Two new laws proposed by US legislators, the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act, have been attracting a very negative reaction from the web community over the past couple of months, which is today culminating in a day of protests. Aiming to curtail copyright infringement on the web by giving the US government unprecedented new powers, both SOPA and PIPA have been rejected as overreaching and unhelpful laws that cannot coexist with a free and open internet.
The most outspoken protester of the bills today will be Wikipedia, whose English site will be going dark for the full 24 hours on January 18th, starting at midnight ET. It's also joined by Reddit, which will replace its usual "glorious, user-curated chaos" with a message noting its opposition to SOPA and PIPA, accompanied by links to more information about the bills and suggested ways to express your own dissatisfaction with them. Reddit will not be offering its regular service between the hours of 8AM ET and 8PM ET, which is also when Mozilla will be redirecting the Mozilla.org and Mozilla.com English webpages to a similar "action page" inviting users of its software to voice their concern. The Firefox landing page will also be altered to raise awareness. Finally, Google's search homepage is partaking in the protest by blacking out the Google logo, voicing the company's opposition to SOPA, and including a link for more information.
For the full list of websites taking action against SOPA and PIPA today, check out the SOPA Strike website. It includes such luminaries as the EFF, xda-developers, Minecraft.net, TwitPic, and even the Internet Archive. And, if you just can't live without Wikipedia for a full day, we might as well tell you that the mobile version of the site will remain active today, as first uncovered by the guys over at The Wall Street Journal.
Student warning!Do your homework early.Wikipedia protesting bad law on Wednesday! #sopa
— Jimmy Wales (@jimmy_wales) January 16, 2012
Craigslist is participating in today's proceedings by confronting visitors to its US sites with a "Stop PIPA and SOPA" splash page, which can be skipped to access the full site. The best SOPA protest page so far, however, comes from The Oatmeal, which features a poignant animated GIF that breaks the issue down in a humorous and relatable manner.
There are 167 Comments. Add yours.
It’s fun finding all the sites and seeing their creative ways of blacking out :>
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:16 AM EST reply Recommend (32) Flag actions
Wikipedia is the most effective one but I like Google’s the most.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:17 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Minecraft made me lol.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:18 AM EST reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
Damn… My friend gave me the full leaked list of sites participating in this blackout and the next blackout and I was pretty shocked… Even Facebook’s on there!
If you guys want to check out the list of blackout sites and the dates they’re blacking out, here’s the site I checked:
http://sopaprotest.com.nu
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:43 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Damn… My friend gave me the full leaked list of sites participating in this blackout and the next blackout and I was pretty shocked… Even Facebook’s on there!
If you guys want to check out the list of blackout sites and the dates they’re blacking out, here’s the site I checked:
sopaprotest .com . nu
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:43 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
SOPA must not mean that much to Google if they won’t even sacrifice one day of ad revenue for it.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 6:04 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
They wouldn’t want to black out their site. It’s not just because of ad revenue. I’m sure that news on the TV would be instructing viewers on how to use alternatives such as Bing so that they can still search the web. And those people who don’t know any better would think that Bing has replaced Google.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 6:40 AM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
Bing would be so excited
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 7:52 AM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
Bing, who I might add, has done nothing.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:52 AM EST reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
Yes, I was quite shocked when I got to Bing on my SOPA-blackout scavenger hunt. NOTHING, not even a tiny message or banner mentioning SOPA. At least Google has a page dedicated to it. This is probably why Google didn’t black out. I’m sure they would have if Microsoft had done so as well.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:58 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Don’t be shocked….guess who is pro-sopa? Microsoft….who runs bing…is pro-sopa…here’s a list of for and against if your interested on following up on it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organizations_with_official_stances_on_the_Stop_Online_Piracy_Act
Posted on Jan 23, 2012 | 5:37 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It would not only be Google’s revenue – that would mean millions of dollars in lost revenue for their advertisers too. People rely on Google’s ad platform to generate sales and leads for their businesses. It would be totally irresponsible for Google to do something which would harm so many other businesses.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:25 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
It could also hurt other businesses who use Google as their sites search engine or even like a company I know that uses Google as their ping site to check for network connectivity. It could have caused some major damage and backlash but it would have been a sight to behold. I can see why they did it how they did but it really would have made people pay attention. I’m hoping what is currently happening does this though.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:52 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Well he probably meant Google blacking out their homepage, not pulling the plug on their services.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 8:49 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Wordpress.org is pretty in your face, I liked that one quite a bit, because they hide the link to their website at the very bottom after a mass of text and videos opposing SOPA.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:55 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It’s not Google, it’s Firefox. Google.com has only a tiny sentence under the search field.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:57 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
And they have the Google logo completely blocked out (i.e., censored).
