A lot of the problem with video piracy is that there is no digital distribution system for videos that is similar to iTunes (Netflix doesn't count because you don't "own" the right to the file)
The companies that are backing this legislation have spent 250 Million $ lobbying for SOPA/PIPA. With that kind of money these companies could have banded together and started a digital distribution system that would have put iTunes and Netflix to shame while splitting the profits in the process.
There are plenty of people that would pay 30-40$ monthly fee for a service similar to Netflix that allowed limited time access to a small number of new releases each month (for arguments sake let us say it’s 2 new releases per month available for the same weekend it opens in the box offices then it is removed from the service) if it was combined with a larger library than currently being offered by Netflix.
Also there are plenty of people that would use an iTunes like digital distribution system for video that would charge anywhere from 4$-10$ for each video (price would depend on how old the video was, quality of media, critical acclaim) then they would be able to “own” the digital file, similar to iTunes
It has a lot to do with business not adapting to the changing market place and wanting to stick with an antiquated business model
Keep in mind that SOPA/PIPA are re-writes of legislation, Senate Bill 1284 (National Information Infrastructure Copyright Act) that was introduced in 1996 which was 3 years after a 1993 Clinton Administration committee (Information Infrastructure Task Force) submitted a report called “The White Paper”.. It was introduced into the Senate by Leahy and Hatch who are the same people that submitted some of this current legislation (It’s kind of funny to me that the legislation from 1996 and SOPA/PIPA were all submitted by Democrats which often gets overlooked.. Also here is a link to the some of the above information that outlines the White Paper and Senate Bill 1284 indtroduced in 1996
https://www.msu.edu/user/kimyong2/copy.htm )
Max, I understand where you are coming from about protecting their property, I do happen to agree that companies should be able to protect their products, we have to keep in mind that these are the same companies that assemble the majority of their physical products in China, who has no respect for Patents or Copyright Laws so it would seem logical to me that they deal with the China aspect first.
Also this is a lot like the war on drugs... Pirates are going to pirate media no matter what the law states, it may stop the average Joe but the people that are the actual problem will not be affected by this in any way. The only people this law is going to hurt are going to be average user.
Also the vote on SOPA/PIPA wasn't completely shelved it was pushed back