Why SOPA could change the UK tech scene.
I've been taking a strong stance against SOPA despite being based in the UK. Mainly because I have intentions to relocate to the US as soon as I my passport would allow me to.<p>However the passing of SOPA would change the UK tech scene greatly and for the good at that.<p>As it currently stands immigrants in the tech world will often decide that if relocating, the US is the best choice. You have the Bay, Boulder, NY and maybe even LA whereas we have Cambridge and London. Both of which are behind their US counterparts, gaining momentum if you listen to the UK commentators but this is simply in parallel to the US scene.<p>The passing off this bill will create a shift in momentum, it will peg the US behind greatly in the long term picture. (Of course it will remain a powerhouse in consumer spending and the UK won't get near touching that.) However in terms of protection and a legal advantage the UK will be more attractive. (Berlin is yet to catch the UK in the same way the UK is behind the US. But is a noteworthy mention.)<p>All it takes is one significant component of the US startup Eco-structure to focus more on the UK and the change will start to take shape. Of course that Eco-structure wasn't built in one year and it will not be broken in one year. (VC's will probably be the first to relocate focus due to the fact most have a presence here in the UK.)<p>This bill won't change anything for Facebook, Youtube and Twitter as we know. It will change the companies that aren't yet taking shape; the companies the next generation see as cool and hip.<p>(I'm not a expert on the SOPA bill in any shape or form, or the US political system at that.)<p>americancensorship.org