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:35 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
The first ever Google Doodle to not include the word Google in it as well I believe.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:38 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Google doesn’t control that page, Mozilla does.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:58 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
No, the Google home page(i.e. not the Firefox one, but the one that everybody uses) has a Google Doodle for today with the logo blacked out. You might have a custom Google background, and that is why you are not seeing it. Try clicking on the 4 colored dots next to the Google logo.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 5:02 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Unless you’re seeing something different… Google does serve you different pages based on your location…
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 5:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This is what the U.S. Google homepage looked like yesterday.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 8:49 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I like XDA’s.. They said a 12 hour black out or 50,000 signatures whichever comes first.. And the 50,000 signatures should be up any minute now..
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:54 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
And it’s back
http://www.xda-developers.com/announcements/xda-is-back-sopapipa-still-a-threat/
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:55 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Imgur is really effective.. thumbnails are visible bu the actual image has the “this has been censored” image. SCARY!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 5:10 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
IT BEGINS!!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:18 AM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
Google’s quite good
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:18 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yeah :)
BTW, everyone should go here: http://google.com/takeaction and sign a petition against SOPA.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:11 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Or better yet, call you senator.
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:51 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Facebook should have changed their site from blue to black as a form of token protest.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:18 AM EST reply Recommend (33) Flag actions
Facebook doesn’t care.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:26 AM EST reply Recommend (13) Flag actions
Yep thats why i do not have a Facebook account, and will never have a Facebook account, ever!
Not because they don’t join the strike, but because they don’t care, ever.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 5:46 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Or maybe they just don’t want to preach their beliefs to others?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 5:51 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It’s not religion, it’s public policy for Pete’s sake.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:06 AM EST reply Recommend (16) Flag actions
I want to meet this Pete guy…everyone always seems so concerned about him.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:53 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Shall I assume you don’t know which Pete that phrase is referencing? Let me link to the Wikip—oh wait…
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:07 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I know Pete, nice guy, the kind of friend you can really count on, steady as a rock! He seems to really thrive on all the things done for his sake!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 7:25 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
From https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/sopa-pipa/
“Law-abiding U.S. internet companies would have to monitor everything users link to or upload or face the risk of time-consuming litigation. That’s why AOL, EBay, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Mozilla, Twitter, Yahoo and Zynga wrote a letter to Congress saying these bills "pose a serious risk to our industry’s continued track record of innovation and job-creation."”
Facebook does care.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 6:51 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Because Facebook would have no way to monitor all their users, and would be on the list of one of the first sites that are breaking the law. Most of the other sites are in the same position, but it doesn’t mean Facebook cares. They would just have to alter their business model so much that it would probably not be worth it.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:19 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Facebook’s business model is basically “people share stuff, we watch and sell incredibly focused ads.”
What do you think they have left if people can’t share stuff? Not a whole lot, unless people are going to answer unending questionnaires about their preferences.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
actions > words
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:22 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I know it’s all very well and good and trendy to say that Facebook hates all of its users, but if you don’t think they care about a law that could require them to pre-screen every single thing that gets posted to make sure it doesn’t infringe on copyright, or get their all of their ad revenue stripped before they get a chance to prove that they’re innocent, you’re daft.
