<s>
The	O
Stop	B-Application
Online	I-Application
Piracy	I-Application
Act	I-Application
(	O
SOPA	B-Application
)	O
was	O
a	O
controversial	O
proposed	O
United	O
States	O
congressional	O
bill	O
to	O
expand	O
the	O
ability	O
of	O
U.S.	O
law	O
enforcement	O
to	O
combat	O
online	O
copyright	O
infringement	O
and	O
online	O
trafficking	O
in	O
counterfeit	O
goods	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Introduced	O
on	O
October	O
26	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
by	O
Representative	O
Lamar	O
Smith	O
(	O
R-TX	O
)	O
,	O
provisions	O
included	O
the	O
requesting	O
of	O
court	O
orders	O
to	O
bar	O
advertising	O
networks	O
and	O
payment	O
facilities	O
from	O
conducting	O
business	O
with	O
infringing	O
websites	O
,	O
and	O
web	B-Application
search	I-Application
engines	I-Application
from	O
linking	O
to	O
the	O
websites	O
,	O
and	O
court	O
orders	O
requiring	O
Internet	O
service	O
providers	O
to	O
block	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
websites	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Claiming	O
flaws	O
in	O
existing	O
laws	O
that	O
do	O
not	O
cover	O
foreign-owned	O
and	O
operated	O
websites	O
,	O
and	O
citing	O
examples	O
of	O
active	O
promotion	O
of	O
rogue	O
websites	O
by	O
U.S.	O
search	B-Application
engines	I-Application
,	O
proponents	O
asserted	O
that	O
stronger	O
enforcement	O
tools	O
were	O
needed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
stated	O
that	O
SOPA	B-Application
would	O
bypass	O
the	O
"	O
safe	O
harbor	O
"	O
protections	O
from	O
liability	O
presently	O
afforded	O
to	O
websites	O
by	O
the	O
Digital	O
Millennium	O
Copyright	O
Act	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
opponents	O
claimed	O
that	O
requiring	O
search	B-Application
engines	I-Application
to	O
delete	O
domain	O
names	O
violated	O
the	O
First	O
Amendment	O
and	O
could	O
begin	O
a	O
worldwide	O
arms	O
race	O
of	O
unprecedented	O
Internet	B-Application
censorship	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
move	O
to	O
protest	B-Application
against	I-Application
SOPA	I-Application
and	I-Application
PIPA	I-Application
was	O
initiated	O
when	O
Fight	B-Application
for	I-Application
the	I-Application
Future	I-Application
organized	O
thousands	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
popular	O
websites	O
in	O
the	O
world	O
,	O
including	O
Reddit	B-Application
,	O
Craigslist	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
English	O
Wikipedia	O
,	O
to	O
consider	O
temporarily	O
closing	O
their	O
content	O
and	O
redirecting	O
users	O
to	O
a	O
message	O
opposing	O
the	O
proposed	O
legislation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
18	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
the	O
English	O
Wikipedia	O
,	O
Google	B-Application
,	O
and	O
an	O
estimated	O
7,000	O
other	O
smaller	O
websites	O
ceased	O
standard	O
operation	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
coordinated	O
service	O
blackout	O
as	O
an	O
attempt	O
to	O
spread	O
awareness	O
and	O
objection	O
to	O
the	O
bill	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
many	O
cases	O
,	O
websites	O
replaced	O
the	O
entirety	O
of	O
their	O
main	O
content	O
with	O
facts	O
regarding	O
SOPA	B-Application
and	O
the	O
entity	O
's	O
case	O
against	O
its	O
passing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Google	B-Application
announced	O
the	O
company	O
had	O
collected	O
over	O
4.5	O
million	O
signatures	O
opposing	O
the	O
bill	O
in	O
their	O
January	O
petition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Access	O
to	O
websites	O
of	O
several	O
pro-SOPA	O
organizations	O
and	O
companies	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
RIAA	O
,	O
CBS	O
,	O
and	O
others	O
was	O
impeded	O
or	O
blocked	O
with	O
denial-of-service	O
attacks	O
which	O
started	O
on	O
January	O
19	O
,	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Self-proclaimed	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
hacktivist	O
"	O
group	O
Anonymous	O
claimed	O
responsibility	O
and	O
stated	O
the	O
attacks	O
were	O
a	O
protest	O
of	O
both	O
SOPA	B-Application
and	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
Department	O
of	O
Justice	O
's	O
shutdown	O
of	O
Megaupload	B-Application
on	O
that	O
same	O
day	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bill	B-Application
3261	I-Application
or	O
,	O
was	O
a	O
proposed	O
law	O
that	O
was	O
introduced	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
House	O
of	O
Representatives	O
on	O
October	O
26	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
by	O
House	O
Judiciary	O
Committee	O
Chair	O
Representative	O
Lamar	O
S	O
.	O
Smith	O
(	O
R-TX	O
)	O
and	O
a	O
bipartisan	O
group	O
of	O
12	O
initial	O
co-sponsors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
court	O
order	O
requested	O
by	O
the	O
DOJ	O
could	O
include	O
barring	O
online	O
advertising	O
networks	O
and	O
payment	O
facilitators	O
from	O
conducting	O
business	O
with	O
websites	O
found	O
to	O
infringe	O
on	O
federal	O
criminal	O
intellectual-property	O
laws	O
,	O
barring	O
search	B-Application
engines	I-Application
from	O
linking	O
to	O
such	O
sites	O
,	O
and	O
requiring	O
Internet	O
service	O
providers	O
to	O
block	O
access	O
to	O
such	O
sites	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
cite	O
examples	O
such	O
as	O
Google	B-Application
's	I-Application
$500	O
million	O
settlement	O
with	O
the	O
Department	O
of	O
Justice	O
for	O
its	O
role	O
in	O
a	O
scheme	O
to	O
target	O
U.S.	O
consumers	O
with	O
ads	O
to	O
illegally	O
import	O
prescription	O
drugs	O
from	O
Canadian	O
pharmacies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Opponents	O
stated	O
that	O
it	O
violated	O
the	O
First	O
Amendment	O
,	O
is	O
Internet	B-Application
censorship	I-Application
,	O
would	O
cripple	O
the	O
Internet	O
,	O
and	O
would	O
threaten	O
whistle-blowing	O
and	O
other	O
free	O
speech	O
actions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
co-sponsor	O
Representative	O
Bob	O
Goodlatte	O
(	O
R-VA	O
)	O
,	O
chairman	O
of	O
the	O
House	O
Judiciary	O
Committee	O
's	O
Intellectual	O
Property	O
sub-panel	O
,	O
told	O
The	O
Hill	O
that	O
SOPA	B-Application
is	O
a	O
rewrite	O
of	O
the	O
Senate	O
's	O
bill	O
that	O
addresses	O
some	O
tech-industry	O
