Internet Wide Protest Succeeds As Congress Retreats

Native News Network Staff in Native Briefs. Discussion »

Not a Matter for Legislation

Native Brief: Washington DC - Last Wednesday Internet websites like Wikipedia and Google draped black graphics on their home pages to bring awareness to the shortcoming of Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), and a companion bill, PIPA proposed by Congress.

"I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy." House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) said in a statement postponing the SOPA bill.

Smith's announcement came on the heels of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nevada) announcement.

"In light of recent events, I have decided to postpone Tuesday's vote on the PROTECT IP Act."

Said Reid.

The bills were yet another attempt by Congress to combat the very real problem of online piracy among large traditional media companies, like motion picture corporations, on the backs of new media and other Internet innovators.

Native News Network joined others across Indian country and around the globe, in the effort to protect the openness of the Internet against the overreaching regulations proposed by Congress.

posted January 20, 2012 5:20 pm est