SOPA Strike: how local Philadelphia tech organizations are protesting the federal legislation

The message on Zivtech.com, an Old City design firm

Billed as the largest online protest in history, there is a local spin to the SOPA Strike, aimed at keeping the heat on controversial legislation aimed at curbing online piracy. Critics say the legislation is too broadly written, as to allow limitation of any social web tool that allows the sharing of intellectual property — think Youtube, Twitter and Facebook.

Today, a call for a ‘blackout’ has led to major websites like Google and Wikipedia to limit their functionality or site look to convey what could be lost if the federal legislation moves forward. Several Philadelphia companies have joined the fray, the day of a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the bill, even though President Obama has said he would veto the bill in its current form.

See other ways local companies are protesting today, including what might be the funniest strike of them all.

Read more

Searching a ‘cure for Philadelphia Sydrome’ and other Links

• Philadelphia Syndrome: In Search of a Cure [Matt Monihan] — One of the leads in the Northern Liberties Devnuts co-working crew gives his take on Philly defeatism
• Philadelphia region lags in job creation, according to U.S. figures [Philadelphia Business Journal]
• SEPTA to sell ads on its website [PlanPhilly]
• Protesters disrupt speech by Sunoco CEO [PhillyInc: Inquirer] — “Protesters interrupted a speech being given by Sunoco Inc. chairman and chief executive Lynn L. Elsenhans at a luncheon at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Thursday afternoon.”
• 76er Evan Turner’s life now an app [Philadelphia Business Journal] — “”Philadelphia 76ers rookie Evan Turner has joined forces with XCO SportsLink to develop a free smartphone application that will provide fans with exclusive access into his life on and off the court.”
• Emotional tributes to Baldino at Pennsylvania Bio Awards [Philadelphia Business Journal] — Frank Baldino, the life sciences legend in the region, was honored after passing last year
• Straight talk about the Japanese nuclear plant disaster [PlanPhilly] — By a local nuclear power plant operator, not long before Temple University-Japan students were evacuated.
• AT&T’s ‘river of data’ flows through Philadelphia [Philly Inc: Inquirer] — Tour of their regional control center

Picketers outside proposed Apple Store on Walnut

Picketers outside 1607 Walnut Street. Photo taken by Hughe Dillon.

Laborers’ union members are picketing the Apple Store-to-be at 1607 Walnut Street, according to the above camera photo from Philadelphia’s paparazzi legend Hugh Dillon.

“[The picketers are] against owners of [those] prepping the [building] for the Apple lease,” reports Dillon. “They [are] using non-union workers. They stress it’s not against Apple, as Apple is using union workers.”

In December we reported that this, the first official Apple store to be located in the city, was hiring.