concerns	O
,	O
noting	O
that	O
under	O
the	O
House	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
legislation	O
copyright	O
holders	O
wo	O
n't	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
directly	O
sue	O
intermediaries	O
such	O
as	O
search	B-Application
engines	I-Application
to	O
block	O
infringing	O
websites	O
and	O
would	O
instead	O
need	O
a	O
court	O
's	O
approval	O
before	O
taking	O
action	O
against	O
third	O
parties	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Smith	O
added	O
,	O
"	O
The	O
Stop	B-Application
Online	I-Application
Piracy	I-Application
Act	I-Application
helps	O
stop	O
the	O
flow	O
of	O
revenue	O
to	O
rogue	O
websites	O
and	O
ensures	O
that	O
the	O
profits	O
from	O
American	O
innovations	O
go	O
to	O
American	O
innovators.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
RxRights	O
,	O
a	O
consumer-advocacy	O
group	O
,	O
issued	O
a	O
statement	O
saying	O
that	O
Clark	O
failed	O
"	O
to	O
acknowledge	O
that	O
there	O
are	O
Canadian	O
and	O
other	O
international	O
pharmacies	O
that	O
do	O
disclose	O
where	O
they	O
are	O
located	O
,	O
require	O
a	O
valid	O
doctor	O
's	O
prescription	O
and	O
sell	O
safe	O
,	O
brand-name	O
medications	O
produced	O
by	O
the	O
same	O
leading	O
manufacturers	O
as	O
prescription	O
medications	O
sold	O
in	O
the	O
U.S.	O
"	O
They	O
had	O
earlier	O
said	O
that	O
SOPA	B-Application
"	O
fails	O
to	O
distinguish	O
between	O
counterfeit	O
and	O
genuine	O
pharmacies	O
"	O
and	O
would	O
prevent	O
American	O
patients	O
from	O
ordering	O
their	O
medications	O
from	O
Canadian	O
pharmacies	O
online	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bill	O
sponsor	O
Smith	O
accused	O
Google	B-Application
of	O
obstructing	O
the	O
bill	O
,	O
citing	O
its	O
$500	O
million	O
settlement	O
with	O
the	O
DOJ	O
on	O
charges	O
that	O
it	O
allowed	O
ads	O
from	O
Canadian	O
pharmacies	O
,	O
leading	O
to	O
illegal	O
imports	O
of	O
prescription	O
drugs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
the	O
Center	O
for	O
Democracy	O
and	O
Technology	O
warned	O
,	O
"	O
If	O
SOPA	B-Application
and	O
PIPA	O
are	O
enacted	O
,	O
the	O
US	O
government	O
must	O
be	O
prepared	O
for	O
other	O
governments	O
to	O
follow	O
suit	O
,	O
in	O
service	O
to	O
whatever	O
social	O
policies	O
they	O
believe	O
are	O
important	O
—	O
whether	O
restricting	O
hate	O
speech	O
,	O
insults	O
to	O
public	O
officials	O
,	O
or	O
political	O
dissent.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Laurence	O
H	O
.	O
Tribe	O
,	O
a	O
Harvard	O
University	O
professor	O
of	O
constitutional	O
law	O
,	O
released	O
an	O
open	O
letter	O
on	O
the	O
web	O
stating	O
that	O
SOPA	B-Application
would	O
"	O
undermine	O
the	O
openness	O
and	O
free	O
exchange	O
of	O
information	O
at	O
the	O
heart	O
of	O
the	O
Internet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
CIO	O
's	O
Paul	O
Almeida	O
,	O
arguing	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
SOPA	B-Application
,	O
has	O
stated	O
that	O
free	O
speech	O
was	O
not	O
a	O
relevant	O
consideration	O
,	O
because	O
"	O
Freedom	O
of	O
speech	O
is	O
not	O
the	O
same	O
as	O
lawlessness	O
on	O
the	O
Internet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
John	O
Palfrey	O
,	O
co-director	O
of	O
the	O
Berkman	O
Center	O
for	O
Internet	O
&	O
Society	O
,	O
expressed	O
disagreement	O
with	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
his	O
research	O
findings	O
to	O
support	O
SOPA	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
SOPA	B-Application
would	O
make	O
many	O
DNS	B-Protocol
circumvention	O
tools	O
illegal	O
,	O
"	O
which	O
could	O
put	O
"	O
dissident	O
communities	O
"	O
in	O
autocratic	O
countries	O
"	O
at	O
much	O
greater	O
risk	O
than	O
they	O
already	O
are.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Opponents	O
have	O
warned	O
that	O
SOPA	B-Application
could	O
have	O
a	O
negative	O
impact	O
on	O
online	O
communities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Journalist	O
Rebecca	O
MacKinnon	O
argued	O
in	O
an	O
op-ed	O
that	O
making	O
companies	O
liable	O
for	O
users	O
 '	O
actions	O
could	O
have	O
a	O
chilling	O
effect	O
on	O
user-generated	O
sites	O
such	O
as	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
.	I-General_Concept
</s>
<s>
"	O
The	O
intention	O
is	O
not	O
the	O
same	O
as	O
China	O
's	O
Great	O
Firewall	O
,	O
a	O
nationwide	O
system	O
of	O
Web	B-Application
censorship	I-Application
,	O
but	O
the	O
practical	O
effect	O
could	O
be	O
similar	O
,	O
"	O
Mackinnon	O
stated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Electronic	O
Frontier	O
Foundation	O
(	O
EFF	O
)	O
warned	O
that	O
websites	O
Etsy	O
,	O
Flickr	B-Algorithm
and	O
Vimeo	O
all	O
seemed	O
likely	O
to	O
shut	O
down	O
if	O
the	O
bill	O
becomes	O
law	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
EFF	O
claimed	O
the	O
bill	O
would	O
ban	O
linking	O
to	O
sites	O
deemed	O
offending	O
,	O
even	O
in	O
search	B-Application
results	I-Application
and	O
on	O
services	O
such	O
as	O
Twitter	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Christian	O
Dawson	O
,	O
Chief	O
Operating	O
Officer	O
(	O
COO	O
)	O
of	O
Virginia-based	O
hosting	O
company	O
ServInt	O
,	O
predicted	O
that	O
the	O
legislation	O
would	O
lead	O
to	O
many	O
cloud	B-Architecture
computing	I-Architecture
and	O
Web	O
hosting	O
services	O
moving	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
US	O
to	O
avoid	O
lawsuits	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Even	O
without	O
SOPA	B-Application
,	O
the	O
U.S.	O
Immigration	O
and	O
Customs	O
Enforcement	O
agency	O
(	O
ICE	O
)	O
has	O
already	O
launched	O
extradition	O
proceedings	O
against	O
Richard	O
O'Dwyer	O
in	O
the	O
UK	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Electronic	O
Frontier	O
Foundation	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
requirement	O
that	O
any	O
site	O
must	O
self-police	O
user	O
generated	O
content	O
would	O
impose	O
significant	O
liability	O
costs	O
and	O
explains	O
"	O
why	O
venture	O
capitalists	O
have	O
said	O
en	O
masse	O
they	O
wo	O
n't	O
invest	O
in	O
online	O
startups	O
if	O
PIPA	O
and	O
SOPA	B-Application
pass	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MPAA	O
Chairman	O
Chris	O
Dodd	O
noted	O
that	O
Google	B-Application
figured	O
out	O
how	O
to	O
block	O
