SOPA protest gets intended effect
By Roger Yu, USA TODAY
Updated
The Internet community’s rally cry against anti-piracy legislation is triggering its intended effect,though the final outcome remains far from settled.
STAN HONDA, AFP/Getty Images
People hold signs at a protest by the group New York Tech Meetup outside the offices of U.S. Democratic Senators from New York Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand on Third Avenue in New York. Schumer and Gillibrand are co-sponsors of the Senate bill PIPA (Protect Intellectual Property Act).
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill were flooded with calls Wednesday morning in response to an online blackout by technology companies, including Wikipedia, Moveon.org, Reddit and thousands of other small sites protesting two related bills that would crack down on websites that use copyrighted materials and sell counterfeit goods. Some key lawmakers who’ve supported or co-sponsored the legislation are also backing off.
Many of the sites that went dark Wednesday explained the legislation and entreated users to call their representatives by listing their phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
