Google Goes Big With Its SOPA/PIPA Protests; Blacks Out Logo

from the but-no-calls? dept

Tue, Jan 17th 2012 10:00pm — Mike Masnick

As promised, Google has decided to "go big" with its home page to join Wikipedia, Reddit and others in protesting SOPA/PIPA. The logo on the home page is blacked out:

And clicking the logo takes you to a protest page asking people to "take action" by signing a petition:

I'll admit that I'm a little surprised that Google went with a petition rather than driving phone calls to Congress, though the sheer numbers may make this one petition that Congress actually acknowledges. Either way, it's a strong statement of Google's support for the protest against these bills. Google also has an information page that explains how SOPA and PIPA will censor the internet, kill jobs & innovation and won't stop piracy at all. It also includes a collection of anti-SOPA/PIPA videos...

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Filed Under: blackouts, pipa, protect ip, protests, sopa
Companies: google

174 Comments

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asdf, 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:17pm

Meh. If Google really wanted to "go big", they would collect signatures to pass a constitutional amendment that would get rid of the patent and copyright system altogether.
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firefly (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:27pm

I didn't sign
Sorry Google, I'm not quite ready to hop on board the OPEN Act yet. I think at this point we can ask for more than that - like real copyright reform. The legal interpretation of the balance between the interests of rights holders and promotion of progress (Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution) has shifted way too far towards rights holders. Until some balance is restored, you're going to have as much trouble combating piracy as they had enforcing prohibition. And, I fear, we're going to get some really entrenched criminals as a result, just as we did with prohibition.
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Jay (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:27pm

Because I know that Blizzard supports SOPA
Nuclear launch detected...
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:27pm

I wonder if they will include calls at times people are actually awake. Telling people to call is great, telling people to call at 1 in the morning probably isn't the world's greatest idea.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:27pm

I wish to take a look myself, but too bad the Google page of other countries are not changed to this one, even the "Go to Google.com" link at the bottom won't work. :O
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TheNutman69321 (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:30pm

If anyone hasn't noticed you can easily get around Wikipedias blackout by stopping the pages from fully loading. Just thought I'd throw it out for those who still wanna use it today.
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Nuge (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:38pm

hey
Is anyone but me offended that an essential facility like Google is able to tout its political stance on laws relating to its central business model, and look like it is interested in the public? Please. If any of the networks shut off the first 5 minutes of any popular show, to tout a political stance, can you imagine the uproar? But no, we let the new groupthinkers like Google and Facebook get their way. Pathetic. Rise up people. Be creative.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:40pm

Re:
I didn't even notice the blackout until I told noscript not to block scripts.

Then again, those who are aware of noscript and your method of circumventing the blockout are probably the somewhat more tech savvy crowd that's already aware of these bills.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:43pm

Re:
Their mobile site is functional still with justabanner at the top
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Nuge (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:43pm

And besides, what is the purpose of the black patch? Google aint' gonna be a target of PIPA or SOPA. Answer? Google can't tolerate any perturbation in its business algorithm. Alrorithms need constancy and predictability, hence Google worries about the democratic process when it comes to its governance.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:48pm

Re:
www.google.de,www.google.fr,www.google.co.in, etc.
So, as an American company with foreign websites/subsidiaries......
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Zac, 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:48pm

Re:
Assuming Google wouldn't actually be a target of the vague definitions of what is and is not a foreign site, they'd still need to comply with rules that affect their AdSense platform and their search pages (as all links to a blocked site must be permanently scrubbed).
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bjupton (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:48pm

Re: hey
Heh...I watch some tv. They don't need to shut off anything that people really want to see to push a political message.

Rather there are entire channels that exist of nothing but political messages. These are what pass for entertainment by those so serious that they demand actual consequence to their reality tv, not fake marriage Kardashian stuff.

Sorry, "Mr. Romney". This is not going to be discussed in quiet rooms any longer. It might get messy. But we're done with hearing about how horrible it is when a bunch of people get together and say "enough".

You follow?
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Freddy, 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:49pm

It is great that Wikipedia is going dark to protest the recent murder of political activists in Iran! Oh wait. Maybe it was the killings of citizens in Syria. No. Or the recent legislation that would allow indefinite detention of US citizens. Hmmm.....oh that's right, they are going dark over the evil SOPA rogue sites bill. The one that prevents US tech companies from profiting from sites selling Oxy online to 14 year olds in Kentucky. That one.
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bjupton (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:49pm

Re:
Hey, what do stooges get paid these days?

Just curious. Looking for a career change. Hedging my bets.
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Togashi (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:50pm

Re:
Or maybe they're worried about the implications of censorship. You don't have to be targeted by the law to take issue with it.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:50pm

Re:
Ah right - the same way that you can't support breast cancer awareness with a pink ribbon unless you suffer from it or are otherwise affected by it.
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BearGriz72 (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:50pm

Re: Because I know that Blizzard supports SOPA
Blizzard supports SOPA?!?!

Seriously! WTF? I know that Activision was on that original letter before the bills came out, but did the actually come out in support or did they bail when they saw how Fu%$^# up this legislation is? {Citation Please}
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TheNutman69321 (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:53pm

Re: hey
Ever seen Fox News? It's a network dedicated 24 hours a day to touting a political stance.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:53pm

If you were being honest you'd admit to yourself that solar won't prevent people from buying illegal prescription drugs.
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Nuge (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:54pm

Re:
Dude's funny. I enjoy a little levity as we all get down. Thanks Freddy.
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BearGriz72 (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:55pm

Re:
Obvious strawman is obvious, -1 troll points, you fail.
Have a nice day!
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Chosen Reject (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 10:58pm

Re:
Wikipedia tells you how to get around the block if you click on the "Learn More" link.
The English Wikipedia will be accessible on mobile devices and smart phones. Because the protest message is powered by JavaScript, it's also possible to view Wikipedia by completely disabling JavaScript in your browser.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:03pm

Re:
SOPA is a fundamental threat to Wikipedia and the free exchange of ideas on the Internet - Iran and Syria, tragic as they are, don't even come close.

