Marvel Comics Comes Out in Support of SOPA

Marvel Comics has thrown its full support behind the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).  Marvel LLC is listed on a document released by the US House of Repesentatives Judiciary Committee that ticks off a bunch of businesses and organizations that are officially in support of SOPA.  The Stop Online Piracy Act, for those that have been living under a rock for the past few months, is arguably the most despised and controversial piece of legislation ever introduced by the US House of Representatives.  While championed by almost every media company imaginable, everyone else seems pretty sure that SOPA would cripple the Internet, kill any sense of freedom of speech on the Internet, and would effectively make almost anyone who’s ever posted anything to a blog, Facebook, or Youtube a criminal.  And, again, Marvel Comics has thrown its support behind this monster.

Before going on, if you’re not familiar with the evil that is SOPA, take a few moments to watch the following video to see what all the fuss is about…

Scary stuff.  The question of whether online piracy is a threat to media companies and artists is irrelevant when discussing SOPA.  Why?  Because the Stop Online Piracy Act is so over-reaching and so oppressive that it goes way beyond fighting copyright piracy.  Consider this; Let’s say you post a video of your brother’s wedding reception to Youtube.  The video is of the bride and groom having their traditional first dance.  Guess what?  You just violated the law under SOPA and, as a result, you’re now looking at five years in prison.  Why?  Because the song they were dancing to was copyrighted material and by posting the video, you are now considered a pirate.  Additionally, Youtube is now considered a criminal.  And, more than that, any site that links to Youtube is now in violation of SOPA.  All because of that one wedding video.

The fact that Marvel Comics has come out in support of the Stop Online Piracy Act is very, very disappointing.  I’m a huge fan of Marvel Comics.  I spend a lot of my time and money on their products and I’ve done so for the better part of my life.  While I understand that media companies love the shit out of this bill, it’s essentially a Deathstar that allows them to obliterate any website they like and with very little justification needed, one would hope that common sense would prevail at some point.  Marvel Comics, home to the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, are essentially siding with the bad guys on this one.

For a long time, through a lot of bullshit, I’ve always come out in support of Marvel Comics.  However, with Marvel now supporting the Stop Online Piracy Act, I won’t be supporting them on this.  SOPA is a horrible, terrifying piece of legislation and Marvel Comics is wrong for supporting it.  Shame on everyone who was involved with this decision at Marvel Comics to come out in support of SOPA.  I may just have to re-evaluate my future comic book purchases after this because, honestly, I’m that disgusted right now.  Bad form, Marvel.  Bad form.

Last updated by Dan C. on December 29, 2011.