No time quite like the 4th of July to reflect on our independence and freedom, right? Clearly Google was feelin' the free on July 3rd, as they chose to remind us all of the importance of a free and open internet with their official blog post and accompanying video encouraging web users to sign their names in support of a continued free and open internet use. Below is the video Google released on July 3rd. Perhaps it is something that we take advantage of regularly; I'm guilty. 

Aside from the obvious parallel in the significance of the date and the issue of free and open internet, this issue is also important now because it may, in fact,  be in jeopardy. So why is the freedom of our internet in jeopardy now?

Most of us are aware about The United Nations weighing several legislation that would alter how and why we use the internet. ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement), for example, would drastically change online privacy by allowing internet service providers to breach the privacy of internet users and issue multiple fines and even charges for downloading licensed content. It is actually more strict than even SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) which looked to protect copyrighted material.

The problem with these various agreements is that in regards to the internet, terms such as "intellectual property" become blurred. Although ACTA and SOPA look to protect intellectual property such as blatant  trademarks, it will also affect ideas and research which we have so often looked to the internet to discover. In simple terms, the basic real-world application of the passing of such legislation would look like this: Your good friend is taking classes at the local college and finds a particular course extremely interesting. When you go out to dinner that night, and your friend tells you about the discussion he had in his class today, you would both be considered criminals. Why? Because you are receiving the information that he is learning in his class for free, while other students are paying for the information. See the effect?

Currently, we use the internet as a cultural melting pot: a place where we can actively share photos, videos, ideas and discoveries. A place where we can be free. If this freedom is breached, how would this affect you? Your business? Your research? Comment to let us know your thoughts, and as always contact a professional at Blue Archer, a Pittsburgh web design company, for all of your website needs!

Carla Rosemarino

Internet Marketing Analyst