Thanks for playing.
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Chosen Reject (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:03pm

Re: hey
People would only get in an uproar for two reasons:
1) They don't care about the political posturing and just want their show, or
2) They agree with whatever position is being posited and are outraged that congress would do such a thing.

I suspect there will be lots of media industry shills outraged for reason number 1 above. I also suspect that the number of people outraged at Google for reason number 1 above is far below the number of people outraged at having to watch FBI warnings and save-the-gaffer anti-piracy rants at the beginning of DVDs and theater showings. Which means more people are outraged at the MPAA's posturing than will be outraged at Google's posturing.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:05pm

Re:
One thing at a time.
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Chosen Reject (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:09pm

Re: Re:
It's true. Also, white people were not allowed to protest with black people during the civil rights movement, only soldiers and Iraqis were allowed to protest the US war in Iraq, only the Vietnamese in Vietnam were allowed to protest the Vietnam Conflict (soldiers also, but not until they were drafted) and Warren Buffett was not really allowed to support the Occupy Wall St movement.

It's one of the reasons why Alzheimer's research is so slow; the only people allowed to donate funds or do the research are Alzheimer's patients, and they keep forgetting what it is they're doing anyway.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:12pm

Re: hey
Hi Nuge. Shouldn't you, in full disclosure fashion, note that you're paid by the MPAA/entertainment industry to run an astroturfing group in support of this law? Just saying.

Is anyone but me offended that an essential facility like Google is able to tout its political stance on laws relating to its central business model, and look like it is interested in the public?

Dude. Seriously. Don't make me laugh. YOU are the folks going around pretending that this law -- which is solely designed to prop up your failing business models -- is "in the public interest." It's incredibly slimy to pretend that an actual interest in preserving the internet as we know it is not in the public interest.
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Chosen Reject (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:13pm

Re:
It is great that Congress and the entertainment industry are writing bills and lobbying to protest the recent murder of political activists in Iran! Oh wait. Maybe it was the killings of citizens in Syria. No. Or the recent legislation that would allow indefinite detention of US citizens. Hmmm.....oh that's right, they are writing legislation to try to stop the sharing of 1s and 0s. A bill that doesn't address any real problem and that attempts to stop what the majority don't think should even be a crime. That one.
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bjupton (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:14pm

Re: Re: Re:
Also, only children are allowed to be interested in furthering children's education.

What are you, a socialist?
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bjupton (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:17pm

Re:
There you go again. With those crazy 'solar' theories.

Smart money knows that wind power is what doesn't prevent people from buying illegal prescription drugs.
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Jay (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:17pm

Re: Re: Because I know that Blizzard supports SOPA
No, it's more an assertion from their past actions.

Given that this is the same company that sued a guy for bots, gets a default judgement of $88 million against a person, and tries to take away anonymity with a sledgehammer, it's a pretty safe bet that they will support SOPA albeit quietly right now unless they want their fans to revolt against them.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:18pm

Re: hey
>Is anyone but me offended that an essential facility like Google is able to tout its political stance on laws relating to its central business model, and look like it is interested in the public?

So if you're not essential, you can tout your political stance on laws, then? That what you're sayiing? Like the RIAA/MPAA?

So if you're not essential, what do we need you for?
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Lawrence D'Oliveiro, 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:21pm

Re: �political stance�
You make it sound like politics is some kind of trivial game, unworthy of the attention of serious adults. You make it sound like it has nothing to do with real life, has no impact on real businesses and real individuals, like it�s just some abstract exercise that takes place in some rarefied space on some plane beyond this reality.

If politics is not the business of Google, of Facebook, of the TV networks and every other journalistic organization, of Techdirt, of Wikipedia, of Mom & Pop�s Corner Store Inc (est 1923), of you, of me, of your little old grandmother, of every single person whose lives are going to be affected by these crazy rules, then who the hell�s business is it exactly?
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Lawrence D'Oliveiro, 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:23pm

I Don�t See It
I type in google.com, it instantly sends me to google.co.nz, which comes up just fine.
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bjupton (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:23pm

Re: Re: hey
heh...and I was just guessing when I called him a 'stooge'.

I had no idea I was in the presence of royalty. A member of creative america, everyone!

Lord Nuge, what portion of the culture have they promised you for your 'work'?
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:24pm

Re: Re:
Damn autocomplete on android tablet
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bjupton (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:25pm

Re: I Don�t See It
How dare you be in New Zealand.

Lamar Smith: Making New Zealand Illegal Since 2012
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:29pm

Re:
>Google aint' gonna be a target of PIPA or SOPA.

At least not in version 1.0.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:32pm

Wikipedia blacked out??
What do you mean, "get around it?" I haven't found any page yet that is actually blacked out, just a banner on the top of the main page. Every other page on wikipedia is completely unaffected, all the links work to open other pages, even editing works just fine on pages that aren't otherwise locked against editing. As far as I can see, Wikipedia wimped out and decided not to have a blackout after all.
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Cardman, 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:46pm

Internet On Strike - All Out!
It is good to see Google and Wikipedia are blacked out now.

So is my own website now... www.cardman.com

UK Trader now losing sales all today but I am only happy to have our freedom tomorrow.
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Nuge (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:47pm

Re: Re: hey
Mike, Happy New Year!