sites	O
when	O
China	O
requested	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
ISPs	O
in	O
Denmark	O
,	O
Finland	O
,	O
Ireland	O
and	O
Italy	O
blocked	O
The	B-Application
Pirate	I-Application
Bay	I-Application
after	O
courts	O
ruled	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
music	O
and	O
film	O
industry	O
litigation	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
coalition	O
of	O
film	O
and	O
record	O
companies	O
has	O
threatened	O
to	O
sue	O
British	O
Telecom	O
if	O
it	O
does	O
not	O
follow	O
suit	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
SOPA	B-Application
would	O
bypass	O
this	O
"	O
safe	O
harbor	O
"	O
provision	O
by	O
placing	O
the	O
responsibility	O
for	O
detecting	O
and	O
policing	O
infringement	O
onto	O
the	O
site	O
itself	O
,	O
and	O
allowing	O
judges	O
to	O
block	O
access	O
to	O
websites	O
"	O
dedicated	O
to	O
theft	O
of	O
U.S.	O
property	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
analysis	O
in	O
the	O
information	O
technology	O
magazine	O
eWeek	O
stated	O
,	O
"	O
The	O
language	O
of	O
SOPA	B-Application
is	O
so	O
broad	O
,	O
the	O
rules	O
so	O
unconnected	O
to	O
the	O
reality	O
of	O
Internet	O
technology	O
and	O
the	O
penalties	O
so	O
disconnected	O
from	O
the	O
alleged	O
crimes	O
that	O
this	O
bill	O
could	O
effectively	O
kill	O
e-commerce	O
or	O
even	O
normal	O
Internet	O
use	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Booz	O
&	O
Company	O
on	O
November	O
16	O
published	O
a	O
Google-funded	O
study	O
finding	O
that	O
almost	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
200	O
venture	O
capitalists	O
and	O
angel	O
investors	O
interviewed	O
would	O
stop	O
funding	O
digital	O
media	O
intermediaries	O
if	O
the	O
bill	O
became	O
law	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
reported	O
by	O
David	O
Carr	O
of	O
The	O
New	O
York	O
Times	O
in	O
an	O
article	O
critical	O
of	O
SOPA	B-Application
and	O
PIPA	O
,	O
Google	B-Application
,	O
Facebook	B-Application
,	O
Twitter	B-Application
,	O
and	O
other	O
companies	O
sent	O
a	O
joint	O
letter	O
to	O
Congress	O
,	O
stating	O
"	O
We	O
support	O
the	O
bills	O
 '	O
stated	O
goals	O
–	O
providing	O
additional	O
enforcement	O
tools	O
to	O
combat	O
foreign	O
'	O
rogue	O
 '	O
Web	O
sites	O
that	O
are	O
dedicated	O
to	O
copyright	O
infringement	O
or	O
counterfeiting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Smith	O
responded	O
,	O
saying	O
,	O
the	O
article	O
"	O
unfairly	O
criticizes	O
the	O
Stop	B-Application
Online	I-Application
Piracy	I-Application
Act	I-Application
"	O
,	O
and	O
,	O
"	O
does	O
not	O
point	O
to	O
any	O
language	O
in	O
the	O
bill	O
to	O
back	O
up	O
the	O
claims	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
SOPA	B-Application
targets	O
only	O
foreign	O
Web	O
sites	O
that	O
are	O
primarily	O
dedicated	O
to	O
illegal	O
and	O
infringing	O
activity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
aide	O
to	O
Rep.	O
Smith	O
said	O
,	O
"	O
This	O
bill	O
does	O
not	O
make	O
it	O
a	O
felony	O
for	O
a	O
person	O
to	O
post	O
a	O
video	O
on	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
of	O
their	O
children	O
singing	O
to	O
a	O
copyrighted	O
song	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sites	O
that	O
host	O
user	O
content	O
—	O
like	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
,	O
Facebook	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Twitter	B-Application
—	O
have	O
nothing	O
to	O
be	O
concerned	O
about	O
under	O
this	O
legislation.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
A	O
.	O
M	O
.	O
Reilly	O
of	O
Industry	O
Leaders	O
Magazine	O
,	O
under	O
SOPA	B-Application
,	O
culpability	O
for	O
distributing	O
copyright	O
material	O
is	O
extended	O
to	O
those	O
who	O
aid	O
the	O
initial	O
poster	O
of	O
the	O
material	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
companies	O
that	O
use	O
virtual	B-Application
private	I-Application
networks	I-Application
(	O
VPN	B-Application
)	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
network	O
that	O
appears	O
to	O
be	O
internal	O
but	O
is	O
spread	O
across	O
various	O
offices	O
and	O
employees	O
 '	O
homes	O
,	O
any	O
of	O
these	O
offsite	O
locations	O
that	O
initiate	O
sharing	O
of	O
copyright	O
material	O
could	O
put	O
the	O
entire	O
VPN	B-Application
and	O
hosting	O
company	O
at	O
risk	O
of	O
violation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
focusing	O
on	O
specific	O
sites	O
rather	O
than	O
entire	O
domains	O
,	O
action	O
can	O
be	O
targeted	O
against	O
only	O
the	O
illegal	O
subdomain	O
or	O
Internet	B-Protocol
protocol	I-Protocol
address	I-Protocol
rather	O
than	O
taking	O
action	O
against	O
the	O
entire	O
domain.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Electronic	O
Frontier	O
Foundation	O
expressed	O
concern	O
that	O
free	B-License
and	I-License
open	I-License
source	I-License
software	I-License
(	O
FOSS	B-License
)	O
projects	O
found	O
to	O
be	O
aiding	O
online	O
piracy	O
could	O
experience	O
serious	O
problems	O
under	O
SOPA	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Of	O
special	O
concern	O
was	O
the	O
web	B-Application
browser	I-Application
Firefox	B-Application
,	O
which	O
has	O
an	O
optional	O
extension	O
,	O
MAFIAAFire	O
Redirector	O
,	O
that	O
redirects	O
users	O
to	O
a	O
new	O
location	O
for	O
domains	O
that	O
were	O
seized	O
by	O
the	O
U.S.	O
government	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
editorial	O
in	O
the	O
San	O
Jose	O
Mercury-News	O
stated	O
,	O
"	O
Imagine	O
the	O
resources	O
required	O
to	O
parse	O
through	O
the	O
millions	O
of	O
Google	B-Application
and	O
Facebook	B-Application
offerings	O
every	O
day	O
looking	O
for	O
pirates	O
who	O
,	O
if	O
found	O
,	O
can	O
just	O
toss	O
up	O
another	O
site	O
in	O
no	O
time.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
John	O
Palfrey	O
of	O
the	O
Berkman	O
Center	O
for	O
Internet	O
&	O
Society	O
commented	O
,	O
"	O
DNS	B-Protocol
filtering	O
is	O
by	O
necessity	O
either	O
overbroad	O
or	O
underbroad	O
;	O
it	O
either	O
blocks	O
too	O
much	O
or	O
too	O
little	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Content	O
on	O
the	O
Internet	O
changes	O
its	O
place	O
and	O
nature	O
rapidly	O
,	O
and	O
DNS	B-Protocol
filtering	O
is	O
ineffective	O
when	O
it	O
comes	O
to	O
keeping	O
