It looks like Wednesday's SOPA Blackout Day should be considered a success: Reuters is reporting that the Stop Online Piracy Act has been withdrawn by its chief sponsor, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith. This comes only hours after Senator Harry Reid announced that next Tuesday's scheduled vote on the Protect IP Act (PIPA) was going to be postponed. While the SOPA bill is off the table for now, there's no indication that it's being completely abandoned — Smith told Reuters that he's pulling the measure "until there is wider agreement on a solution," and also said that he has heard the critics loud and clear and is taking their concerns seriously.
Since the proponents of SOPA and PIPA have indicated that they're still very interested in pushing through an anti-piracy bill in some form, the latest moves indicate more of a holding pattern than a final resolution. We will closely monitor the situation as Congress mulls new legislation that's more likely to have a chance at passing a vote.
T.C. Sottek contributed to this report.

There are 71 Comments. Add yours.
Amazing
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:51 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
They’re just going to come up with a better bill.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:55 PM EST reply Recommend (13) Flag actions
"better"**
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:58 PM EST reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
You mean a slightly less awful bill, with the money the media companies throw at lobbyist it’s unlikely it will be in the people’s best interests.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:58 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
+1
This is great news
but we’re not out of the woods yet
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:06 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yup. That’s exactly how it’s standing with OPEN Act right now.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 3:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Well, as long as We, The People let our voices be heard loud and clear at least we have a fighting chance against the damn corporations.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 6:47 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You mean like the OPEN Act? Yeah, we should probably rally against that one in a hurry also.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:58 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
The next step to protect the Internet and prevent SOPA from coming back is to remove Rep. Lamar Smith from office. We may have won the battle but Smith has the support of MPAA Lobbyists.
#removelamar
Posted on Jan 21, 2012 | 1:47 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
YEAH !!!
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:54 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:57 PM EST reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
Yatta!
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:00 PM EST reply Recommend (27) Flag actions
Posted on Jan 21, 2012 | 3:34 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Great!
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:56 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Good. SOPA/PIPA didn’t go far enough.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:56 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
lolwut
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:06 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:07 PM EST reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 3:00 PM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
“Author” is a bit strong, no? We all know the MPAA and RIAA wrote the bill.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:56 PM EST reply Recommend (28) Flag actions
The same Lamar Smith that figured it would end up passing anyway just two days ago?
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:56 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Good job, Internet!
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:57 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
“But this is America. Justice belongs to the rich!”
-Montgomery Burns
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:58 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Nobody touches our internets.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 1:59 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Unless it’s the fucking DoJ…
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:00 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Fuck.Yes.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Small victory yes… But I fear the battle is far from over!
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:02 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
Love this.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Alright everybody, you know what to do, start posting some celebratory animated GIFs!
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:03 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:05 PM EST reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:08 PM EST reply Recommend (14) Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:14 PM EST reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
I know 99% of the internet is gonna hate me., but…. this is for you, Joanna!

Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:15 PM EST reply Recommend (9) Flag actions
That’s some scary shit dude.. How do I remove this from my brain?
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 4:52 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Matous… I hate you almost as much as I hate Chris Dodd now.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 5:46 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 3:39 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 6:39 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Bring out the Moet!
Posted on Jan 21, 2012 | 1:31 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Being a creative individual, yeah I’m very concerned about piracy of my stuff, but anybody with half a brain could straight up see that bill was complete bullshit.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:03 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’ve been thinking about Lamar Smith, SOPA and how he’s a republican from Texas (I’m aware this isn’t a party issue, but hear me out). He’s uber pro gun as expected. One of the biggest arguments made in gun debates is “guns don’t kill people, people kill people”, which tries to illustrate how dangerous things exist, but it’s ultimately up to the people to be held responsible for their actions.
SOPA is a direct contradiction to this philosophy as it holds no one accountable and tries to take the gune (ie; the internet) away from the users.
Which would lead me to the following proposal:
“The Internet doesn’t pirate content, people pirate content.”
