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.
