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Comment by Scriptor | Hacker News Reader

For the average person who knows very little to nothing about SOPA, the phrase "anti-piracy" implies that the bill is specifically targeted against piracy-related matters. People might even assume that it would be effective against piracy. Imagine if voicing your opposition to TSA's expanding control and alleged infringements of rights was called, "So-and-so opposed to anti-terror bill."

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To be fair, the bill's goal is to stop piracy. Granted, it's crippling the internet in the process, but I think calling it an "anti-piracy" bill is pretty accurate.

True, stopping the economy is one way to stop piracy.

No, it's not.

If anything, continued or increased economic slowdown will increase piracy, as people have both less disposable income and less regard for increasingly abused intellectual property rights.

> No, it's not.

I think you may be right, but only if you consider piracy to not be part of "the economy". My understanding at least is that it very much is.

Sure, that's what the name says and so forth, but haven't you ever heard to not judge a book by its cover? The internals of the bills are so weird, that you can't help but suspect that something else is going on there.

But that's exactly how legislation is named across the board. Who wants to oppose Patriotism? Or Liberty, Freedom, Homeland Security, or Family Values?

It's insidious and infuriating.

edit: Also as the other comment points out, the bill is ostensibly an anti-piracy bill.

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