Wikipedia One Day Shutdown Protest

Subject: Wikipedia One Day Shutdown Protest Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:26 am

Quote :: British visitors to the website during the blackout on Wednesday rose from an average of 5.6 million to 5.8 million, according to independent figures. The extra traffic made Wikipedia the eighth most popular website instead of the usual ninth, Experian Hitwise said.

The protest aimed to highlight Wikipedia’s opposition to laws under consideration by Congress that would make it easier for copyright holders to block access to pirate websites. Along with technology giants such as Google, Wikipedia says the laws, Sopa and Pipa, would damage free expression.

Anyone who tried to access the English version of Wikipedia in the 24 hours after 5AM on Wednesday was greeted with a dark page urging them to “imagine a world without free knowledge”.

The increased interest in Wikipedia was even greater elsewhere, according to its co-founder, Jimmy Wales.

He said the blackout message was viewed 126 million time worldwide, as the protest received widespread media coverage. On a typical Wednesday at this time of year, Wikipedia would serve up only 30 million pages, Mr Wales added.

The Full Story Is Here

More on the anti-piracy protest below

Subject: Re: Wikipedia One Day Shutdown Protest Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:29 am

Quote :: U.S. congressional leaders put anti-online piracy legislation on hold Friday following a wave of protests led by Google and Wikipedia denouncing the bills as a threat to Internet freedom.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid said he was delaying next week's vote on the Protect IP Act and House Judiciary Committee chairman Lamar Smith said he would "revisit" the House version, the Stop Online Piracy Act.

"There is no reason that the legitimate issues raised by many about this bill cannot be resolved," Reid said.

Smith, a Republican from Texas, said he would postpone consideration of the House bill in committee "until there is wider agreement on a solution."

"I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy," Smith said.

Critics say the bills would pave the way for U.S. authorities to shut down websites accused of online piracy as defined in the U.S., including foreign sites, without due process.

The Full Story Is Here