You think Google's interest in fighting SOPA and PIPA is in the public interest, and not exclusively supportive of its business model? Dude, please. You are being coopted into supporting the biggest land grab there is by corporate interests who pretend to support the public interest. Take more soma.
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Nuge (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:49pm

Re: Re: Re: hey
I like your humor. Um, you'll be surprised how disposable I am.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:51pm

Re: Re: Re: hey
Ah yes, the "land grab" of...not passing the law you attempted to buy. So much land to grab.
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Nuge (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:51pm

Re: Re: hey
When i use the term "essential facility," I use it in an antitrust sense. Certain essential facilities, because they are facilities and essential, take on certain obligations, e.g., they can't be biased, they can't be political, they can't exclude. Well, Google has risen to the status of essential facility in the search world, yet we allow it to foist its views on its users through its portal. Where is good old antitrust law when you need it.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:51pm

Re:
Wow, really? This is the best shill money can buy? Or did they spend all the money on congresspeople instead?
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Violated (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:52pm

Re: I Don�t See It
If you go to google.com and get redirection to your own country site then go here instead... http://www.google.com/ncr

The /ncr bit means no redirection.
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Nuge (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:56pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
The land grab is data mining, consumer modeling, advertising and more, and Google and Facebook and others are unfolding a business plan and no critic or pundit gets it. They believe the Internet is free and beautiful and yahoo, and, oh, by the way, forget to keep an eye on the the monopolies and oligopolies arising. Just sayin'.
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bjupton (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:56pm

Re: Re: Re:
It provided at least a 'guffah' from me.

My iPhone irritated me today by not recognising 'dicl' as 'dick'. For one, I know several people who use that as a diminutive of Richard. I could have been addressing them, and please capitalise the first letter of their name. For two, I swear quite often. I expect that my dear friend iPhone, with me at all hours, would know that.
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Violated (profile), 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:57pm

Re:
Use... http://www.google.com/ncr

The /ncr bit means no redirection to your own country site.
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crashoverride, 17 Jan 2012 @ 11:58pm

Craigslist is blacked out too
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David Evans (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:02am

Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Wait... do I detect honesty?

No fair, man!
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saulgoode, 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:13am

Re: Re: Re: hey
"Certain essential facilities, because they are facilities and essential, take on certain obligations, e.g., they can't be biased, they can't be political, they can't exclude."

You mean like, the Internet?
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mike allen (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:15am

Google dot co dot uk is as normal this appears to be only the dot com site
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Paul`, 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:15am

Re: hey
Google is a private entity and they can do what they like, use another service if you don't like it. Plus it is America, Corporations are people and money is speech.
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PaulT (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:18am

Re:
You are aware that not everybody works 9 - 5, right?
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Nuge (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:21am

Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Very good comment saulgoode. Very insightful. My answer is thus: Essential facilities can't exclude etc. by their own rules. This would be an abuse of power and position. But, because they are essential facilities, society - the state -can and should demand certain obligations and impose rules.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:28am

Re: Re:
Speaking as an ex-pat in Honduras, I first tried reloading my igoogle page, when that failed I went to google.hn, no joy. I went ahead and set the NCR flag, no joy. So I gave up.

Ultimately, though, I don't need to see this, the very fact that I'm here commenting indicates that I'm well aware of SOPA/PIPA, and I can see why Google went ahead and set up a geoIP filter, there are a fair number of people who live around here that would probably be irked by...I don't know how to say this, let's go with proselytizing, even though that's not really accurate...about a US law in foreign countries.

And yes, I'm very well aware that the law would affect me even though I don't live in or connect from the US, and a few of the locals I know would probably be aware of that too, but they can't really do anything about it, so why bother them?
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tectopedia (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:33am

technology news, latest technology news
Techtopedia.com provides news about latest technologies and new inventions in all technologies to all over the world.
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bordy (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:48am

Re: Re: Re: hey
I don't think I'm ready to accept what you believe should be the obligations of an "essential facility," but for the sake of argument: what about the "essential facilities" on the pro-rights holder side of this debate . . . some of us are curious about how you characterize the 'AAs who support SOPA/PIPA: are these "essential facilities" in your view?

Assuming the affirmative, haven't they also ignored that obligation to remain unbiased, apolitical, and inclusive?

Assuming yes again, it's plainly hypocritical to chastise Google for voicing its stance on these proposed bills, wouldn't you say? It amounts to "do as we say, not as we do." Inconsistencies like this do little to advance your goal, and I'd argue it reveals Big Content's not-so-subtle strategy of winning passage via creating strawmen, spreading misleading information, etc.

Aside from all that, I'll now assume you don't characterize the Big Content SOPA/PIPA supporters as "essential facilities." Now you'd be saying that because these groups are less ubiquitous than Google, this somehow makes their political support of the measures more worthy of public approval?

Help us out here.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:49am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Essential?

Google can do it because if people don't like it they have other options like Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, YaCy just to name a few.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:54am

Re:
You are kidding right, the whole law screams "Google we want your ass", it will harm everybody but it was planed with Google in mind :)
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Yeebok (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:55am

Are we missing something?
google.com.au still looks normal and has the monkey king logo.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:56am

Re: Re: Re: hey
You think Google's interest in fighting SOPA and PIPA is in the public interest, and not exclusively supportive of its business model? Dude, please. You are being coopted into supporting the biggest land grab there is by corporate interests who pretend to support the public interest. Take more soma.

I see. Still no admission that you're paid by the MPAA to run a bogus astroturfing group, huh?

As for Google, it's worth pointing out that, for as much as your buddies in the MPAA have insisted on blaming this entire situation on Google, Google has had nothing to do with any of this, and showed up late to the game after the wider internet community chose to take these steps.

