Tomorrow, Wednesday 18 January 2012, the internet is going on strike. A lot of sites will be blacked out or showing 503-error pages.

This is to protest against the two bills due to be examined in the US House of Representatives and Senate. SOPA (Stop Online Piracy) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) are designed to add to existing protections enjoyed by the US entertainment industry. Unfortunately, if passed, they would erode internet freedoms with devastating consequences all over the world.

I suppose the black-out will mostly be by US sites or at least English-speaking ones, but the issue affects anyone who uses the internet anywhere in the world.

What about davidnicholson.it?

Well, I don’t use this site to talk about politics but this is different! I thought about joining the black-out but, instead, I’ve decided to show Kirby Ferguson’s great 4-minute video, which does a great job of explaining why the proposed legislation is so misguided. I hope this will help to raise awareness.

Want to know more? Check out these links too:

Wikipedia on the black-out.
The Economist takes it seriously.
Nat Torkington is funny about what’s wrong with the entertainment dinosaurs.