up	O
with	O
it.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Markham	O
Erickson	O
,	O
head	O
of	O
NetCoalition	O
,	O
which	O
opposes	O
SOPA	B-Application
,	O
the	O
section	O
of	O
the	O
bill	O
that	O
would	O
allow	O
judges	O
to	O
order	O
internet	O
service	O
providers	O
to	O
block	O
access	O
to	O
infringing	O
websites	O
to	O
customers	O
located	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
would	O
also	O
allow	O
the	O
checking	O
of	O
those	O
customers	O
 '	O
IP	B-Protocol
address	I-Protocol
,	O
a	O
method	O
known	O
as	O
IP	B-Protocol
address	I-Protocol
blocking	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Erickson	O
has	O
expressed	O
concerns	O
that	O
such	O
an	O
order	O
might	O
require	O
those	O
providers	O
to	O
engage	O
in	O
"	O
deep	B-Application
packet	I-Application
inspection	I-Application
,	O
"	O
which	O
involves	O
analyzing	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
content	O
being	O
transmitted	O
to	O
and	O
from	O
the	O
user	O
,	O
raising	O
new	O
privacy	O
concerns	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Domain	B-Protocol
Name	I-Protocol
System	I-Protocol
(	O
DNS	B-Protocol
)	O
servers	O
,	O
sometimes	O
likened	O
to	O
a	O
telephone	O
directory	O
,	O
translate	O
browser	B-Application
requests	O
for	O
domain	O
names	O
into	O
the	O
IP	B-Protocol
address	I-Protocol
assigned	O
to	O
that	O
computer	O
or	O
network	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
bill	O
requires	O
these	O
servers	O
to	O
stop	O
referring	O
requests	O
for	O
infringing	O
domains	O
to	O
their	O
assigned	O
IP	B-Protocol
addresses	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
DNS	B-Protocol
is	O
robust	O
by	O
design	O
against	O
failure	O
and	O
requires	O
that	O
a	O
lack	O
of	O
response	O
is	O
met	O
by	O
inquiries	O
to	O
other	O
DNS	B-Protocol
servers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Andrew	O
Lee	O
,	O
CEO	O
of	O
ESET	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
objected	O
that	O
since	O
the	O
bill	O
would	O
require	O
internet	O
service	O
providers	O
to	O
filter	O
DNS	B-Protocol
queries	I-Protocol
for	O
the	O
sites	O
,	O
this	O
would	O
undermine	O
the	O
integrity	O
of	O
the	O
Domain	B-Protocol
Name	I-Protocol
System	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
David	O
Ulevitch	O
,	O
the	O
San	O
Francisco-based	O
head	O
of	O
OpenDNS	B-Protocol
,	O
the	O
passage	O
of	O
SOPA	B-Application
could	O
cause	O
Americans	O
to	O
switch	O
to	O
DNS	B-Protocol
providers	O
located	O
in	O
other	O
countries	O
who	O
offer	O
encrypted	O
links	O
,	O
and	O
may	O
cause	O
U.S.	O
providers	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
OpenDNS	B-Protocol
itself	O
,	O
to	O
move	O
to	O
other	O
countries	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Cayman	O
Islands	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
2011	O
,	O
an	O
anonymous	O
top-level	O
domain	O
,	O
.bit	B-Protocol
,	O
was	O
launched	O
outside	O
of	O
ICANN	B-Application
control	O
,	O
as	O
a	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
perceived	O
threat	O
from	O
SOPA	B-Application
,	O
although	O
its	O
effectiveness	O
(	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
effectiveness	O
of	O
other	O
alternative	B-Protocol
DNS	I-Protocol
roots	I-Protocol
)	O
remains	O
unknown	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
12	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
House	O
sponsor	O
Lamar	O
Smith	O
announced	O
that	O
provisions	O
related	O
to	O
DNS	B-Protocol
redirection	O
would	O
be	O
pulled	O
from	O
the	O
bill	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Users	O
running	O
secure	O
applications	O
need	O
to	O
distinguish	O
between	O
policy-based	O
failures	O
and	O
failures	O
caused	O
,	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
by	O
the	O
presence	O
of	O
an	O
attack	O
or	O
a	O
hostile	O
network	O
,	O
or	O
else	O
downgrade	B-Protocol
attacks	I-Protocol
would	O
likely	O
be	O
prolific.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Stewart	O
Baker	O
,	O
former	O
first	O
Assistant	O
Secretary	O
for	O
Policy	O
at	O
the	O
Department	O
of	O
Homeland	O
Security	O
and	O
former	O
General	O
Counsel	O
of	O
the	O
National	O
Security	O
Agency	O
,	O
stated	O
that	O
SOPA	B-Application
would	O
do	O
"	O
great	O
damage	O
to	O
Internet	O
security	O
"	O
by	O
undermining	O
Domain	B-Protocol
Name	I-Protocol
System	I-Protocol
Security	I-Protocol
Extensions	I-Protocol
(	O
DNSSEC	B-Protocol
)	O
,	O
a	O
proposed	O
security	O
upgrade	O
for	O
DNS	B-Protocol
,	O
since	O
a	O
browser	B-Application
must	O
treat	O
all	O
redirects	O
the	O
same	O
,	O
and	O
must	O
continue	O
to	O
search	O
until	O
it	O
finds	O
a	O
DNS	B-Protocol
server	O
(	O
possibly	O
overseas	O
)	O
providing	O
untampered	O
results	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
December	O
14	O
,	O
2011	O
he	O
wrote	O
that	O
SOPA	B-Application
was	O
"	O
badly	O
in	O
need	O
of	O
a	O
knockout	O
punch	O
"	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
impact	O
on	O
security	O
and	O
DNS	B-Protocol
:	O
</s>
<s>
DNSSEC	B-Protocol
is	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
protocols	O
developed	O
by	O
the	O
Internet	O
Engineering	O
Task	O
Force	O
(	O
IETF	O
)	O
for	O
ensuring	O
internet	O
security	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
white	O
paper	O
by	O
the	O
Brookings	O
Institution	O
noted	O
,	O
"	O
The	O
DNS	B-Protocol
system	I-Protocol
is	O
based	O
on	O
trust	O
"	O
,	O
adding	O
that	O
DNSSEC	B-Protocol
was	O
developed	O
to	O
prevent	O
malicious	O
redirection	O
of	O
DNS	B-Protocol
traffic	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
"	O
other	O
forms	O
of	O
redirection	O
will	O
break	O
the	O
assurances	O
from	O
this	O
security	O
tool	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
17	O
,	O
Sandia	O
National	O
Laboratories	O
,	O
a	O
research	O
agency	O
of	O
the	O
U.S.	O
Department	O
of	O
Energy	O
,	O
released	O
a	O
technical	O
assessment	O
of	O
the	O
DNS	B-Protocol
filtering	O
provisions	O
in	O
the	O
House	O
and	O
Senate	O
bills	O
,	O
in	O
response	O
to	O
Representative	O
Zoe	B-Application
Lofgren	O
's	O
(	O
D-CA	O
)	O
request	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
assessment	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
proposed	O
DNS	B-Protocol
filtering	O
