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Major Internet Blackouts Planned for Wednesday January 18th - Will Active Rain Go Dark To Join The SOPA Protest?

By Kathy Clulow

Real Estate Sales Representative

January 17, 2012 08:54 AM

Major Internet Blackouts Planned for Wednesday January 18th - Will Active Rain Go Dark To Join The SOPA Protest

I went to Wikepedia to do some research Just now and was greated with a notice that it was shutting down for 24 hours in protest of new legislation in the United States

The Following Announcement caught my eye . Wikipedia is planning to black out the English language Wikipedia world wide for 24 hours starting at midnight tonight.

"Today, the Wikipedia community announced its decision to black out the English-language Wikipedia for 24 hours, worldwide, beginning at 05:00 UTC on Wednesday, January 18 (you can read the statement from the Wikimedia Foundation here).

In another article SOPA blackouts: Wikipedia, Google and Reddit join protes Canada.com talks about other major web sites that are also going dark to protest these two bills This blackout is a protest against proposed legislation in the United States — the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the U.S. Senate.

While I am unfamiliar with these bills there may be others here in the Rain who are more knowledgeable about them who are willing to share their knowledge.

Major Internet Blackouts Planned for Wednesday January 18th - Will Active Rain Go Dark To Join The SOPA Protest?

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Chris Hardy

Elevations Real Estate, LLC www.BuyFortCollinsHomes.com - Fort Collins, CO

Northern Colorado Real Estate

My understanding of this legislation is that while it was based on good intentions of providing protection to copyright holders, the film industry (Hollywood) and the problem with video piracy was the primary concern. However, the way the legislation was written gives the government broad powers to "flip the switch" on web-sites with alleged violations. In essence, these bills would pave the way for the government to be able to shut down large sections of the internet thereby protecting copyright holders at the expense of free speech. Look like it won't pass as President Obama spoke out against it and the MPAA has backed off of its position as well - largely due to the threat of going dark by Wikipedia and others.

Jan 17, 2012 09:29 AM

Kathy Clulow

Uxbridge, ON

Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Chris - if it does I don't suppose moving to servers outside the U S would make a difference

Jan 17, 2012 11:50 AM

Gene Riemenschneider

Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA

Turning Houses into Homes

I am glad that the President threatened a veto. At last something I can agree with him on.

Jan 17, 2012 02:24 PM

Kathy Clulow

Uxbridge, ON

Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Gene - sooner or later we all have someting in common with just about everyone else

Jan 17, 2012 03:17 PM

FN LN

Toronto, ON

Hi Kathy - I just went to Wikipedia to see if it was blacked out outside the USA and it is for the English version. I thought I had read that outside the USA it would not be blacked out but it seems to only not blacked out for non-English versions. Italian, for example, is readable.

Jan 17, 2012 04:30 PM

Kathy Clulow

Uxbridge, ON

Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Marc - English version world wide was my understanding

Jan 17, 2012 05:46 PM

Malcolm Johnston

Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON

Trenton Real Estate

We are entering into interesting times in regards to the internet Kathy. The fear that many people have is that large corporate and government interests will attempt to regulate and eventually take over the internet making it difficult for smaller operators to compete. We should all be watching these issues very closely, as they will affect us all very greatly.

Jan 18, 2012 01:57 AM

Kathy Clulow

Uxbridge, ON

Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Malcolm - indeed they will check out http://www.facebook.com/openmedia.ca

Jan 18, 2012 07:10 AM

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