Please read the above website, but also read this: THE ACTUAL BILL before you make an INFORMED decision.
This bill has been stirring up a lot of controversy (plenty of people have posted on SC2 forums, TeamLiquid, twitter, youtube...), and while I'm not a political person, I like to try and understand what's going on and look at a lot of other responses before jumping on the OMG OUR GOVERMENT SUCKS boat. Plenty of people have made smarter responses to this, so I'd just like to copypasta some:
Taken From: Starcraft 2 Forum
PCGErratic:
Nothing to see here, move along. Blizzard will never press charges against a streamer because Blizzard actually likes the streamers. People stream movies and then don't go buy the movies because they've seen them, no one streams a game and doesn't buy the game because they've seen it. Streaming hurts movies, but it helps games. They could have shut down streamers a long time ago but chose not to because they know that streaming helps their game.
^ This is what I agree with. Rest your minds and calm your tits, Blizzard is making too much in advertisements to not protect its casters. Same for any e-sport, really.
Beasil:
The moral of the story is, casters will simply have to fill out some paperwork, possibly get signed consent forms, and become legitimate business people. It will become an industry, and no longer just a bunch of kids in their early 20's casting out of their apartments.
^ This I understand, but I can't take it as leisurely as our poster does. People casting out of their apartments is, frankly, what makes e-sports AWESOME. They aren't part of the chain of command, and most of them know their place anyway. Remember when Husky put up a paypal link on his site and people OVER-donated by like, thousands of dollars? To which he said, thank you, but I don't need, and then LINKED TO CHARITY SITES?
I'd prefer our awesome casters (who are nothing but nice and totally cool guys) to stay out of any sort of corporate ladder, thanks. Also, e-sports is an industry. I don't see why it isn't.
Karni:
A revised version is being written to make it more clear that its meant for movies, music and TV shows. Plus even if the bill as is passed it really wouldn't effect streaming games or esports.
^ I would love to see a link, but if it's true, happiness. :D
