(Image Source: Flickr/PopGeekCulture.com)


BY ADNAN S. KHAN

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA


Seems the Internet made a pretty brutal example of GoDaddy’s support of SOPA. Now three of the top video game companies are also following GoDaddy’s lead and jumping the SOPA ship. Business Insider has the latest.


“Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Sony Electronics — some of the largest video game companies in the world — have all pulled their support for an online bill that could encourage censorship online, according to an updated list of supporters of the bill.”
 

That list is still pretty lengthy, with 60 plus supporters eager to make online pirates walk the plank.
 

A writer for Joystiq analyzes why the companies left the bandwagon -- especially when their games, at $58 a pop, are at a pricey risk of piracy.

“None of the three companies have commented on why they reversed their position on the controversial bill, but we imagine it’s because endorsing it makes the Internet pretty angry with you.”
 

If anyone knows about the wrath of the Internet, it’s Sony. Back in May, hackers descended on the company, crippling its online gaming infrastructure for a month and stealing personal information on about 77 million users. VentureBeat reports…
 

“In Sony’s case, it’s probably best to stay clear of any piece of legislation that would draw attention from activists. Earlier today, ‘hacktivist’ group Anonymous pledged to once again take down Sony’s Playstation online gaming network due to the company’s SOPA support.”
 

The resistance is gaining momentum, and a writer for CNET says SOPA opponents -- like Google, Facebook, and Twitter -- haven’t even brought out the ‘heavy artillery’ yet.

“When the home pages of Google.com, Amazon.com, Facebook.com, and their Internet allies simultaneously turn black with anti-censorship warnings that ask users to contact politicians about a vote in the U.S. Congress the next day on SOPA, you’ll know they’re finally serious.”
 

There are still numerous major companies that support SOPA, including Viacom and Time Warner -- and not all of the miscellaneous branches of Sony have dropped support of SOPA either. A Senate floor debate for the bill is scheduled for January 24, 2012.