Those folks have no "corporate interests."

Pretending this protest is about corporate interests is pure wishful thinking on your part.

As to whether or not Google's own participation is because of its business model, I don't know -- and neither do you. But from what I've seen of Google over the years, I would find it hard to believe. This is the same company that took a stand on China to stop censorship there -- despite the fact that it lost a ton of money doing so.

The folks who run Google have shown repeatedly that they're principled on censorship issues.

The folks who pay your salary... not so much.
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tsavory (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:58am

Re: Wikipedia blacked out??
It's blacked out over here. and on a bunch of friends I have had a dozen calls in the past few hours.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 1:05am

Re: Wikipedia blacked out??
Then you have JavaScript disabled don't you? or you are navigating the non-english part of it.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 1:32am

Re: Re: Re: hey
> Well, Google has risen to the status of essential facility in the search world, yet we allow it to foist its views on its users through its portal.

Well, the RIAA/MPAA/IFPI/BREIN/ETC has risen to the status of essential facility in the anti-piracy world, yet we allow it to foist their views on their users through their website, with no comment option. Rage against Google all you want, somehow the MPAA is allowed to go, "Hey, lads, remember those figures we had? They were inflated by 300%, but all's still good eh?"
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 1:35am

Re: Re: Re: hey
You think the RIAA/MPAA's interest in supporting SOPA and PIPA is in the public interest, and not exclusive supportive of its business model? Dude, please.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:05am

Re: Re: Wikipedia blacked out??
If the pages I was looking at were not in English, I think I would have noticed that.

So you have to turn on javascript in order to see any difference? Big deal! I heard that the Metropolitan Museum of Art is closed today in support of the SOPA protest: by which they mean they're offering blindfolds to everyone who comes in.

That isn't a blackout, it's a wimpout.
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Furtled, 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:05am

Blizzard don't support SOPA/PIPA & Google's stance
@Bear Griz
I'm not Blizzard's biggest fan for many reasons, but that list was taken from a letter asking for some form of copy protection legislation last year, they've never come out in open support of SOPA/PIPA and aren't members of the ESA (of course they haven't openly come out against it either but fair's fair).

@Nuge
There's a difference between a political message and something that'll actually break the fundamental foundations of the internet. Sure Google have a financial stake in this but this isn't a left/right issue, it's people who don't understand the internet (allegedly funded to protect questionable corporate interests) essentially trying to break it due to their ignorance (and greed depending how much you think politicians have been bought by companies).
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:11am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Oh wow!

Are you actually serious?

You promote SOPA, call google an "essential" facility that shouldn't filter or comment on anything, and you call it bias that they encourage people to oppose incredibly idiotic legislation, when your biggest issue with google is that they won't bias results to please you.

It must really suck to be you.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:14am

Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Gosh, how would he react, if a DVD required him to forever be obliged to watch adverts and antipiracy warnings before being allowed to watch the film he paid money for, if he reacts to google on one day encouraging people to opposes terrible legislation in this way.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:16am

Re: Re: Re: hey
Hey, man, don't invoke the name of soma lightly, I use it extensively for back pain and for insomnia (What can I say? I knocks me out).

Try using Versed, instead (ooh, I rhymed, go me). It's a drug which, among other things, induces anterograde amnesia, thus suggesting that those that disagree with you are deliberately ignoring the lessons learned from history...

Wait...Damn...your position is that there's no past history for a company using it's massive influence on the public to influence politics, that the "new media" is completely different from the "old media".

Never mind, feel free to keep using Soma...although, it still helps with my back-aches, could you at least pick on Ambien, instead?
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Beech, 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:22am

You Guys Don't Get It
Obviously the only time a big corporation is allowed to say anything is when it's something approved by the RIAA/MPAA (the one's who tout themselves as staunch supporters of our 1st amendment rights, don't forget) and the only way they're ALLOWED to say it is in the form of hundred dollar bills going to politicians.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:26am

Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
They sent only one disposable member of CreativeAmerica? Either there isn't a lot of you, or they could only afford one shill to post here...
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:32am

Re: You Guys Don't Get It
It's not the only way they are allowed to say anything, it's just they find it the most effective way.
After all, given that the facts are not on their side, they lose all their arguments, but money doesn't care if you have a bad argument, it's neutral and not at all biased like google and reality.
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Beech, 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:57am

Re: Re: You Guys Don't Get It
A good point. Still pisses me off how this guy comes here whining about how google should be apolitical and not talk about its opinions on stuff, but I can GUARANTEE he'd be singing a different tune if google put up a "hey guys, this sopa thing is pretty great, support it with out really looking at any of the details" banner
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:02am

Re:
Besides pissed-off pirates with an entitlement mentality, Google's money is behind the entire astro-turfing opposition to anti-piracy legislation.

They did a very effective job. Very effective. Hopefully this will awake the electorate as to how powerful they really are- these people that spy on them.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:06am

Re: Re: hey
And Mike Masnick makes his money from ads and sources other than the "tech industry".

LOL
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:10am

Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Google has had nothing to do with any of this

hahahahahahahahahaha

I love this new approach of yours- "I'm gonna lie twice as much as usual, then people will be twice as likely to believe me... right?"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:14am

Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
This is the same company that took a stand on China

Yes, because up until then, all those Chinese citizens that make 31 cents an hour were really padding the coffers over there at Google.

LOL
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:17am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
If Google is an essential facility, then the internet is broken for real.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Karl (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:28am

Re:
Craigslist is blacked out too

You're right. I'm surprised I didn't hear about this, it's at least as big as the Reddit blackout.