would	O
be	O
unlikely	O
to	O
be	O
effective	O
,	O
would	O
negatively	O
impact	O
internet	O
security	O
,	O
and	O
would	O
delay	O
full	O
implementation	O
of	O
DNSSEC	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
18	O
,	O
House	O
Cybersecurity	O
Subcommittee	O
chair	O
Dan	O
Lungren	O
stated	O
that	O
he	O
had	O
"	O
very	O
serious	O
concerns	O
"	O
about	O
SOPA	B-Application
's	O
impact	O
on	O
DNSSEC	B-Protocol
,	O
adding	O
,	O
"	O
we	O
do	O
n't	O
have	O
enough	O
information	O
,	O
and	O
if	O
this	O
is	O
a	O
serious	O
problem	O
as	O
was	O
suggested	O
by	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
technical	O
experts	O
that	O
got	O
in	O
touch	O
with	O
me	O
,	O
we	O
have	O
to	O
address	O
it	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Brooklyn	O
Law	O
School	O
professor	O
Jason	O
Mazzone	O
warned	O
,	O
"	O
Much	O
of	O
what	O
will	O
happen	O
under	O
SOPA	B-Application
will	O
occur	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
public	O
eye	O
and	O
without	O
the	O
possibility	O
of	O
holding	O
anyone	O
accountable	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Stop	B-Application
Online	I-Application
Piracy	I-Application
Act	I-Application
was	O
introduced	O
by	O
Representative	O
Lamar	O
Smith	O
(	O
R-TX	O
)	O
and	O
was	O
initially	O
co-sponsored	O
by	O
Howard	O
Berman	O
(	O
D-CA	O
)	O
,	O
Marsha	O
Blackburn	O
(	O
R-TN	O
)	O
,	O
Mary	O
Bono	O
Mack	O
(	O
R-CA	O
)	O
,	O
Steve	O
Chabot	O
(	O
R-OH	O
)	O
,	O
John	O
Conyers	O
(	O
D-MI	O
)	O
,	O
Ted	O
Deutch	O
(	O
D-FL	O
)	O
,	O
Elton	O
Gallegly	O
(	O
R-CA	O
)	O
,	O
Bob	O
Goodlatte	O
(	O
R-VA	O
)	O
,	O
Timothy	O
Griffin	O
(	O
R-AR	O
)	O
,	O
Dennis	O
A	O
.	O
Ross	O
(	O
R-FL	O
)	O
,	O
Adam	O
Schiff	O
(	O
D-CA	O
)	O
and	O
Lee	O
Terry	O
(	O
R-NE	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
joint	O
statement	O
,	O
the	O
American	O
Federation	O
of	O
Musicians	O
(	O
AFM	O
)	O
,	O
American	O
Federation	O
of	O
Television	O
and	O
Radio	O
Artists	O
(	O
AFTRA	O
)	O
,	O
Directors	O
Guild	O
of	O
America	O
(	O
DGA	O
)	O
,	O
International	O
Alliance	O
of	O
Theatrical	O
Stage	O
Employees	O
,	O
Moving	O
Picture	O
Technicians	O
,	O
Artists	O
and	O
Allied	O
Crafts	O
of	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
Its	O
Territories	O
and	O
Canada	O
(	O
IATSE	O
)	O
,	O
International	O
Brotherhood	O
of	O
Teamsters	O
(	O
IBT	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Screen	O
Actors	O
Guild	O
(	O
SAG	O
)	O
all	O
showed	O
support	O
for	O
SOPA	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
McCurry	O
represented	O
SOPA/PIPA	O
in	O
Politico	O
as	O
a	O
way	O
to	O
combat	O
theft	O
online	O
,	O
drawing	O
a	O
favorable	O
comment	O
from	O
the	O
MPAA	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
22	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
a	O
letter	O
signed	O
by	O
over	O
350	O
businesses	O
and	O
organizations	O
—	O
including	O
NBCUniversal	O
,	O
Pfizer	O
,	O
Ford	O
Motor	O
Company	O
,	O
Revlon	O
,	O
NBA	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Macmillan	O
US	O
—	O
was	O
sent	O
to	O
Congress	O
encouraging	O
the	O
passage	O
of	O
the	O
legislation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
December	O
5	O
,	O
the	O
Information	O
Technology	O
and	O
Innovation	O
Foundation	O
,	O
a	O
non-partisan	O
non-profit	O
,	O
published	O
an	O
article	O
that	O
blasted	O
critics	O
of	O
SOPA	B-Application
and	O
defended	O
the	O
bill	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
report	O
called	O
opponents	O
 '	O
claims	O
about	O
DNS	B-Protocol
filtering	O
"	O
inaccurate	O
,	O
"	O
their	O
warnings	O
against	O
censorship	O
as	O
"	O
unfounded	O
"	O
and	O
recommended	O
that	O
the	O
legislation	O
be	O
revised	O
and	O
passed	O
into	O
law	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
December	O
22	O
,	O
Go	O
Daddy	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
world	O
's	O
largest	O
domain	O
name	O
registrars	O
,	O
stated	O
that	O
it	O
supported	O
SOPA	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2012	O
,	O
the	O
Entertainment	O
Software	O
Association	O
announced	O
support	O
for	O
SOPA	B-Application
,	O
although	O
some	O
association	O
members	O
expressed	O
opposition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
fact	O
that	O
the	O
courts	O
have	O
said	O
that	O
entities	O
like	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
can	O
be	O
passive	O
when	O
it	O
comes	O
to	O
copyright	O
infringement	O
,	O
and	O
just	O
wait	O
for	O
notices	O
rather	O
than	O
having	O
to	O
take	O
any	O
affirmative	O
action	O
,	O
is	O
also	O
frustrating	O
to	O
them	O
"	O
,	O
he	O
said	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
14	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
the	O
Obama	O
administration	O
responded	O
to	O
a	O
petition	O
against	O
the	O
bill	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
while	O
it	O
would	O
not	O
support	O
legislation	O
with	O
provisions	O
that	O
could	O
lead	O
to	O
Internet	B-Application
censorship	I-Application
,	O
squelching	O
of	O
innovation	O
,	O
or	O
reduced	O
Internet	O
security	O
,	O
it	O
encouraged	O
"	O
all	O
sides	O
to	O
work	O
together	O
to	O
pass	O
sound	O
legislation	O
this	O
year	O
that	O
provides	O
prosecutors	O
and	O
rights	O
holders	O
new	O
legal	O
tools	O
to	O
combat	O
online	O
piracy	O
originating	O
beyond	O
U.S.	O
borders	O
while	O
staying	O
true	O
to	O
the	O
principles	O
outlined	O
above	O
in	O
this	O
response.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
More	O
than	O
100,000	O
people	O
petitioned	O
the	O
White	B-Application
House	I-Application
in	O
protest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Three	O
officials	O
from	O
the	O
Obama	O
administration	O
articulated	O
the	O
White	B-Application
House	I-Application
's	O
position	O
on	O
proposed	O
anti-piracy	O
legislation	O
,	O
balancing	O
the	O
need	O
for	O
strong	O
antipiracy	O
measures	O
while	O
respecting	O
both	O
freedom	O
of	O
expression	O
and	O
the	O
way	O
information	O
and	O
ideas	O
are	O
shared	O
on	O
the	O
Internet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Representative	O
Jared	O
Polis	O
(	O
D-CO	O
)	O
was	O
known	O
to	O
lobby	O
against	O
SOPA	B-Application
in	O
the	O
game	O
League	B-Application
of	I-Application
Legends	I-Application
,	O
also	O
making	O
a	O
post	O