Also, Facebook has already explicitly come out against the law. If you’re going to go after them for not protesting, I’m assuming you’re going to have just as much vitriol for Twitter?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:19 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
They should.. It could effect them tremendously
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:56 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
the average age of senators in congress is 65. This is like having your parents deciding what to do with the internet
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:25 AM EST reply Recommend (25) Flag actions
Unfortunately yet another sign that politicians are well out of touch with reality.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:27 AM EST reply Recommend (14) Flag actions
The lawmakers’ age is quite irrelevant. It’s their ignorance and outmoded way of thinking that’s the problem.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:31 AM EST reply Recommend (30) Flag actions
They’re smart enough to know that filtering search results is the right way to stop piracy.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 6:02 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Which will only slow down some casual piracy. The real, rampant piracy won’t go away until/unless the big content creators realize they need to adapt to current technologies for content delivery.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 8:32 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
No they need to increase the quality of their content.. Why the hell do new Country songs sound similar to new Hip-Hop songs.. Why the hell are half of the new TV shows reality.. Why is every new movie a f%^king 80’s remake?
If you make content that people care about and love they will buy it..
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:59 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You mean the corporate media lobbyists who wrote the bills are smart enough to know that. Most of the sponsors don’t even know how to use e-mail (see Mel Watt, etc).
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:10 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It slows down the casual piracy for people who wouldn’t necessarily even be pirating if media companies would just give them what they want.
When Joe Regular Guy can’t find streaming episodes of The Big Bang Theory on Netflix, but can find it through a Google search, he’s going to go where he can find it. It’s possible to compete with piracy if you try. The media companies aren’t even trying. They’re just suing the shit out of everyone.
Piracy is a problem, but it’s a business problem. We don’t need to break the fucking internet to deal with it.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:20 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yeah… And people will forget the words ThePirateBay.org, torrentfreak and others…
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:24 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I disagree. What are the chances for someone in your age group to memorize all of Justin Beiber lyrics? There may be some, but not the majority.
I think that at that age you’re way less willing to change your way of thinking. It’s still their job to know about the things they’re trying to regulate tho.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:12 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
My parents aren’t as corrupt as Congress or as paid for by the music and motion picture industries though.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:55 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Hey there..I am 61 and have been on the internet for 20 years. I am more of an activist than my 2 sons who are probably your age :>) BUT I could never be a politician.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:04 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Internet’s been around since 94’… How have you been on for 20 years?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:27 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Internet has been around much longer than that, around 84 or so, so yes it is 20 years old. The web, which is part of the internet, was born around 93 or so.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:17 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Wiki mobile version is still available
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:27 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Boycott it pal.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:29 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I was just curious. I don’t need Wiki today.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:31 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
If you did and didn’t want to disable javascript as a commentor below stated, you could just go to wikipedia in a foreign language and have Google Chrome translate it for you. EX: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOPA
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:54 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It is a work around, however often articles do not have the same content in other languages.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 8:54 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Why? The idea is to raise awareness for SOPA and PIPA. He’s aware, so why does he need to boycott it?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:42 AM EST reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
“Boycott” would not be the right word here.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:35 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Thy explain that one on the bottom of this page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:SOPA_initiative/Learn_more
"The Wikipedia community, as part of their request to the Wikimedia Foundation to carry out this protest, asked us to ensure that we make English Wikipedia accessible in some way during an emergency. The English Wikipedia will be accessible on mobile devices and smart phones. Because the protest message is powered by JavaScript, it’s also possible to view Wikipedia by completely disabling JavaScript in your browser."
