Sergey Brin, et al. to U.S. Government: Do Not Emulate These Oppressive Nations

We voted for Change in 2008 and here we are in 2011 fighting for basic democratic rights.

Thats a great list of Internet pioneers. A few days ago, someone on HN suggested these companies put their concerns front and center on the web sites they control. If you want the masses to hear about this, no better way than to replace Yahoo and Google for a day with a clear message telling users what's happening in their country. If these letter co-signees are not willing to take the heat of their own shareholders by making such a move, then writing letters is mostly a waste of time.

I wonder if they will invite 5:1 pro-SOPA vs anti-SOPA witnesses at the hearing again, or maybe they'll make it 10:1 this time, seeing how last time that strategy "failed".<p>That being said, I really hope they invite someone that isn't from a corporation at the hearing, like people from EFF. At the end of the day the corporations will follow their own profit incentives. If that aligns with the regular people's interest or not it's besides the point.

If this thing goes through, it'll be a damning indictment of the state of democracy in the western world.

Stop writing letters Sergey Brin and throw money at the scoundrels as that's the only thing that makes them listen.

They'll write this letter and then they'll go and vote for these very same people.

Is this meant to imply that the U.S. is not an oppressive nation?<p>I'm sorry, but the U.S. Government has absolutely no problem emulating oppressive nations, and in fact has been a global leader in sponsoring oppression for decades.

If Google put a black censored bar over their logo, this would be dead in a a couple of days, tops.

Direct link to Segey's Google+ post: <a href="https://plus.google.com/109813896768294978296/posts/Dt6FoRv6hXJ" rel="nofollow">https://plus.google.com/109813896768294978296/posts/Dt6FoRv6...</a>

The internet has changed the way information is shared to such a severe degree that traditional definitions of intellectual property are now antiquated. This doesn't mean that the legal framework of IP protection should be thrown out entirely, but it has to adapt to the culture of sharing that the internet has fostered. Otherwise the internet will become a draconian environment that stifles new ideas and strangles the kinds of exchange that gave rise to it in the first place.

I never expected Malaysia to be mentioned in the same breath as Iran and China.

I find it hilarious that people naturally assume the U.S. is not an oppressive government. Why don't you ask the black population of your country whether they feel oppressed?