Good for them.
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Karl (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:30am

Re: Re:
Besides pissed-off pirates with an entitlement mentality, Google's money is behind the entire astro-turfing opposition to anti-piracy legislation.

Your tin foil is showing again. Maybe you should wear another hat to cover it up?
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:33am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Looks like one CreativeAmerica stooge wasn't enough, Nuge. They had to send this joker over to help you out.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:35am

Re: Re:
Oh yes, I'm pretty sure SOPA would mess with Google's overseas servers, yet be completely fine with them here in their home country, despite this being where sovereign laws are most effective...

LOL

You dolts are really out of ammo, aren't you?
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btrussell (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:47am

Re:
Not changed here in Canada either. I was hoping for world wide as that is what these bills will affect.

Wake up the world to these **AAs' and their anti-social policies.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
btrussell (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:53am

Re: hey
"Is anyone but me offended that an essential facility like Google is able to tout its political stance on laws relating to its central business model, and look like it is interested in the public?"

No. I am more outraged that corporations get to write laws claiming it is to save jobs.

Are jobs going to India and China because there is no infringement there?
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 3:56am

Re: Re:
I take it you haven't seen the pink ribbons saying "Save second base" ?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PaulT (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:00am

Re: Re: Re: Wikipedia blacked out??
"So you have to turn on javascript in order to see any difference?"

Don't you have anything better to do than whine?

Most people have JS turned on by default. You don't, apparently, so whoopee for you. This clearly isn't a move aimed at people like you and me who already know how to operate the internet properly, it's a move aimed at getting widespread awareness of what SOPA is and what its implications may be for the average person. That's why the site isn't shut down completely - it's meant to annoy people.

In your case, it's had its effect without you even seeing it, so carry on.
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Karl (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:02am

Re:
Craigslist is blacked out too

Good Lord. I am just waking up, and checking some of the links like I do when I'm bored. And in all seriousness, half of the sites I like are going dark today.

The latest site MS Paint Adventures:
http://www.mspaintadventures.com
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PaulT (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:04am

Re: Re:
Yeah, we get it, nobody except Google and pirates can possibly have any objection, and everybody who opposes SOPA have been paid off by Google so that they can steal everyone's data. it's all about them, and SOPA is not an overreaching piece of crap that will not destroy innocent sites while doing nothing to stop piracy.

I, for one, am glad that America's mental healthcare is working so well that delusional paranoids are able to construct such clear sentences.
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DesignSmith, 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:05am

another approach
I like the xkcd approach. A simple black banner with some explanation of why it is there and some appropriate links to find out more.
He has a direct personal stake in the issue and put his signature on his position.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Just John (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:05am

Re:
Your post makes me think of "good idea, bad idea"

Good idea: talking to your officials at their office (insert picture of senator at their work office while talking to them).
Bad idea: talking to upper officials at their office (insert picture of random guy sneaking into their home office through window to talk to them).
[ link to this | view in thread ]
techflaws.org (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:06am

Re: Re:
Doesn't work either. I'm getting the usual page with logo and a white background and this line below the search box:

Please don't censor the web!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
techflaws.org (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:09am

Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Same as the laws you bought.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
techflaws.org (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:11am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Learning from shills like you, right?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
John Doe, 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:11am

I signed the petition
I can't wait to hear how many people sign the petition.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
techflaws.org (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:11am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
So what?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
techflaws.org (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:12am

Re: Re: Re: hey
So what?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
techflaws.org (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:13am

Re: Re: Re: hey
Don't be jealous because your masters' busieness models is less smart and makes far less money. Pityful.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
techflaws.org (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:16am

Re: Re:
LOL, and Freddy got outsmarted just like that.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Just John (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:17am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
At least Nuge doesn't post hahahahaha...
That makes him a more acceptable shill.
A 3/10 instead of this idiots 1/10.

Even shills should live by some standard.
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John Doe, 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:18am

Re: Re: hey
What is funny is Nuge is from a private corporation that is trying to buy legislation and he has the nerve to complain about another private company trying to block it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
btrussell (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:20am

Re: Re: Re: hey
Why do you need these laws?

"If there�s one thing that SOPA proponents like myself and SOPA opponents can agree on, it�s that PROTECT-IP and the Stop Online Piracy Act have little to do with protecting intellectual property and stopping online piracy.

After all, those who choose to steal creative works like the �I Have a Dream� speech from artists like Martin Luther King Jr. can already be sued and prosecuted under existing United States copyright laws. IP thieves living overseas can already be extradited to face justice in our federal courts. And the Department of Homeland Security can already arbitrarily seize domain names that fit its arbitrary standard of violating national something-or-other."
http://74.50.110.120/Articles/Support-The-Daily-WTF-in-Supporting-the-Support- SOPA-Movement.aspx
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Just John (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:22am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
You honestly believe this?
China just hit 500,000,000 total internet users, and since ads are paid for by companies that have money, that is more people ad clicking then there is population in the US.

Now, want to come over? I live here....
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John Doe, 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:23am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Even worse, the DVD won't let you skip the previews for other movies. My DVD player says the action is forbidden by the disc. SAY WHA? Why should MY DVD player take commands from the disk and not from me?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:25am

Re: hey
"Is anyone but me offended that an essential facility like Google is able to tout its political stance on laws relating to its central business model, and look like it is interested in the public?"

That's different than the government established mainstream media (those that benefit from govt established broadcasting and cableco monopolies) how exactly?

It's OK for big corporations to spend what they want on political ads, it's considered free speech. but the moment someone says something protesting govt established monopolists, it's somehow an abuse.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:28am

Re: Re: Re: hey
"'You are being coopted into supporting the biggest land grab there is by corporate interests who pretend to support the public interest."

