January 16, 2011
The Right Scoop
In protest of SOPA, Wikipedia along with other internet giants Reddit, WordPress and Mozilla will participate in a 24 hour “web blackout” this Wednesday. CBS News Reports:
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has decided to join a protest of SOPA by shutting down his site on Wednesday.
Calling it a “decision of the Wikipedia community,” Wales said he plans to join other Web sites in ceasing operations to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act, a controversial antipiracy bill being debated in Congress.
Last week, the news site Reddit announced it would shut down for 12 hours on Wednesday to express its displeasure with SOPA and Protect IP, its Senate sister. Other sites, including the Cheezburger Network, home to massively popular Internet meme sites like I Can Has Cheezburger, have also said they will join the Web blackout.
The bills are heavily supported by a wide group of copyright owners, including the big record companies and Hollywood film studios. Copyright owners charge that online piracy has damaged their businesses and costs workers their jobs. However, Web companies and human rights groups have asserted that if the bills became law, they would rob the Web of free speech and damage the health of the Internet.
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