Epic Games has stated that it does not support the Stop Online Piracy Act -- at least as it currently exists. The studio believes in fighting overseas websites that aid piracy, but wants to be able to protect freedom of speech at the same time.
"Some people have asked how Epic feels about the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). This post is meant to provide answers," said Epic's Dana Cowley. "Epic Games supports efforts that would stop overseas websites profiting from pirating our games, but we have to do that in a way that's compatible with freedom of speech and due process of law. Thus, we do not support the current version of SOPA.
"We are members of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a trade organization that is working with legislators to refine the bill."
That's very nice to know, but SOPA is such a vague mess of a bill that it needs destruction, not refinement. Not to mention, with the amount of amendments that were casually denied in the last hearing, there are plenty of influential entities that want to keep it as unchanged as possible. SOPA needs to be scrapped, and people who actually understand what the Internet is need to be the ones making any laws pertaining to the thing -- if such laws are ever actually needed.
It's great that Epic respects free speech, but for as long as it remains a member of the ESA, it does support SOPA in whatever horrendous form it takes.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
9:20 AM on 01.05.2012
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/everyonelooksatmyusername
It turned out better than I thought any discussion on the internet could - we came to an agreement and never once resorted to name-calling. I was flabbergasted.
And that's my Cool Story of the day.
It happened to me and I still have a hard time believing it. It's like I found Sasquatch or something.
Can love bloom, even on a battlefield?
Yes it can.
You know, when it comes to the gaming aspect of all this, the double speak on the part of the industry is really as worrisome as anything.
Also heard Amazon was amongst those that was going to shutdown, hadn't heard an exact date but I certainly hope they do and that others join them.
Fuck you, Epic. You are part of the ESA. THE ESA SUPPORTS SOPA. WHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?!?!?!
o wait
All of the companies, to my knowledge, who have backed off from their support of SOPA haven't done it because they learned any kind of moral or ethical lesson, they've done it because they won't get to have sex with as big a pile of money that they're used to because their customers turned out to be halfway savvy.
This just smacks of toothless, insincere PR.
tl;dr = fuckin' Jewbama! Where's the birth certificate?!
It's like an everyday job. There may be things that annoy you, but that doesn't mean you quit, giving up all of your insurance benefits. At least Epic isn't outright saying that they don't give two fucks about consumers' rights.
RON PAUL 2012- WILL REPEAL or NOT ENFORCE:
SOPA, NDAA, THE PATRIOT ACT.
While I think you came off as a bit of a jerk, I do agree with the guilty by association thing. I have no idea why so many people are condemning Epic for OPPOSING SOPA.
Because if there's one thing the average sharp-minded consumer is well-aware and extremely tired of, it's LYING-ASS BUSINESS ETHICS! Deceitful pricks will tell us whatever they think we want to hear to keep the money rolling in. This sounds like damage control of a sort. Epic can say whatever the hell they want publicly, their position of standing firm with the ESA clearly indicates to me that no matter how bad they think the current iteration of SOPA might be, they are not interested in the least in doing anything to hinder it.
Epic's words say "we don't agree with SOPA". Epic's actions seem to support SOPA, indirectly or otherwise. When you deal with people in your daily life, which do you put more trust in...what they SAY or what they actually DO?
Ah well, I'm not sure detraction is very deserving of courtesy. It makes it quite clear that I see there is a problem with this post.
@Mrdraven
Yes, because a company's open letter stating they do not support the bill means next to nothing. And this conspiracy involving their deceit to us innocent consumers totally warrants more attention than the ESA or the bill itself.
Regardless of Epic's true intentions, it hardly matters. Focus on the real problem, not your paranoia.
That's an amazing story but just to bring you back to reality, "GO FUCK UR SELF. CLIFFY B RULEZ & SO DOSE GEARS OF WAR!?!!"
Exactly, a company's open statement does not hold much water for me or many others these days. We have adopted a "wait and see" approach due to all the statements and promises constantly made that are constantly broken. I don't consider myself a conspiracy theorist at all in this matter. I can see how this appears to make me paranoid, I look at it more like real-world skepticism. It doesn't matter what they SAY to us. PROVE it.
I'm not sure what makes you think I was trying to focus the attention on Epic and not the real problem as you said, SOPA. This article is about Epic's statement, so that is what I focused on. Perhaps you should start to consider that maybe Epic's statement does not dissolve them of any sort of responsibility in this matter
I absolutely emailed Jim's letters from the earlier post, even included a few words of my own at the end to make it personal. I realize this issue as a whole is not just about Epic, but this article is.
Epic's statement may not "dissolve them of any sort of responsibility in this matter," but what people don't seem to understand is that companies like Epic have all the right in the world to make sure their games aren't stolen. I think we all agree that SOPA, as it currently, is, certainly isn't the answer, but that doesn't mean piracy isn't an issue and should be ignored. I'd be wary about leaving the ESA, too, if I were in Epic's position. At least they actually came out and said that they disagree with how it currently looks.
Piracy should absolutely NOT be ignored, but if you can honestly tell me you believe that SOPA can effectively and completely squash piracy WITHOUT allowing any abuses of power...we'll just have to agree to disagree.
What I or others don't understand is how in the world Epic can look themselves in the mirror and basically say "we're not the bad guys, we just side with them".
I hear the KKK has excellent health benefits, I think I'll join. But you absolutely cannot link me to their hate crimes, because I'm telling you now I don't agree with it. But I will join the KKK so don't you or anyone else hold anything against me, ok?
Dramatic? Yeah. Thank god it's friday, lol.