SOPA BLACKOUT

Wikipedia to go dark over SOPA legislation
Wikipedia plans to black out the English-language edition of its website for 24 hours on Wednesday to protest anti-piracy legislation before Congress, according to the group’s website on Tuesday.
The Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act — nicknamed SOPA and PIPA, respectively — are aimed at curtailing the pirating of U.S. intellectual property abroad. The bills enjoy particularly strong support from the film and music industries.

Internet companies, however, have argued that the bill will infringe upon freedom of speech and hurt future Web development. Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter, eBay and AOL have all come out against the legislation. Web sites such as Reddit and Boing Boing are likewise planning to turn off the lights on Wednesday, according to an Associated Press report.

The White House over the weekend came out against the legislation but suggested it was open to a revised bill tackling online privacy. Also, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, the influential Virginia Republican, said the bill won’t get to the floor of the House without “consensus” on the legislation.

– Val Brickates Kennedy

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