in	O
the	O
official	O
game	O
message	O
boards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Opponents	O
include	O
,	O
Fight	B-Application
for	I-Application
the	I-Application
Future	I-Application
,	O
Google	B-Application
,	O
Yahoo	O
!,	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
,	O
Facebook	B-Application
,	O
Twitter	B-Application
,	O
AOL	O
,	O
LinkedIn	B-Application
,	O
eBay	B-Application
,	O
Mozilla	O
Corporation	O
,	O
Mojang	O
,	O
Riot	O
Games	O
,	O
Epic	O
Games	O
,	O
Reddit	B-Application
,	O
</s>
<s>
Kaspersky	O
Lab	O
,	O
a	O
major	O
computer	O
security	O
company	O
,	O
demonstrated	O
its	O
opposition	O
to	O
SOPA	B-Application
and	O
"	O
decided	O
to	O
discontinue	O
its	O
membership	O
in	O
the	O
BSA	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
December	O
13	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
Julian	O
Sanchez	O
of	O
the	O
libertarian	O
think	O
tank	O
Cato	O
Institute	O
came	O
out	O
in	O
strong	O
opposition	O
to	O
the	O
bill	O
saying	O
that	O
while	O
the	O
amended	O
version	O
"	O
trims	O
or	O
softens	O
a	O
few	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
egregious	O
provisions	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
proposal	O
...	O
the	O
fundamental	O
problem	O
with	O
SOPA	B-Application
has	O
never	O
been	O
these	O
details	O
;	O
it	O
's	O
the	O
core	O
idea	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Harvard	O
law	O
professor	O
's	O
analysis	O
said	O
that	O
this	O
provision	O
was	O
written	O
so	O
broadly	O
that	O
it	O
could	O
make	O
mainstream	O
musicians	O
felons	O
for	O
uploading	O
covers	O
of	O
other	O
people	O
's	O
music	O
to	O
sites	O
like	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
.	I-General_Concept
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
22	O
,	O
Mike	O
Masnick	O
of	O
Techdirt	O
called	O
SOPA	B-Application
"	O
toxic	O
"	O
and	O
published	O
a	O
detailed	O
criticism	O
of	O
the	O
ideas	O
underlying	O
the	O
bill	O
,	O
writing	O
that	O
"	O
one	O
could	O
argue	O
that	O
the	O
entire	O
Internet	O
enables	O
or	O
facilitates	O
infringement	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
saying	O
that	O
a	O
list	O
of	O
sites	O
compiled	O
by	O
the	O
entertainment	O
industry	O
included	O
the	O
personal	O
site	O
of	O
one	O
of	O
their	O
own	O
artists	O
,	O
50	O
Cent	O
,	O
and	O
legitimate	O
internet	O
companies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Paul	O
Graham	O
,	O
the	O
founder	O
of	O
venture	O
capital	O
company	O
Y	O
Combinator	O
opposed	O
the	O
bill	O
,	O
and	O
banned	O
all	O
SOPA-supporting	O
companies	O
from	O
their	O
"	O
demo	O
day	O
"	O
events	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
If	O
these	O
companies	O
are	O
so	O
clueless	O
about	O
technology	O
that	O
they	O
think	O
SOPA	B-Application
is	O
a	O
good	O
idea	O
"	O
,	O
he	O
asks	O
,	O
"	O
how	O
could	O
they	O
be	O
good	O
investors	O
?	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Prominent	O
pro-democracy	O
movement	O
,	O
Avaaz.org	B-Application
started	O
a	O
petition	O
in	O
protest	O
over	O
SOPA	B-Application
and	O
so	O
far	O
has	O
got	O
over	O
3.4	O
million	O
signatures	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Center	O
for	O
Democracy	O
and	O
Technology	O
maintains	O
a	O
list	O
of	O
SOPA	B-Application
and	O
PIPA	O
opponents	O
consisting	O
of	O
the	O
editorial	O
boards	O
of	O
The	O
New	O
York	O
Times	O
,	O
the	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
Times	O
,	O
34	O
other	O
organizations	O
and	O
hundreds	O
of	O
prominent	O
individuals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Zynga	O
Game	O
Network	O
,	O
creator	O
of	O
Facebook	B-Application
games	O
Texas	B-Application
HoldEm	I-Application
Poker	I-Application
and	O
FarmVille	B-Application
,	O
wrote	O
to	O
the	O
sponsors	O
of	O
both	O
bills	O
highlighting	O
concerns	O
over	O
the	O
effect	O
on	O
"	O
the	O
DMCA	O
's	O
safe	O
harbor	O
provisions	O
...	O
 [ which ] 	O
...	O
have	O
been	O
a	O
cornerstone	O
of	O
the	O
U.S.	O
Technology	O
and	O
industry	O
's	O
growth	O
and	O
success	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
opposing	O
the	O
bill	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
impact	O
on	O
"	O
innovation	O
and	O
dynamism	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Computer	O
scientist	O
Vint	O
Cerf	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
founders	O
of	O
the	O
Internet	O
,	O
now	O
Google	B-Application
vice	O
president	O
,	O
wrote	O
to	O
Smith	O
,	O
saying	O
"	O
Requiring	O
search	B-Application
engines	I-Application
to	O
delete	O
a	O
domain	O
name	O
begins	O
a	O
worldwide	O
arms	O
race	O
of	O
unprecedented	O
'	O
censorship	O
 '	O
of	O
the	O
Web	O
"	O
,	O
in	O
a	O
letter	O
published	O
on	O
CNet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
December	O
15	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
a	O
second	O
hearing	O
was	O
scheduled	O
to	O
amend	O
and	O
vote	O
on	O
SOPA	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
NetCoalition	O
,	O
which	O
works	O
with	O
Google	B-Application
,	O
Twitter	B-Application
,	O
eBay	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Facebook	B-Application
,	O
appreciated	O
that	O
Smith	O
was	O
listening	O
,	O
but	O
says	O
it	O
nonetheless	O
could	O
not	O
support	O
the	O
amendment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
2011	O
,	O
screenwriter	O
and	O
comics	O
writer	O
Steve	O
Niles	O
spoke	O
out	O
against	O
SOPA	B-Application
,	O
commenting	O
,	O
"	O
I	O
know	O
folks	O
are	O
scared	O
to	O
speak	O
out	O
because	O
a	O
lot	O
of	O
us	O
work	O
for	O
these	O
companies	O
,	O
but	O
we	O
have	O
to	O
fight	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2012	O
,	O
novelist	O
,	O
screenwriter	O
and	O
comics	O
writer	O
Peter	O
David	O
directed	O
his	O
ire	O
at	O
the	O
intellectual	O
property	O
pirates	O
whose	O
activities	O
he	O
felt	O
provoked	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
SOPA	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
expressing	O
opposition	O
to	O
SOPA	B-Application
because	O
of	O
his	O
view	O
that	O
the	O
then-current	O
language	O
of	O
the	O
bill	O
would	O
go	O
too	O
far	O
in	O
its	O
restriction	O
of	O
free	O
expression	O
,	O
and	O
would	O
probably	O
be	O
scaled	O
down	O
,	O
David	O
argued	O
that	O
content	O
