'Rogue Site' The Internet Archive To Go Dark In Protest Of SOPA/PIPA

from the making-a-statement dept

Tue, Jan 17th 2012 12:35pm — Mike Masnick

You may recall that, a few months ago, the popular "library of the internet," The Internet Archive, was among the popular sites listed as a "rogue site" dedicated to "piracy," by ad giant GroupM, with inputs from Universal Music, Paramount Pictures and others. It seems that Brewster Kahle, the founder of the Archive, has recognized that SOPA and PIPA are important issues -- especially for a site that some apparently think is a rogue site. He's announced that the Internet Archive will go dark tomorrow, joining Reddit, Wikipedia and others. Tomorrow might be quite a strange day online.

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Filed Under: brewster kahle, internet archive, pipa, protect ip, rogue sites, sopa
Companies: internet archive

24 Comments

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Jeff (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 12:09pm

As was mentioned here - it appears the flames are beginning to catch! May they burn ever higher!
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ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 12:45pm

Staff problems
What's going to be interesting is seeing Congressional Staff trying to manage this. From what I hear, they're quite dependent on WikiP et al.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 12:46pm

The internet archive dark tomorrow?
If either PIPA or SOPA or C-11 (Canada's version) pass that website won't stand a chance in hell!
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 12:47pm

The internet archive dark tomorrow?
If either PIPA or SOPA or C-11 (Canada's version) pass that website won't stand a chance in hell!
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Jeff (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 12:56pm

Re:
Kinda the point in protesting eh?
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Noah Callaway, 17 Jan 2012 @ 12:57pm

Techdirt Tomorrow
Mike,

Have you considered taking Techdirt offline tomorrow in protest?
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Gwiz (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 12:58pm

It's finally getting mainstream media coverage now too:

ABC NEWS
CBS NEWS
FOX NEWS

NBC News (now run by Comcast) still seems to be quiet about it.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 1:09pm

Re: Re:
100%, but brewster's take on censorship doesn't go over so well? we researched the cases he filed against censorship in class, dude he lost every time.
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Trails (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 1:26pm

Re:
CNN initially reported wikipedia was going dark to protest "privacy", but seem to have (finally) corrected it.
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E. Zachary Knight (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 1:31pm

Re: Techdirt Tomorrow
By all indications, Techdirt will remain up to report on all the chaos.
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Gwiz (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 1:46pm

Re: Re:
CNN initially reported wikipedia was going dark to protest "privacy"

That's funny.

It kind of sounds like something the PRO-SOPA/PIPA people would protest:

"There's simply way too much privacy going on these days - people are actually thinking that what they do in their own homes isn't our business. Can't have that now because of Jobs! Yeah! Jobs and The Children! Yeah, that's it. Because of Jobs and The Children and the American Way!"
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Machin Shin (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 1:48pm

Re: Re:
I guess someone there realized that trying to flat out lie about the cause of the protest is not going to work in this case. Too many people are going to actually read the note Wikipedia will put up.
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Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 1:48pm

Re: Re: Techdirt Tomorrow
That would do far more good then taking it down.
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gorehound (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 2:11pm

Re: Staff problems
I have already taken down both my domains and replaced their front pages with protest pages.
I know I am just one little bitty voice out there but I will do everything I can to protest this and I am willing even more than willing to do whatever it takes to not lose my Freedom as an American.I have already lost enough so the line must be drawn.
www.bigmeathammer.com is my main Art and Personal site
www.goreproductions.com is my freelance business site

I hope many of you are doing the same as well as telling your friends/fans/family on facebook,etc.
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anonymous, 17 Jan 2012 @ 2:12pm

having a message on their home page seems to me to be nothing more than a small, token gesture from Google. it's a pity they haven't got the same attitude as others that are 'going dark'. that really would be a message worth sending, not just to the US but to the World!
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 2:15pm

The difference between losers and leaders is clear when losers say something everybody laugh, when leaders say something others fallow.

Guess who is a leader and who is a loser.

Congress may take note that the days of wild west legislation are over people are watching them just as much as they are watching people.

Even to make rules we need rules and the days where everything goes are gone now.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 3:00pm

Re:
"The difference between losers and leaders is clear when losers say something everybody laugh, when leaders say something others fallow."

What happens when people are crying?

I guess that just means that we have no leaders at all: just losers pretending that they can lead.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 3:18pm

Re: Re: Staff problems
I'm printing out pamphlets and sending them to all the old people I know.
I'm attacking this shit from the MAFIAA and co. on all fronts. It's a War they wanted, its War they got.
I'm not even going into what AnonOps are doing.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 7:01pm

Re: Flames
Do not forget, dear US voters, the flames need to consume the political careers of all congress critters who are in favor of SOPA/PIPA. That is the only way the lesson sticks. Remember, the favorite time to pass unpopular legislation is straight after an election. It stays carefully hidden until the right time, then gets quickly whipped out and passed, preferably in the midst of some sort of panic.

If this is not to happen, you need to get organized. Identifying the bad guys is easy. You also need an organization that donors can trust. Donations come from the companies/individuals who are against SOPA/PIPA or any similar legislation. Hollywood has to be outspent. Get on with it.
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Jay (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:44pm

Re:
Well, they still won't talk about SOPA on primetime. That's the problem here. But maybe now they'll say something about SOPA in the news tomorrow.
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mike allen (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:13am

just checked the google blackout is only affecting the dot com site the dot co dot uk site is as normal.
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s. keeling (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:50pm

Re: Re: Flames
Hollywood has to be outspent.

That's the crux of the current situation, and that's what you Yanquis should be trying to fix. Your gov't is broken. Your Congress-critters and Senators (and Presidents?) can be bought by special interests. Whoever has the most cash can buy their preferred outcome. Bloody revolting! I hope your Founding Fathers are spinning in their graves.

Every US citizen should be appalled and ashamed that the situation has come to this. Fix your gov't, FFS!
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The Luke Witnesser, 20 Jan 2012 @ 5:01am

Here lies the truth about SOPA/PIPA that even TechDirt has yet to report: what MPAA, RIAA, and Hollywood execs do not want you to see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJIuYgIvKsc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzS5rSvZXe8

The truth behind why these big companies responsible for SOPA and PIPA are also responsible for piracy itself is far more insidious than even their outmoded business model.

Hint: can you say, do as I say so I can crush you under heel?
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