Ask HN:Which is cheaper: a new technology or a new bill?

How much would it be to come up with a technology that accomplishes SOPA goals, but without sopa's bill?

How much have SOPA pushers/supporters spent on getting this bill to where it is today? How much would it cost SOPA pushers/supporters to implement the SOPA system?

How much will it cost SOPA pushers/supporters to maintain SOPA system on a yearly basis?

How much would it cost SOPA pushers/supporters to implement a system (the system before the would-be SOPA system) that would decrease pirating in such a way pushers/supporters would be satisfied? (on their own, with engineering and technology, without a bill)

How much will the SOPA bill/system make the SOPA pushers/supporters?

How many more people will purchase their unique viewing of a film versus pirating it, post passed SOPA?

Lets say a movie will have 100 unique viewers over a 1year span. Lets say that of those 100 unique views, 20 of them were not purchased views (pirated). That is pre SOPA scenerio. Now lets say SOPA bill/system exists; of the 100 unique viewers, how many purchased the content? All 100? 85? What is the goal? 100 unique views turns into 75?

I feel as I am missing something. Example: Smart guy runs multi-billion dollar business. Smart guy's business has problem. Smart guy rounds up engineers, produces solution to solve problem. Some guy runs multi-billion dollar business. Some guy's business has a problem. Some guy rounds up engineers. -scratch- .rounds up lobbyists? throws money at congress to solve problem? Problem doesn't have any other solution then a bill?

*SOPA pusher/supporter = individuals/organizations who have spent money getting this bill to where it is today. Prime example, MPAA.