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:23 AM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
Only the main EN version is blacked out, everything else works just fine and show a black banner with link at the top.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:28 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You can also just hit escape before the sopa splash page loads.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:01 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Wikipedia is still working for me via the iPhone app Articles.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:27 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Don’t use it.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:29 AM EST reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
I don’t plan on it but it is interesting they didn’t black out the mobile version.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:34 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Why?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:36 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
To prove a point.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:09 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
They probably left it up for all the students who have a big project due the 19th.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 6:59 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
To see how you like censorship. They wouldn’t take down Wikipedia pages, but this would give you an idea of being censored.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 8:18 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
cyanogenmod is also blacked out (white out?) http://www.cyanogenmod.com/
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:27 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
& Twitter, Fbook? They in? The silence from their end is deafening
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:29 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
People, please also look at the OPEN bill that is also in Congress, it is just as bad as PIPA and SOPA if not worse. If we just keep talking about PIPA and SOPA, they might quietly past OPEN. OPEN is the Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act and is proposed by Darrel Issa. Please read the bill and oppose it. Here is a link explaining it. http://blog.curry.com/stories/2012/01/16/sopaIsARedHerring.html
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:33 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I think you should read the post again.
“Of the three proposals, OPEN appears most fair to all parties in any dispute, by requiring a complainant to post a bond when requesting an investigation of infringement in order to combat frivolous use of the provisions available.”
If anything, I think the point made about ICANN is interesting. I never trusted them and knowing that the head of ICANN has DHS ties makes that even worse.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:09 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
So big companies pay some trivial bond instead of getting it for nothing, whilst individuals cannot afford to actually protect their IP? That sounds like the opposite of effective. Basically, you can steal as much content as you want, provided it’s made by independent producers who can’t afford the takedown notice.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:54 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
In fact, that’s tantamount to introducing a cost to copyright, something which is barred by the Berne convention.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:55 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I would have expected Facebook to do something similar. They and Twitter are, perhaps, the two sites that would be the most affected if such legislation passes…
Also, quick tip: if click on (or go directly to) an article on Wikipedia, but quickly click the ‘stop loading’ button on your browser right before the page loads, you are able to view any article. :)
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:42 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Yes, but we do not want to. We are supporting Wikipedia on their stand, not finding ways to get past it.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:46 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If you are already part of the movement and already made your voice heard to your representatives (and properly spread the word, of course), then purposely not having access (by knowing this little trick) to articles is completely inconsequential to the effect Wikipedia’s blackout will have on SOPA/PIPA to those who do not know the trick.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:22 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
you can also get it by disabling javascript in your browser. or going to a foreign wikipedia site (and have your browser auto-translate it). EX: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOPA
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:56 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Note, however, that all special functions (editing, uploading, etc) are unavailable.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:23 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Problem is Facebook and Twitter are worldwide operations, and blacking them out for the sake of an american bill would be a bit too much. Of course they could do something like change color/layout or create a “paid” trending topic / put an anti-SOPA advert on the right side… Still, they couldn’t bring the site down because they survive on ads and surely the people paying for the ads wouldn’t like it. Wikipedia doesn’t have ads so it can do whatever it wants.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:28 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yeah they’re worldwide operations, but laws in the U.S of A. are frameworks for laws all around the globe. If SOPA and PIPA pass over here, you can be sure that similar bills will emerge throughout the world.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:37 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It’s not really so much about they losing a few dollars for blacking out. Its pretty much the potential loss of their business model; you know, the freedom to say anything you want in 140 characters. If this legislation passes, Twitter specially, will be greatly damaged and its users will feel threatened to post anything.
I would actually argue that Twitter hosts more copyrighted pictures and links than Wikipedia itself. Seeing them not taking action really tells me it’s all about the money now. Open internet to them is just a business, not an open medium. And that’s sad.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If you have JavaScript disabled, Wikipedia loads normally.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:47 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
lol; smart.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:27 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
All of you need to just stop and think about this for one moment. Instead of trying to find Wikipedia’s weaknesses or any other sites’ weaknesses so that you can use their services, you should think about why they’re doing this in the first place.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:50 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
you’re right Spike you should think about why they are doing this.
