Stop Online Piracy Act
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/SOPA.pdf/page1-220px-SOPA.pdf.jpg)
TheStop Online Piracy ActorSOPAwas aproposedAmericanlawto stopcopyright infringementon theInternet.
The Internet community had major discussion over it in 2011 and 2012, but the bill was not passed.[1]Some experts said the proposed changes to the internet would have worldwide effects.[2]
Many critics said it would have badunintended consequences.[3]
Protest[change|change source]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Wikipedia_Blackout_Screen.jpg/220px-Wikipedia_Blackout_Screen.jpg)
Some people andbusinessessupported the new law. Others were alarmed. Supporters worried that current copyright laws are not effective in shutting down piracy websites. The opponents worried that it is a kind ofcensorship.[4]It is hard to tell which side is correct because the language in the law is still being written.
TheEnglish Wikipediamasked most of its pages with a banner on January 18, 2012.[5]They usedJavaScriptto do this, which means that people could avoid the banner by just disabling JavaScript in their browser.[6]The Wikipedia blackout isintendedto spotlight the value of open access to information on the Internet.[7]
Otherwebsitesjoined protests against SOPA.[8]For example,Googleput up a black censor board in front of itslogo.[9]
Many critics questioned the value and likely effects of the protests.[10]Some people questioned the timing of the protests.
Related pages[change|change source]
References[change|change source]
- ↑Jones, Melanie."What is SOPA Bill 2012? 7 Things to Know About Controversial Legislation,"International Business Times(US), January 18, 2012;McCullah, Declan."How SOPA would affect you: FAQ,"CNET (US), January 18, 2012; retrieved 2012-1-18.
- ↑Seibt, Sébastian."SOPA et PIPA tentent d’imposer au monde une vision américaine du droit d’auteur,"France24/RFI, 18 January 2021; retrieved 2012-1-18.(in French)
- ↑Espinel, Victoriaet al."Combating Online Piracy while Protecting an Open and Innovative Internet,"White House (US). January 14, 2012; Friedman, Allan A."Cybersecurity in the Balance: Weighing the Risks of the PROTECT IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act,"Archived2012-01-03 at theWayback MachineBrookings(US), November 15, 2011; retrieved 2012-1-18.
- ↑Azarova, Kaerina."Wikipedia blackout: 24-hour strike against SOPA, PIPA is on,"RT(Russia), 18 January, 2012; retrieved 2012-1-18.
- ↑Kaszor, Daniel."Why is Wikipedia offline and what is SOPA?"National Post(Canada), January 17, 2012;English Wikipedia anti-SOPA blackoutArchived2012-01-17 at theWayback Machine;retrieved 2011-1-18.
- ↑Melanie Pinola.[1]Archived2012-01-19 at theWayback Machine"How to Access Wikipedia During the Anti-SOPA Blackout" ]; retrieved 2011-1-18.
- ↑Goodale, Gloria."Wikipedia blackout: Why even supporters question anti-SOPA move,"Christian Science Monitor(US). January 17, 2012; retrieved 2012-1-18.
- ↑"Loi antipiratage américaine: RSF ferme son site en anglais en signe de protestation,"L'Express(France). 18 January 2011; Hourdeaux, Jérôme."Ce mercredi, c'est la 'Journée de la censure américaine'',"Nouvel Observateur(France). 11 November 2011; retrieved 2012-1-18.(in French)
- ↑Tsykayama, Hayley."SOPA protests planned by Google, Wikipedia and others on Jan. 18,"Washington Post(US), January 17, 2012; retrieved 2012-1-18.
- ↑Barnett, Emma."Wikipedia Sopa blackout won't solve the problem,"The Telegraph(UK). 18 January 2012; retrieved 2012-1-18.
Other websites[change|change source]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Text of Stop Online Piracy Act(Archived2015-01-02 at theWayback Machine);H.R. 3261Archived2012-03-16 at theWayback Machine
- US House Judiciary Committee websiteArchived2012-01-03 at theWayback Machine
- SOPA Strike website
- [2]
- [3]Archived2014-07-28 at theWayback Machine
- [4]Archived2013-09-23 at theWayback Machine