14 DAY TRIAL // A number of huge players in the video game world have taken their names of the list of supports for the Stop Online Piracy Act bill which is now under consideration by Congress, probably because of pressure coming from their fan bases.
Nintendo, a company that creates both software and hardware, Sony, who is in the same situation, and Electronic Arts, a company that focuses on just video game releases, were initially among the supports of the SOPA but have since removed their names, according to information coming from a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The web of organizations that is linked to SOPA is complex and both Nintendo and Electronic Arts continue to be members of the Entertainment Software Association, which is still listed as a supporter for the anti-piracy bill.
Sony is also a supporter because it is music division is listed and because of the lobbying it has done on the issue.
It’s not clear whether the ESA will also change its own position or whether Sony plans to allow its divisions to have different opinions or will harmonize them at some point.
The Stop Online Piracy Act might make it harder for legitimate customers to active and then play their video games as publishers and developers get the freedom to implement more complex mechanics that seek to thwart pirates.
Since SOPA has been introduced companies who are seen as supporting it have often faced a backlash from their customers, with GoDaddy being the victim of an especially vicious set of attacks lately.
Sony has also been threatened by Anonymous over its support of SOPA, with the Internet activist group claiming that it will deface website for the company and will obtain and then post personal information of executives.
A vote on SOPA is expected to take place before the 2012 American presidential elections in the fall.