The US Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (Pipa) are proposed to be debated by Congress in a week. The legislation would allow the Justice Department and content owners to seek court orders requiring search engines to block results associated with piracy.
The bill is too broad and so badly written that it will destroy the internet’s value of communicating and sharing ideas and knowledge.
Many sites will protest the bills with a blackout. (Go here to learn more.)
Wikipedia is one of the most outspoken. The message replacing the normal Wikipedia front page says:
“For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopaedia in human history. Right now, the US Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia.”
BBC Wikipedia joins blackout protest at US anti-piracy moves
In pictures: Sopa and Pipa protests see the web go dark
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16608314