They are doing this to raise awareness on the matter of PIPA and SOPA (With an in your face message) not to prevent users from using their site, hence why they explain ways to still access Wikipedia on their About SOPA page. (and it states it in the verge article)
There is nothing wrong with using their site. If you want to support their cause then share the info about sopa with your friends
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:54 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The Verge, please join the strike!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:02 AM EST reply Recommend (9) Flag actions
As much as The Verge and Reddit are apart of my daily routine, I agree with ericribellarsi’s post. I think a blackout would be welcoming, if not a total blackout, maybe something along the lines of what Google’s doing.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:13 AM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
Blackout is blacout, news sites could make it a day of SOPA related editorials.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:26 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I agree. The Verge should join the initiative, or at least pronounce itself about its position on this debate.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 7:07 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The Verge may be better off focusing as a news source when people try to find out why the other sites are down. They may have more impact than if they blacked out themselves.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:12 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I agree. 99% of people who visit The Verge are already aware of the consequences of SOPA/PIPA, so it blacking out the site wouldn’t help the cause much. Rather, it should remain a source of news regarding blackouts of other sites.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:40 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
What Eric said.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:45 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
changed my site up today to protest.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:17 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
http://betajunk.com
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:18 AM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
Wikipedia still works fine. Just hit your browser’s ‘stop’ icon before it redirects and you’re all set
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:43 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This is already spreading quickly but needs to spread even quicker so its all over the web by tomorrow, while these protests are still taking place, and as we all know, this stuff starts with people like us… http://videogamewriters.com/gamebrarian/files/2012/01/sopa-logo2.jpg facebook profile picture., go!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 1:57 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
whether we like it or not, a bill similar to these will pass. I just hope it’s the Protect IP bill
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:09 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
craigslist is participating as well.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:12 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
how to get around wikipedia blackout in 2 simple steps: https://plus.google.com/u/0/117280783042153537668/posts
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:39 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
They forgot to block this page…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:46 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I do think it is important for them to do this, however I wish they were only blocking traffic from the United States and not based on language as there are english readers outside of the United States and non-english readers within.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:50 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I think this is wrong.
(I’m against SOPA btw)
But I still think this is wrong. Those companies / sites / people are forcibly shaping popular opinion, by denying access to their networks or by trying to make unsupported claims that they won’t be able to operate anymore after this bill would pass.
I know when emotions are involved you tend to not think about these things, but you think it’s right that someone who knows nothing about SOPA is confronted in this manner and is already told what to believe?
So SOPA is something that most wouldn’t agree with, so what if they did this for gày marriage, what if all sites did a blackout because they are against gày people getting married?
That would be ok too then right, since it’s their sites and their opinion?
Or do you simply agree with this tactic because it’s a subject you agree with? How is it right to forcibly shape someone’s opinion like that without that person making an opinion on their own?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:23 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
They are raising their voices, because SOPA would probably mean that their site wouldn’t exist any longer.
“How is it right to forcibly shape someone’s opinion like that without that person making an opinion on their own?”
No one FORCES them to think so. You don’t get a gun put onto your head. You don’t pay for these sites. You just get a message and information. You can still decide otherwise.
I’m not from the US, but I think this is the least one can do. Facebook and Twitter should really participate.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:45 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
FUD
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 6:05 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yes, the bill is quite FUD-inducing.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:43 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This manner of protest is demonstrating what it might be like in a world where the worst of SOPA and PIPA take effect.
Is it extreme? Sure. Obtrusive? Definitely, and certainly not all protest should be. However, this is a difficult point to get across and explain, especially to a generation that is generally known for its apathy.
