Although the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act have been shelved, their staunchest congressional supporters are still criticizing the opposition, claiming the bills would save thousands of jobs.  However, these claims look like little more than empty rhetoric.

The entertainment industry — profit-hungry and change-averse — is already its own worst enemy. Meanwhile, the Internet economy that bills such as SOPA and PIPA threaten to derail is a potential job creator the likes of which Hollywood could ever be…

…Not even all copyright holders are on board with SOPA and PIPA. During a panel discussion at CES, Casey Rae-Hunter of the Future of Music Coalition made a great point about how many musicians and independent artists rely on file-sharing sites to access files when they need them or to share works with possible collaborators or partners. That’s why, he said Fractured Atlas, the Writers Guild of America West, and other organizations representing the opera and theatre industries also opposed the bills.”