An update:

Just wanted to link to John Scalzi’s view on SOPA/PIPA which I am finding a lot of agreement with…

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/01/18/on-sopapipa-for-the-people-who-arent-blacked-out/

Especially his comments about it being like carpet bombing a street to take out one burglar.

This is an example of someone who knows more than me about US law and therefore has a valid opinion as opposed to my complete lack of knowledge of even UK law. What I know is teaching and so I shall stick to commenting on that and leave complex political issues to those with the skills to understand them.