We got their attention the first time because when news of this bill really started making rounds, people who normally would have done nothing otherwise were moved to action.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:47 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Through out history boycotts and blackouts have been used effectively as a way to get people talking and thinking about the issues at hand. Look at the boycott on the Montgomery buses, the north African boycott, and the Olympic boycott where to same government that is purposing this bill used this tactic to stand up and say….. “this is not an ok thing.” It’s not a force moment to make you think there way and wiki left the SOPA and PIPA legislation links up now if you find it bias go look it up somewhere else. The goal was to raise awareness of the things that unfortunately fall through the cracks with main stream america because we don’t take the time to keep up with the things that are law makers are doing. The goal of making people stop and think has been met and that was the entire reason for wiki, google, and all that others to do this.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:03 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Wikipedia is fine in the UK, as it should be. You guys in America seem to have censorship laws which would impress even the Chinese these days. Land of the free? Not so much…
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:29 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
No, Wikipedia is not fine in the UK. It is blocked unless you have javascript disabled.
Also, we are hardly in a great position to gloat about censorship given the recent extension of Cleanfeed’s remit, not to mention the chilling effect of our draconian “guilty until you prove yourself innocent” libel laws..
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:42 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Why isn’t The Verge participating? TRAITORS!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:35 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Their “big story” iz the blackout, 99% of Verge visitors already know about SOPA. By running this story, they are helping.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:30 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Light up their phones in congress
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:43 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Call the white house too White House is 202-456-1111
Let our government know that SOPA and PIPA are failures and the Open Act is much better.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:43 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
https://blacklist.eff.org/
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:33 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Amazon’s little slice of ant-SOPA isn’t very attractive. The only reason I noticed it was because I went there just to see if they were supporting it today.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:09 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
EDIT: anti-SOPA*
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:10 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
comedy’s been blacked out, shame.
http://www.theoatmeal.com
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:31 AM EST reply Recommend (16) Flag actions
I didn’t even have to get to the bottom of the image to know who make this gif.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:03 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
*made. They’re blacking out the rumored edit button!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:05 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Nothing from you guys? There’s a time for being a journalist and not taking a side, but that time is not now. I’d expect this out of AOL, but I thought you guys decided that you weren’t just gonna pretend you’re totally unbiased, soulless newsbots, and actually show us some opinion and spirit and passion. It’ll be disappointing if you don’t do anything.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 4:47 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Oh come on, they are a news website.
What exactly do you want from The Verge?
“Switch from orange to black”? – That’s as good as changing your avatar, which means that no politician will give a damn.
“Blackout”? – As I said, this is a news website, with news and ads to make a living. Plenty of articles here already said SOPA and PIPA are bad things, and the only comments who support them are clearly astroturfers.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 5:48 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The people who oppose SOPA and PIPA are all pirates or profit from piracy (like Google.)
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 6:07 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
really?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 6:48 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Nice try News Corp. The only people who support SOPA/PIPA are the ones that get to fuck everyone else over with it.
Just because Mozilla makes a browser that can access pirated material, does not mean that they profit from piracy.
Wikipedia takes down copyrighted material that didn’t get permission to be used.
Illegal Reddit comments are usually deleted by moderators.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 7:10 AM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
astroturfer
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 8:34 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
So you wrote the bills right? This comment being brash and generalizing and all.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:08 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The INTERNET always finds a way…
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 5:47 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Much like nature and T-Rex’s.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:35 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It is tangential to the discussion really but I find the Wikipedia concept of community kinda laughable.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 7:25 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Mozilla should provide a black search page like that long term but without the SOPA stuff as I like the look. Results to be also shown on black page, search provider to be selectable AND features such as googles instant search and search results webpage preview disabled + all the other krap I don’t care about like google+ etc etc so essentially a custom search provider agnostic search system…just back to pure simple search…..I miss old google.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 7:28 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I have a hunch that all these shenanigans are for naught. SOPA will pass, if not now, later. Can’t fight the lobbyists.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 7:29 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Love the oatmeal’s gif, it made me laugh. Thought it was really good. As much as I hate SOPA, it seems to have brought so many together on the internet. Wether you be an apple, android or windows lover, pretty much everybody is together against this.