You mean how the government-industrial complex keeps on stealing from the public domain through retroactive copy protection extensions?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:38am

Re: Re: Re:
Aye, those dolts are really out of ammo, aren't they?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Just John (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:39am

Re: Re:
Could be worse. He is much less annoying then Darryl, and actually tries different modes of attack, instead of beating the same dead horse.

Shoot, his arguments even make a little sense if you are completely ignorant of what is going on in the world today.

Although he is a shill, I would go so far as to say he is the grade A shill.
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Just John (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:39am

Re: Re:
Could be worse. He is much less annoying then Darryl, and actually tries different modes of attack, instead of beating the same dead horse.

Shoot, his arguments even make a little sense if you are completely ignorant of what is going on in the world today.

Although he is a shill, I would go so far as to say he is the grade A shill.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:39am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
You mean the mainstream media cartel monopolies? The government established broadcasting and cableco monopolies? Laws that make it too legally risky and expensive for restaurants and other venues to host independent performers? Laws that effectively censor free speech by allowing self interested govt established monopolists to abuse their monopoly power by directing discussions in their favor (ie: by not discussing SOPA, insanely long copy protection laws, retroactive copy protection extensions, etc...).

I can go on. This nation is plagued with government established monopolies and oligopolies (ie: taxi cab monopolies). Google is not one of them (at least not yet).

The whole point of opposing this bill is to keep an eye on the monopolies and oligopolies arising. This bill is exactly intended to provide for the existing government established monopolists the continued govt established monopoly power that they have wrongfully enjoyed for so many years. It's despicable and I am indeed keeping an eye on it.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:44am

Re: Re: Re: hey
As a member of the public I support taking back what should be mine. I support taking back the public domain either through copy protection abolition or seriously shortening copy protection term limits (to nothing above ten years, and I still think that's too long. I'll say seven years is good). My right to copy rightfully belongs to me and the biggest land grab occurred through laws that took away my rights in the first place. I want them back!!!!!!!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Marcel de Jong (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:50am

Re: Wikipedia blacked out??
http://en.wikipedia.org and all pages on the english Wikipedia are blacked out, idiot.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 4:58am

Re: Re:
This is what passes for humour in CreativeAmerica?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:00am

Re: Re: Re: hey
You mean like how the government established mainstream media cartel abuses its govt established powers to direct various discussions in its own self interests (and then abuses copy protection laws to take down these videos because they look ridiculous in retrospect) while censoring the opposition (because they know that their position is indefensible in the face of scrutiny and so they would never allow Mike Masnick and others the opportunity to discuss these issues on [what shouldn't be] 'their' networks)? But that's perfectly OK, it's free speech when they do it and big corporations can spend whatever the heck they want on political ads because of free speech. When anyone else does it against your interests it's not OK, right?

Google receives none of its market power from the government, unlike those who get their information distributed through broadcasting and cableco. Google competes in a free market and there are alternative search engines. You can even create your own. Just because others aren't as successful doesn't mean that Google doesn't deserve free speech rights. Why should we punish the successful (ie: Google) and reward the failures (IE: govt established cableco and broadcasting monopolists who's only success is due to their govt established monopoly positions, the RIAA/MPAA, etc...).
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:02am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
So since it isn't broken, Google isn't an essential facility, which means that Google can make its stand known on the issue.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:05am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Because the disk is better than you.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:05am

Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
and Google is not obligated to provide you service, if it does a good enough job to attract an audience then it has every right to use its platform to advocate its political positions.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:13am

Re:
So, then, you are arguing that Google is worried about these laws because it can very well be targeted by them?

Your whole paragraph seems self-contradictory.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:15am

Re: Re:
Cargo cult comment.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Marcel de Jong (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:18am

Re: Re: Re:
You troll a lot, spout a lot of ad hominems, but offer very little substance.
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Marcel de Jong (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:20am

Re:
Talk to the site operators of the illegally taken down site Dajaz1.com before spouting your nonsense of "well google won't be a target."
Actually see how badly written laws get abused left and right, before making a blanket statement like that.

Either that, or shut up and go back to your basement.
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Michael Whitetail, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:22am

Re: Re:
The FBI/TSA/ICW will be arriving shortly to take you into custody you filthy pirate loving criminal! Circumvention of Lawful Internet blocking is a 1st degree felony under the SOPA/PIPA acts of 2012; punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Let your incarceration and sodomization be a lesson to all those who steal from hard working mega corporations!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Marcel de Jong (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:23am

Re: Re: I Don�t See It
Only exception is, that we overseas people don't get to see the blanked out 'doodle', but we do get to see the call to action below the search bar. Even when going to google.com/ncr
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Bengie, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:23am

The "Industry"
The whole RIAA/MPAA/etc group are a bunch of vindictive, willfully ignorant, entitled group that doesn't think twice when given an opportunity to abuse laws.

This group is trying to push open-ended laws that can shut down their opposition based solely on accusations, with little or no recourse.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jeff (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:23am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
he's the Twinkie Troll!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:24am

Not for Canada
Right now, if I try to go to www.google.com, I get redirected to www.google.ca which looks no different from normal.

Very disappointing!
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:28am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
That is one reason I ripped every DVD I have so I could exclude those other files.

Is 14 minutes long!