pirates	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
websites	O
that	O
had	O
posted	O
his	O
novels	O
online	O
in	O
their	O
entirety	O
for	O
free	O
downloads	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
users	O
who	O
supported	O
or	O
took	O
advantage	O
of	O
these	O
activities	O
,	O
could	O
have	O
prevented	O
SOPA	B-Application
by	O
respecting	O
copyright	O
laws	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
 [ ... ] 	O
We	O
fear	O
that	O
the	O
broad	O
new	O
enforcement	O
powers	O
provided	O
under	O
SOPA	B-Application
and	O
PIPA	O
could	O
be	O
easily	O
abused	O
against	O
legitimate	O
services	O
like	O
those	O
upon	O
which	O
we	O
depend	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
while	O
other	O
celebrities	O
,	O
including	O
Ashton	O
Kutcher	O
,	O
Alec	O
Baldwin	O
,	O
and	O
rapper	O
B.o.B	O
expressed	O
their	O
opposition	O
via	O
Twitter	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Daily	O
Shows	O
Jon	O
Stewart	O
stated	O
that	O
SOPA	B-Application
will	O
"	O
break	O
the	O
Internet	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Organizations	O
in	O
the	O
international	O
civil	O
and	O
human	O
rights	O
community	O
expressed	O
concerns	O
that	O
SOPA	B-Application
would	O
cause	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
to	O
lose	O
its	O
position	O
as	O
a	O
global	O
leader	O
in	O
supporting	O
a	O
free	O
and	O
open	O
Internet	O
for	O
public	O
good	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
18	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
the	O
European	O
Parliament	O
adopted	O
by	O
a	O
large	O
majority	O
a	O
resolution	O
that	O
"	O
stresses	O
the	O
need	O
to	O
protect	O
the	O
integrity	O
of	O
the	O
global	O
Internet	O
and	O
freedom	O
of	O
communication	O
by	O
refraining	O
from	O
unilateral	O
measures	O
to	O
revoke	O
IP	B-Protocol
addresses	I-Protocol
or	O
domain	O
names	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vice-President	O
of	O
the	O
European	O
Commission	O
and	O
European	O
Commissioner	O
for	O
Digital	O
Agenda	O
Neelie	O
Kroes	O
said	O
she	O
is	O
"	O
Glad	O
 [ the ] 	O
tide	O
is	O
turning	O
on	O
SOPA	B-Application
,	O
"	O
explaining	O
rather	O
than	O
having	O
"	O
bad	O
legislation	O
"	O
there	O
"	O
should	O
be	O
safeguarding	O
benefits	O
of	O
open	O
net	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
16	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
Tumblr	B-Application
,	O
Mozilla	O
,	O
Techdirt	O
,	O
the	O
Center	O
for	O
Democracy	O
and	O
Technology	O
were	O
among	O
many	O
Internet	O
companies	O
that	O
protested	O
by	O
participating	O
in	O
American	O
Censorship	O
Day	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Google	B-Application
linked	O
an	O
online	O
petition	O
to	O
its	O
site	O
,	O
and	O
says	O
it	O
collected	O
more	O
than	O
7	O
million	O
signatures	O
from	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2012	O
,	O
Reddit	B-Application
announced	O
plans	O
to	O
black	O
out	O
its	O
site	O
for	O
twelve	O
hours	O
on	O
January18	O
,	O
as	O
company	O
co-founder	O
Alexis	O
Ohanian	O
announced	O
he	O
was	O
going	O
to	O
testify	O
to	O
Congress	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
He	O
's	O
of	O
the	O
firm	O
position	O
that	O
SOPA	B-Application
could	O
potentially	O
'	O
obliterate	O
 '	O
the	O
entire	O
tech	O
industry	O
"	O
,	O
Paul	O
Tassi	O
wrote	O
in	O
Forbes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tassi	O
also	O
opined	O
that	O
Google	B-Application
and	O
Facebook	B-Application
would	O
have	O
to	O
join	O
the	O
blackout	O
to	O
reach	O
a	O
sufficiently	O
broad	O
audience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Wider	O
protests	O
were	O
considered	O
and	O
in	O
some	O
cases	O
committed	O
to	O
by	O
major	O
internet	O
sites	O
,	O
with	O
high-profile	O
bodies	O
such	O
as	O
Google	B-Application
,	O
Facebook	B-Application
,	O
Twitter	B-Application
,	O
Yahoo	B-Application
,	O
Amazon	B-Application
,	O
AOL	O
,	O
Reddit	B-Application
,	O
Mozilla	O
,	O
LinkedIn	B-Application
,	O
IAC	O
,	O
eBay	B-Application
,	O
PayPal	O
,	O
WordPress	B-Application
and	O
Wikimedia	O
being	O
widely	O
named	O
as	O
"	O
considering	O
"	O
or	O
committed	O
to	O
an	O
"	O
unprecedented	O
"	O
internet	O
blackout	O
on	O
January18	O
,	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
17	O
a	O
Republican	O
aide	O
on	O
Capitol	B-Application
Hill	I-Application
said	O
that	O
the	O
protests	O
were	O
making	O
their	O
mark	O
,	O
with	O
SOPA	B-Application
having	O
already	O
become	O
"	O
a	O
dirty	O
word	O
beyond	O
anything	O
you	O
can	O
imagine	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
21	O
,	O
2012	O
RT	O
news	O
reported	O
,	O
"	O
Bill	O
Killed	O
:	O
SOPA	B-Application
death	O
celebrated	O
as	O
Congress	O
recalls	O
anti-piracy	O
acts	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
SOPA	B-Application
supporters	O
complained	O
that	O
the	O
bill	O
was	O
being	O
misrepresented	O
amidst	O
the	O
protests	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
English	O
Wikipedia	B-Application
blackout	I-Application
occurred	O
for	O
24	O
hours	O
on	O
January	O
18	O
–	O
19	O
,	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
place	O
of	O
articles	O
(	O
with	O
the	O
exception	O
of	O
those	O
for	O
SOPA	B-Application
and	O
PIPA	O
themselves	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
site	O
showed	O
only	O
a	O
message	O
in	O
protest	O
of	O
SOPA	B-Application
and	O
PIPA	O
asking	O
visitors	O
to	O
"	O
Imagine	O
a	O
world	O
without	O
free	O
knowledge.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
month	O
earlier	O
,	O
Wikipedia	O
co-founder	O
Jimmy	O
Wales	O
initiated	O
discussion	O
with	O
editors	O
regarding	O
a	O
potential	O
knowledge	O
blackout	O
,	O
a	O
protest	O
inspired	O
by	O
a	O
successful	B-Application
campaign	I-Application
by	I-Application
the	I-Application
Italian-language	I-Application
Wikipedia	I-Application
to	O
block	O
the	O
Italian	O
DDL	O
intercettazioni	O
bill	O
,	O
terms	O
of	O
which	O
could	O
have	O
infringed	O
the	O
encyclopedia	O
's	O
editorial	O
independence	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
SOPA	B-Application
's	O
sponsor	O
in	O
the	O
House	O
,	O
Chairman	O
Smith	O
,	O
called	O
Wikipedia	O
's	O
blackout	O
a	O
"	O
publicity	O
stunt	O
"	O
saying	O
:	O
"	O
It	O
is	O
ironic	O