This statement is obviously not enabled in the SOPA bill, which brings up an interesting contradiction in policy and moral judgement on Mr. Smiths part. Either he disagrees with himself on a basic issue or he’s being paid to speak in one voice because you can’t honestly believe both stances, can you?
In either case, Mr. Smith is a tool and I hope the people of Texas can give him a swift kick in the butt with the proverbial cowboy boot.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:05 PM EST reply Recommend (13) Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:08 PM EST reply Recommend (15) Flag actions
Haha this made my day!
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:09 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
When you’re forward you don’t see the bluish/greenish background behind him so it looks extra cool lol
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 7:06 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
So hyped right now, don’t mess with the web.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
We shouldn’t be celebrating yet. Its not over until the people in support of this bill are voted out of congress, and don’t think Rep. Smith is going to give up that easily.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:21 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
And don’t forget about PIPA.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:22 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
We won the day. Well done folks.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:29 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Bookmarked this article for the coolest triumph GIFs in comments :)
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:39 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
release date announcement for the Galaxy Nexus was even better.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:41 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Which is actually pretty sad.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:54 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
there, there. don’t cry.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 3:19 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:40 PM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
I read the “for now” in the headline with ominous music behind it
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 2:54 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Well I’ve now learned that tabled means both to put a bill up for discussion, in a parliamentary system… or, in the American system, to take it out of discussion. That’s… foolish.
table – verb [ with obj. ]
1. postpone consideration of: I’d like the issue to be tabled for the next few months.
2. Brit.present formally for discussion or consideration at a meeting: an MP tabled an amendment to the bill.
Was going to comment that the headline seemed to mean the opposite thing of what was intended. As it turns out… it just means both things at the same time.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 3:10 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Same here; I’m an American, and I’d always thought “tabling” meant the British version. Thanks for actually looking it up before I made an a** of myself.
Posted on Jan 21, 2012 | 4:24 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yes, we won this battle but the war is far from over. We need to start working on discrediting some of the lies and exaggerations being tossed about by the proponents. My face twitches every time I see some otherwise decent source repeat the obviously unproven “Beeeillions” quote. Why are so many reliable sources simply repeating this? Closer to the truth is probably that the big media companies lose about as much to unlawful infringement in the U.S. as they spend on lobbyists each year. Let’s set the tone here folks.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 4:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Best respect community bitches!! :P
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 4:50 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
In this case, “tabling” = putting this legislation away until we can figure out how to attach it to a critical spending bill without anyone noticing.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 5:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 5:51 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
But what about Megaupload?
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 6:32 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
We’re definitely not out of the woods yet. At the end of the day, its inevitable to prevent lawmakers from passing new laws to combat piracy. SOPA, was a shitty attempt to do so. There has to be a more feasable solution to deal with online piracy without censorship of the internet. Until that has happened, we have to keep fighting
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 6:48 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
You could say he dropped the SOPA?
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 7:19 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m sure SOPA will be re-named the “Protect Jesus’ America from Online Terrorism Act” and snuck in at the eleventh hour for a hasty vote.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 8:53 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Well done America! You guys aren’t too bad when you work together! :)
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 10:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yes! Where’s that mathew hudec troll now?
Posted on Jan 21, 2012 | 1:35 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Round 2…. Begin!
Posted on Jan 21, 2012 | 2:04 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Awesome! ;)
Posted on Jan 21, 2012 | 10:40 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Wait, don’t you mean Shelved? I thought tabling means to put an issue up for discussion (putting it on the table), unless this is another weird American english thing?
Posted on Jan 22, 2012 | 1:47 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
it’s nice to see an online protest actually have some clout for once!
gw guys
Posted on Jan 22, 2012 | 2:48 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
SOPA and PIPA probably won’t even matter since ACTA is still floating around and was hidden by the current administration as a threat to national security until people within the EU started leaking documents.
Posted on Jan 22, 2012 | 8:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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