Plus 1 minute of warnings in 3 languages.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:56am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
You're point being that if Google is evil their interests cannot possibly coincide with the public's on SOPA/PIPA? You've never heard the phrase 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' I take it? Considering the fact that, even if we were willing to stipulate that Google engages in all of those activities for nefarious purposes, SOPA/PIPA will do little to stop them from continuing to engage in them I have to conclude that the only reason you brought it up at all was to discredit Google's position by attacking their behavior. It doesn't matter if Google is evil or not, I still won't support SOPA/PIPA and I am not alone in this.(You using the terms 'monopoly' and 'oligopoly' is especially rich by the way).
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Simon, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:57am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
I like Nuge, he's able to string two coherent words together. I don't necessarily agree with what's he saying, but I hope he stays. Please debate his points and try and stay away from personal attacks.
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Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:58am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Plus 1 minute of warnings in 3 languages.

"If you are ripping this DVD in an English-speaking country, press 1.

Si va a copiar el DVD en un pa�s de habla espa�ola, pulse dos..."
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 5:59am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
I love this new approach of yours- "I'm gonnna add italics to quotes and make ad hom comments about them twice as much as usual, then people will be twice as likely to belive me... right?"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 6:03am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Seems about right. Hostess is also going downhill fast.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 6:14am

Re: Re: Re: hey
The fact that competitor's to Google are able to practically or reasonably duplicate the 'essential facility' and do so every blows your 'essential facility' argument completely out of the water. Even if it was legally demonstrated that Google has a monopoly position and abuses it they still would never legally be declared an 'essential service.'
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Raymond, 18 Jan 2012 @ 6:18am

Re: Nuge, Google IS the target of SOPA
Google will be required to censor search results and Adwords references to any of the millions of sites that will be shut-down by SOPA and PIPA. There is no clear or easy recourse for anyone who believes they've been shutdown wrongly.

SOPA and PIPA are draconian measures for a government and industry dictatorship over free expression and informal commerce.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 6:25am

Re: Re:
(sigh) It's gets increasingly difficult to remain polite and civil to this kind of bullshit day in and day out. But I'll try to explain it yet again.

This is NOT an anit-piracy bill. It will do very little to slow, much less stop piracy. What it will do is open up the internet to massive abuse, anti-competitive practices, and increased risk for hacking and spam.

The opposition is NOT astroturfing, much less being bankrolled by Google. If there is any astroturfing going on, it's is by the entertainment industry and Congress. The only people I've talked to/heard from who express any sort of support for these bill are high powered corporate executives, business moguls, entrenched Congreemen and there support staffs, well paid lobbyists, and a handful of well paid content creators who like their secure incomes.

I've seen, spoken to, or heard from hundred of content creators themselves who are all pretty much opposed to these bills and who have nothing to do with Google or piracy.

In fact the only sense of entitlement I've seen from people, are, well, the people supporting these bills.

As frustrating as you people can be most of the time, I do genuinely appreciate you people commenting. IT allows me to show your actual words to people when we are discussing these matters and sometimes makes it much easier to convert them to our point of view.

So basically I say keep up the good work. You are doing more to help kill the entertainment industry with your lies, bullying tactics, and nonsense than I could do by myself.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Cowardly Anon, 18 Jan 2012 @ 6:27am

Re: Not for Canada
Actually, there is a link in the bottom right of the screen that says 'Go To Google.com'.

What is actually disappointing is that apparently this bold move by Google is only visible in the US. If you hit it from a non US IP, you don't see it.

I feel that is a cop-out on Google's part.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Cowardly Anon, 18 Jan 2012 @ 6:33am

Re: another approach
I had 6 of my web comics blacked out this morning, but I find XKCD's one the best. I like how he states that piracy helped him grow and that he opposes this bill.

Pro-tip to other sites blacking out today though...don't link to Wikipedia or Reddit when explaining why....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 6:59am

Re:
And all comercial content along with it. Imgaine a world without all your favorite movies, television shows, books, music, games, etc...

You socialists don't get it, these works are created because copywrite protection allows the producers to make money by making it illegal to copy and/or redistribute the content. Without copyright protection you would be left with amatuers creating amatuer content. Some of it might be entertaining but a lot of it is only interesting to the person that created it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PaulT (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 7:02am

Re: Re:
Your logic and intelligence would appear to be as flawless as your spelling, I'll give you that.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
I-Blz, 18 Jan 2012 @ 7:07am

Re: Re: �political stance�
If I could post gifs, yould be getting a looping ovation right now.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
cyberjawn, 18 Jan 2012 @ 7:08am

Re:
mmmmm ur priorites are a bit out of wack. Who cares what there doing over in Iran or Syria! IT'S NONE OF OUR BUSINESS!!! As for the SOPA, did you read it?? IT can keep you from finding the truth about stuff cause the government can block any sites dns if they don't like it. the bill is to loosely written. OUr government will take advantage of it just like the patriot act.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The Logician (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 7:13am

Re: Re:
Your argument, AC 140, lacks both logic and evidence. You also fail to take into account the vast amount of culture that existed before copyright was ever put in place. Also, you fail to explain how such long lengths as there are today promote the progress in any way. Unless you can provide empirical, non-industry data, your position is invalid.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 7:33am

Re: Re:
And what about Big Content's "entitlement mentality" where they think it is OK to steal from the public domain by egregious extensions of a TEMPORARY government granted monopoly? This is closer to stealing than what any file sharer could commit (under the assumption that the file sharer does not actually try to sell their 'share"). Maybe they should offer their content in an enticing manner, instead of locked down, regionalized, delayed, and spattered with assumed accusations dreck.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
arcan, 18 Jan 2012 @ 7:35am

Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
since we probably assumed that you are 100% disposable. not really. and the biggest landgrab out there, is not what google is doing. but what your employers are attempting.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
jupiterkansas (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 7:37am

Re: Re:
You must be one of those pirates then.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
btrussell (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 7:40am

Re: Re: Not for Canada
https://encrypted.google.com/
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 7:42am

Re: Re:
Playing madlibs with troll comments is great fun! These type of comments always get funny/insightful when done well (as above) :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 7:54am

Re: Re: Wikipedia blacked out??
You can get there in two ways, disable javascript, or hit esc as the page is loading.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
btrussell (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 7:59am

Re: Re:
"Imgaine a world without all your favorite movies, television shows, books, music, games, etc..."

