Sony, Nintendo pull Piracy Act support - Did Anonymous threat push decision?

Platform holders Sony Computer Entertainment and Nintendo, along with publisher EA have pulled support for the Stop Online Piracy Act introduced by the United States House of Representatives in October last year.

Creation of the bill is intended to "promote prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation by combating the theft of U.S. property, and for other purposes".

However, many have argued it is a threat to freedom of speech that could afford people the power to shut down websites at individual discretion, could be abused for cencorship purposes, and significantly impact user-generated content such as YouTube videos.

Although the three companies are no longer listed as supporters of the bill they are all still members of the Entertainment Software Association, which is still backing the bill.

Sony also has a presence through Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Music Nashville.

The withdrawal comes shortly after notorious hacking group Anonymous pledged to destroy Sony's network for providing its support to SOPA.

"Your support of the act is a signed death warrant to Sony Company and Associates. Therefore, yet again, we have decided to destroy your network. We will dismantle your phantom from the internet. Prepare to be extinguished. Justice will be swift, and it will be for the people, whether some like it or not," the group said in a statement.

Reports suggest Sony's console has been opened up to piracy again via a new PS3 hack.

Source: http://rss.computerandvideogames.com/c/674/f/8603/s/1b7a6a2b/l/0L0Scomputerandvideogames0N0C330A90A0A0Csony0Enintendo0Epull0Epiracy0Eact0Esupport0Edid0Eanonymous0Ethreat0Epush0Edecision0C0Dcid0FOTC0ERSS0Gattr0FCVG0EGeneral0ERSS/story01.htm

music awards music awards giants eagles bcs rankings week 13 bcs rankings week 13 philadelphia marathon rhodes scholar