Die, sopa.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 7:54 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
XDA is dark
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 8:05 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
rootzwiki too
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 8:56 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’d love to see some of these companies go even further and state that if SOPA is passed they will willfully violate/ignore it. When the government goes too far it is the people’s responsibility to push back.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 8:50 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The Verge couldn’t even add a black background or a banner with links to there website to show support?
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 8:56 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Wordpress is also blacked out!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:00 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Vlad Savov, what a dreadful Americanism! In Britain we don’t protest things, we protest against them…
Yeah yeah, I know, the Verge is US-based. It just seemed a bit out of character for Vlad.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:06 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Oatmeal sums it up pretty well.
http://theoatmeal.com/sopa
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:15 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:29 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This is just terrible….SOPA is the equivalent of curing a headache with a guillotine. It may stop piracy, but it would shut down our economy and unconstitutionally erode our most basic freedoms in the process.
I just hope that everyone realizes how important this is and does their part to save the internet & our economy!
1,000s of more websites have joined the force and went dark today, we need EVERYONES help!!!!
http://www.peeje.com/peeje-goes-strike-stop-web-censorship-bills-congress-209/
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:28 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
http://www.xda-developers.com/sopa/
XDA developers black out too.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:49 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Looks like The Technolon is protesting SOPA also. They changed their logo.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:14 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The escapist ,xkdc and nedroid are also protesting SOPA.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:28 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
This is what it says:
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:28 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Just a small thing… not sure if it was mentioned here but if you want to get to wikipedia the just hit escape as the page is loading.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 11:44 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I keep laughing at all the people who say the Wikipedia blackout is so ineffective because it can be circumvented, because they are stupid enough to think that Wikipedia does not do it on purpose. Whoever can circumvent it knows enough about computers to already know what he has to about SOPA/PIPA. He is not who Wikipedia is trying to shake up.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 12:22 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Most ‘non-tech’ type of people won’t notice this but:
IF you’re fast enough, click stop while the Wiki page you want is loading, before it redirects you to the blackout page, and you can still access whatever you want.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
We know. Half the comments say this, myself included. :)
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This is awesome. Good to see widespread anti-support of SOPA/PIPA. I just hope these entities push on the source of SOPA. The media conglomerate. They are the source of these legislation bills.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:21 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Use Google’s cached pages feature to access Wikipedia
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 2:47 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I am totally against if any government will use the same technology as those countries i,e, China, Iran do to block internet users to visit any website. Everyone needs 100% internet freedom. We are free to share and talk and write!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 3:38 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Everybody needs to calm down for Christ sake “Oh no Wikipedia is down” “Oh no i cant illegally download episodes of Friends” JUST CALM DOWN! If you cant use Wiki why don’t you open a GOD DAMN BOOK FOR CHRIST SAKE!
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 5:07 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Pirates are criminals and they can always find their way around a law. This law will be but an inconvience to them. It is the rest of us that will be affected, the 99, again.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 5:22 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
FreelanceDesignz.com joined the long list of websites and businesses that are participating in the Blackout Strike! Their CEO Stated “If passed, the SOPA and PIPA acts could have a major negative impact on our business, the business of our clients, and the business of other reputable companies in our industry. Further more, the current economic state of the United States could not, can not, and will not withstand such tyranny!”
http://freelancedesignz.com/2012/01/18/stop-censorship/
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 7:07 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
That should be “Furthermore.”
Also, the shrill hyperbole undermines the argument.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 7:34 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
this violates our constitutional rights as united states citizens. this is crazy i have papers to write for my classes…..
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 7:34 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
█ ████████ ██████ ██████████ ██ ████ ██ ████ ██████████ ██. ███ ███ This post has been found in violation of H.R. 3261, S.O.P.A and has been removed.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Ron Paul is the only GOP candidate to publicly denounce SOPA and PIPA, as of this evening.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:13 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Day9 is also supporting this: http://day9.tv/live/
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 10:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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