Over 30,000 members of the Daily Kos community have contacted their senators asking them to oppose the Protect IP Act. Those 30,000 Kossacks helped turn the tide against this legislation, which was cruising toward quick, nearly unanimous passage. Now the future of the bill is in doubt and the lobbyists pushing it are scrambling to propose changes.
Senator Ron Wyden, who is leading the opposition to the bill on Capitol Hill, has a new video out thanking the 30,000 of you who contacted your senators. In the video, he also promises to continue his vigorous opposition to Protect IP in its current form, and to push responsible alternative legislation that protects online freedom:
There are good reasons to be skeptical of the efficacy of contacting your senators, but this is an unusual circumstance when such contacts can have inordinate impact. The normal coalitions are scrambled, allowing both supporters and opponents of Protect IP to legitimately tout the bipartisan nature of their positions. Further, it is not a bill that has undergone the same level of public or advocacy group scrutiny, and senators are just now starting to hear from their constituents about Protect IP. Three weeks ago they didn't even know it was controversial.
You really can make a difference on this one. Please, keep contacting your senators and asking them to oppose Protect IP.