The story with Paypal's stance on erotica continues to unfold across the internet. I thought I would do a quick round up on some of the more important essays and opinions on the topic.

Most Recent Updates:

Mark Coker, head of Smashwords, is in the process of issuing a rallying cry to the 'troops' in an effort to fight the moral censorship of Paypal and credit card companies. Please set up an account so you can receive his emails on the subject, and, while you're there, show your support by buying a book.
   
The National Coalition Against Censorship has weighed in with a letter to the CEO of Ebay. 

   "If PayPal's concerns were limited to restricting the sale of illegal content, the policy would beunnecessary, since it already holds users "independently responsible for complying with allapplicable laws in all of your actions related to your use of PayPal's services, regardless of the purpose of the use." However, the apparent purpose and clear effect of the policy is to prevent booksellers from distributing content that adults have a legal right to receive.Given PayPal'sdominant role in processing online transactions, the policy will have a dramatic effect on online sales of materials that do not even arguably qualify as obscene."

There's also a statement from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which highlights the insidious nature of corporate censorship. The US constitution protects Americans from government censorship, but there's no such recourse when companies act as censors. When it comes to corporations, people will only have as much freedom as they are willing to fight for.

Note, the links to the two petitions are at the end of this post. Please sign them. Corporations respond to numbers and, if we can amass a show of force, they will reconsider their position--they've been very responsive to petitions in the past.

Previous Updates:

Well known and respected erotica writer, Remittance Girl has "formally sent a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights, alleging the targeted commercial suppression of women's literature by PayPal on the grounds that it specifically stifles the free speech of a 'persecuted gender grouping'."  This is not something that the US court system would support, but the European legal system may take action as their laws on discrimination are quite different.

New York Times Bestselling author, Michael A. Stackpole has spoken out against Paypal.This is something that affects the entire industry and I'm grateful any time an author with a strong audience is willing to wade past the buzzwords Paypal has used to make their actions more palatable.

There have been too many traditionally published authors (as well as some indies) poo-pooing the independent casualties. Well, as you'll see if  you keep reading, Paypal is also targeting publishers with their morality sweep. Solidarity is the way to move forward. If you want to publish your story, you're going to have to accept some of the raunchier indie stuff too.

Confused on all the details? Not sure why anyone would support incest? Stephanie Draven has some great clarifications on the terms involved in this debate. She clears up confusion about whether this is censorship. A pet peeve of mine has been, whenever I say it's censorship, someone comes back with 'it's not the government doing this so it's not censorship.'

The First Amendment of the US Constitution does not own the word censorship nor provide its sole definition. There are academic sources covering different types of censorship, look them up. When a near corporate monopoly starts banning an entire genre and attempting to police fiction, that's censorship.

By the way, Paypal continues to sell all sorts of hard core porn across the internet. Apparently it's just erotica they have a problem with--Unless, of course, they decide to police sexual content in other genres, which is the slope we're sliding down at the moment.

And if you're looking for a humorous take on the issue, check out this link. Don't drink or eat while reading and, if you do, don't say I didn't warn you.

Lastly, I have reports from good sources that traditionally published books are being banned as well. This has spread beyond independent authors. There hasn't been any official word from affected parties and I don't know if there will be--my sense is publishers want to keep their heads down and off the chopping block. However, I hope they come forward and serve the greater good. Paypal cannot be allowed to dictate the content of fiction.

There are two petitions you can sign and don't think they don't help, they do. Paypal has been responsive to petitions in the past on GLBT rights issues. If we can make a show of force, we may turn the tide. Hopefully before your book is banned.

One is on Change. org.

Another one is on Care 2 Petition.