The Joomla! project joins the ranks of US and international internet and technology organizations like Free Software Foundation (FSF), Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE), Mozilla, Google, Wikipedia, Open Source Initiative, WordPress, and Human Rights organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, in expressing our concern with these US Congress and Senate bills:

• Information on H.R.3261 - Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)
  http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/show
• Information on S.968 PROTECT IP Act (PIPA)
  http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s968/show

A US Congressional vote is slated on these bills for this month [now delayed until February], and many feel that it will inevitably become a mandate for formalized Internet censorship, with an impact that goes far beyond the borders of any single country.

PIPA introduces a deeply concerning degree of legal uncertainty into the internet economy, particularly for users and businesses internationally. And while SOPA is also a US bill, it has several provisions that would have serious implications for international civil and human rights which raise concerns about how the United States is approaching global Internet governance.

The Joomla! project respects legitimate Intellectual Property rights of others, but we are concerned about the consequences of such far reaching laws, both for citizens of the US, and the global community.

Today, the 18th of January 2012, many organizations will show solidarity by participating in a massive website blackout, and other forms of protest. As an international Open Source software project, Joomla! champions an open internet for all, and expresses its concern over these US Congress and Senate bills.

Sources and links:

• https://www.accessnow.org/policy-activism/press-blog/human-rights-community-speaks-out-on-protect-ip-act
• https://www.accessnow.org/sopa-letter (PDF)
• http://americancensorship.org/infographic.html

Please see in Joomla.org

Joomla! Joins Protests Against SOPA