that	O
a	O
website	O
dedicated	O
to	O
providing	O
information	O
is	O
spreading	O
misinformation	O
about	O
the	O
Stop	O
Online	O
Piracy	O
Act.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Smith	O
went	O
on	O
to	O
insist	O
that	O
SOPA	B-Application
"	O
will	O
not	O
harm	O
Wikipedia	O
,	O
domestic	O
blogs	O
or	O
social	O
networking	O
sites	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
19	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Megaupload	B-Application
,	O
a	O
Hong	O
Kong	O
–	O
based	O
company	O
providing	O
file	O
sharing	O
services	O
,	O
was	O
shut	O
down	O
by	O
the	O
US	O
Department	O
of	O
Justice	O
and	O
the	O
Federal	O
Bureau	O
of	O
Investigation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
commentators	O
and	O
observers	O
have	O
asserted	O
that	O
the	O
FBI	O
shut	O
down	O
of	O
Megaupload	B-Application
proves	O
that	O
SOPA	B-Application
and	O
PIPA	O
are	O
unnecessary	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Committee	O
was	O
scheduled	O
to	O
continue	O
debate	O
in	O
January	O
2012	O
,	O
but	O
on	O
January	O
17	O
Chairman	O
Smith	O
said	O
that	O
"	O
Due	O
to	O
the	O
Republican	O
and	O
Democratic	O
retreats	O
taking	O
place	O
over	O
the	O
next	O
two	O
weeks	O
,	O
markup	O
of	O
the	O
Stop	B-Application
Online	I-Application
Piracy	I-Application
Act	I-Application
is	O
expected	O
to	O
resume	O
in	O
February.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
DNSSEC.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Member	O
after	O
member	O
admitted	O
that	O
they	O
really	O
did	O
n't	O
have	O
any	O
idea	O
what	O
impact	O
SOPA	B-Application
's	O
regulatory	O
provisions	O
would	O
have	O
on	O
the	O
DNS	B-Protocol
,	O
online	O
security	O
,	O
or	O
much	O
of	O
anything	O
else.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Lungren	O
told	O
Politico	O
's	O
Morning	O
Tech	O
that	O
he	O
had	O
"	O
very	O
serious	O
concerns	O
"	O
about	O
SOPA	B-Application
's	O
impact	O
on	O
DNSSEC	B-Protocol
,	O
adding	O
"	O
we	O
do	O
n't	O
have	O
enough	O
information	O
,	O
and	O
if	O
this	O
is	O
a	O
serious	O
problem	O
as	O
was	O
suggested	O
by	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
technical	O
experts	O
that	O
got	O
in	O
touch	O
with	O
me	O
,	O
we	O
have	O
to	O
address	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Concerns	O
about	O
SOPA	B-Application
have	O
been	O
raised	O
by	O
Tea	O
Partiers	O
,	O
progressives	O
,	O
computer	O
scientists	O
,	O
human	O
rights	O
advocates	O
,	O
venture	O
capitalists	O
,	O
law	O
professors	O
,	O
independent	O
musicians	O
,	O
and	O
many	O
more	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
first	O
day	O
of	O
the	O
hearing	O
,	O
more	O
than	O
20	O
amendments	O
had	O
been	O
rejected	O
,	O
including	O
one	O
by	O
Darrell	O
Issa	O
which	O
would	O
have	O
stripped	O
provisions	O
targeting	O
search	B-Application
engines	I-Application
and	O
Internet	O
providers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
2014	O
Sony	O
Pictures	O
hack	O
revealed	O
that	O
the	O
MPAA	O
had	O
continued	O
its	O
efforts	O
to	O
enact	O
SOPA-like	O
blocking	O
principles	O
since	O
the	O
bill	O
died	O
in	O
Congress	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
emails	O
indicated	O
that	O
the	O
MPAA	O
was	O
actively	O
exploring	O
new	O
strategies	O
to	O
implement	O
SOPA-like	O
regulations	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
using	O
the	O
All	O
Writs	O
Act	O
to	O
"	O
allow	O
[	O
the	O
MPAA ]	O
to	O
obtain	O
court	O
orders	O
requiring	O
site	O
blocking	O
without	O
first	O
having	O
to	O
sue	O
and	O
prove	O
the	O
target	O
ISPs	O
are	O
liable	O
for	O
copyright	O
infringement.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
MPAA	O
has	O
also	O
allied	O
itself	O
with	O
National	O
Association	O
of	O
Attorneys	O
General	O
president	O
Jim	O
Hood	O
,	O
who	O
supports	O
SOPA	B-Application
principles	O
and	O
has	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
Google	B-Application
's	I-Application
not	O
a	O
government	O
…	O
they	O
do	O
n't	O
owe	O
anyone	O
a	O
First	O
Amendment	O
right	O
…	O
[i]f	O
you	O
're	O
an	O
illegal	O
site	O
,	O
you	O
ought	O
to	O
clean	O
up	O
your	O
act	O
,	O
instead	O
of	O
Google	B-Application
making	O
money	O
off	O
it.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
27	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
Hood	O
sent	O
a	O
letter	O
to	O
Google	B-Application
outlining	O
his	O
grievances	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
October	O
21	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
Hood	O
issued	O
a	O
subpoena	O
to	O
Google	B-Application
for	O
information	O
about	O
,	O
among	O
other	O
items	O
,	O
its	O
advertising	O
partnerships	O
and	O
practices	O
concerning	O
illegal	O
and	O
sexual	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Google	B-Application
requested	O
an	O
injunction	O
to	O
quash	O
the	O
subpoena	O
from	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
District	O
Court	O
of	O
the	O
Southern	O
District	O
of	O
Mississippi	O
,	O
Northern	O
Division	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Google	B-Application
was	O
granted	O
such	O
an	O
injunction	O
on	O
March	O
2	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
injunction	O
also	O
prevented	O
Hood	O
from	O
bringing	O
a	O
charge	O
against	O
Google	B-Application
for	O
making	O
third-party	O
content	O
available	O
to	O
internet	O
users	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Effectively	O
,	O
the	O
injunction	O
protected	O
Google	B-Application
from	O
having	O
Hood	O
's	O
claims	O
enforced	O
until	O
after	O
the	O
conclusion	O
of	O
the	O
case	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
MPAA	O
spokesperson	O
criticized	O
Google	B-Application
's	I-Application
use	O
of	O
the	O
First	O
Amendment	O
,	O
accusing	O
the	O
company	O
of	O
using	O
freedom	O
of	O
speech	O
"	O
as	O
a	O
shield	O
for	O
unlawful	O
activities.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
Google	B-Application
's	I-Application
head	O
lawyers	O
noted	O
that	O
"[w]e're	O
pleased	O
with	O
the	O
court	O
's	O
ruling	O
,	O
which	O
recognizes	O
that	O
the	O
MPAA	O
's	O
long-running	O
campaign	O
to	O
censor	O
the	O
web	O
—	O
which	O
started	O
with	O
SOPA	B-Application
—	O
is	O
contrary	O
to	O
federal	O
law.	O
"	O
</s>