It would be much more productive!

"Taking in the sights and sounds of nature appears to be especially beneficial for our minds, researchers say."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904199404576538260326965724.html
[ link to this | view in thread ]
rubberpants, 18 Jan 2012 @ 8:21am

Re: Re: Re:
Just remember, when you get angry - the trolls win.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Almost Anonymous (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 8:37am

Re: Re: Re:
I haven't, but I'm sure I would guffaw if I did. I have seen "Save the ta-tas", though.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
bjupton (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 8:40am

Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Heh, yeah, I didn't think that they'd send someone real important to harrass a tech blog.

Makes me sad that you've aligned yourself with people who view you as disposable rather than with people who want to respect creative output.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Karl (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 9:04am

Re: Re:
You socialists don't get it, these works are created because copywrite protection allows the producers to make money by making it illegal to copy and/or redistribute the content.

First of all, it's "copyright." A "copywriter" is one who writes copy (e.g. for newspapers). It's going to be hard for people to take you seriously if you can't even spell what you're talking about.

Second of all, copyright is a state-enforced monopoly. It's more than ironic that you call its opponents "socialists."

Third of all, you don't need copyright to create movies, television shows, books, music, games, etc. For example, plenty of publishing companies make money by selling editions of public domain works; orchestras make money by performing public domain music; and so forth. Valve Software made over a billion dollars last year, not by "making it illegal to copy and/or redistribute the content," but by providing a service that added value the pirates' couldn't.

Fourth, "amatuers creating amatuer content" is exactly how innovative artists create. Take the music industry: you would never get signed to a label without already having a sizable following that you developed without the label's help. The major labels have not created one single genre of music; all of them were created by amateurs, then later signed and co-opted by the labels.

On the other hand, I am not actually arguing against all copyright protections. But the laws we have right now go way too far, and SOPA/PROTECT IP would only make matters worse.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 10:00am

Re:
Nirvana fallacy.

Try harder next time.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
btrussell (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 10:22am

Re:
"And besides, what is the purpose of the black patch?"

It is to cover their eye that got poked out by a hook.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 11:46am

Re: Re: Re: hey
From here on out, it appears the LOLing will be on you and yours.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:04pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
Google isn't excluding anyone. They're advertising their political stance.

It's kind of like the electric company - a regulated monopoly - continuing to supply electricity to an anti-nuclear group while mailing pro-nuclear informational materials to every customer with every electric bill. Abuse of monopoly would be cutting off the anti-nuclear group's electricity in reprisal for their speech.

Google has a right to freedom of speech. It can speak a little more loudly than the Chamber of Commerce/RIAA/MPAA, but if monetary contributions are speech - as per Citizens United - that decision the Chamber of Commerce so vigorously fought for - surely non-monetary advocacy for or against a law is speech, too.

As such, Google isn't excluding anyone.
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Sachi, 18 Jan 2012 @ 12:20pm

Even Gaia Online got in on this, censoring both their name and some avatars.
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Hans, 18 Jan 2012 @ 2:15pm

Re: hey
"Pathetic. Rise up people. Be creative."

Hey Nuge, look in the mirror!

How about the pathetic MPAA/RIAA rise up and create a business model that doesn't require the entire f-ing internet be their police force?

Rise up and get a job, attract fans, make money. No other jobs on the planet get to sit back and enjoy income in perpetuity for a job done long ago.
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LC (profile), 18 Jan 2012 @ 7:31pm

Doesn't look like that for me. Wikipedia's blackout is working though.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Jan 2012 @ 1:54am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
What points? The only points he's brought up are how he disagrees with Mike's figures on how many people support CreativeAmerica.
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The Luke Witnesser, 20 Jan 2012 @ 5:18am

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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Androgynous Cowherd, 23 Jan 2012 @ 2:28am

Where can I see the article's image in a size big enough to read the text below the various numbers?
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btrussell (profile), 23 Jan 2012 @ 3:01am

Re:
You work for the MPAA?

Click the link and open the .pdf file(click on image in link).
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Androgynous Cowherd, 23 Jan 2012 @ 5:42am

I did click through. The image there is big enough to read the main text, but not the text in the lower left region. As for some .pdf, no thanks. Link to a png, gif, or jpg I don't have to open some proprietary, bug-ridden extra plugin to view.
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btrussell (profile), 23 Jan 2012 @ 7:01am

Re:
I didn't make the graphic.
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Androgynous Cowherd, 24 Jan 2012 @ 1:22am

I didn't say you did.

Now is someone gonna post a link to a full-size .png, .gif, or .jpg?
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btrussell (profile), 24 Jan 2012 @ 9:10am

Re:
Is that fair use?

I'm not going to a US court to find out.
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Jan 2012 @ 10:21pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
http://news.yahoo.com/googles-4q-lobbying-bill-triples-3-76-million-205546163.html

You're such a silly liar, Masnick. It's endlessly amusing.
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tholen, 24 Jan 2012 @ 11:11pm

You're such a silly liar, Masnick.

What does your classic unsubstantiated and erroneous claim have to do with Techdirt, Anonymous Coward?

It's endlessly amusing.

What does your amusement have to do with Techdirt, Anonymous Coward?
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btrussell (profile), 25 Jan 2012 @ 3:34am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: hey
If I was fined $500 million, I'd probably lobby to get laws changed too!
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