34 spoke with a few individuals who had mixed reactions about the online discussions.
"I heard about it in my online advertising class."
"On Facebook a friend of mine put Randy Neugebauer's number and contact information, to say we have no interest in this bill."
"I am against it. I think from what I know, at least the way the language is drafted, that is could lead down a slippery slope, to where there could be a lot more regulation to the internet."
"We are law students so we use the term slippery slope a lot, and I think this could be a problem with access to information and free speech online."
Smith said anti-piracy legislation has always been brewing issue.
"If someone had a solution they would make $1 million, because it's a big problem," she said. "What I believe about these proposals, it's an overreach like using a can to kill a mosquito," she said. "It will affect the way we think about freedom of speech."
The battle over intellectual property between the likes of the Silicon Valley and Hollywood will not be settled anytime soon. Congress has delayed action, and is rewriting the bill.
