Google plans to use home page to protest SOPA

The tech sector is pulling out the big guns now.

Greg Sandoval/CNET

Google, the Web's top search company and one of technology's most influential powers in Washington, will post a link on the company's home page tomorrow to notify users of the company's opposition to controversial antipiracy bills being debated in Congress.

Google confirmed in a statement that it will join Wikipedia, Reddit and other influential tech firms in staging protests of varying kinds against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA), which are backed by big entertainment and media interests.

"Like many businesses, entrepreneurs and web users, we oppose these bills because there are smart, targeted ways to shut down foreign rogue websites without asking American companies to censor the Internet," a Google spokeswoman said. "So tomorrow we will be joining many other tech companies to highlight this issue on our US home page."

In response to questions about how the protest link would appear, Google said it would not replace the company logo.

None of the protests are as dramatic as the one planned by Wikipedia. The English version of the Web encyclopedia is scheduled to go dark for 24 hours to protest the legislation.

The past weekend will likely long be remembered as a turning point in the debate over how to fight online piracy in the United States. Supporters of SOPA and PIPA once could boast of wide bipartisan support but suffered a series of blows starting on Thursday to eliminate an important provision in PIPA.

By Friday, both houses of Congress had eliminated a requirement in each bill that would have required U.S. Internet service providers to cut off access to foreign sites accused of piracy.

Following that, a group of Senators--some who once supported PIPA--requested that a vote on the bill be delayed. It was denied but things kept getting worse for antipiracy proponents. The White House, which was considered an ally of the music and film industries, suggested in a statement that the president would not support several cornerstone provisions of the bills.

It all culminated on what may come to be known in the entertainment sector as Black Sunday. Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp. and one of the world's preeminent media tycoons, displayed a rare public tantrum via Twitter. In his posts he accused the president of taking his marching orders from "Silicon Valley paymasters." He suggested Google was whipping up the opposition and was a "piracy leader."

Murdoch's posts were startling. There was no hiding it anymore; copyright owners were alarmed. The tide of the legislation battle had changed and the opposition appeared to have the upper hand.

[rubberrezi]

If Google had any balls they would completely shut down tomorrow too as would Facebook but they're in bed with the big corporations so they're not fooling anyone with their lame excuse for a revolt!

[kmanthie]

corporations are money-sucking ****** that don't give a damn about the individual American and treats people in less fortunate countries as guinea pigs, chattel, or worse - they get rid of them - kill or displace them - when they're in the way of some multinational's big projects. Burn down the bastards!!!

[AOCGUY]

Darn, no wikipedia for 24 hours. Now thats is going to affect my life - NOT!

[vielmann]

But then, you're missing the point anyway. So who the hell cares what affects your life? Not any of us.

[fukyuyuahole]

I support the SOPA bill because of its fundamental values to protect intellectual property. It is hypocritical for companies like Google, facebook or f--kbook, Wikipedia, etc. to protest this bill especially when they themselves are stifling innovations with their patent suits. The internet has long been like the Wild West. Now it needs to be more civilized and more sensitive to the governing laws to the region it exists. So, go ahead Wikipedia and others BLACK OUT! What will happen is, just like the episode Simpsons where Marge (protest) successfully changes the violent theme of Crusty the Clown show, kids/adults will go outside to enjoy the sunshine and each other with a human touch/interaction.

[Natec2k]

I really really REALLY REALLY REALLY hope you're just being a troll.

[FromCalifornia]

Before you started that, interesting diatribe, did you ONCE consider the part about "without judicial review". Hmmmmm? I am not against protecting protected property, but you DO NOT SHUT DOWN WEBSITES WITHOUT JUDICIAL DUE PROCESS!!!!!!!!! NOT IN MY AMERICA. And any moron who votes FOR this stupid legislation is going to get my NO vote and all my extra time getting them out of office and doing something useful. Whatever that might be. Something that requires an IQ of less that 70.

[Dirk_Talamasca]

Big Deal. If Google really wanted to make an effort, this link would have already been posted over a month ago and would still be on the home page.

[vielmann]

Yeah, just wait. I hope the hell you get what you want. Because you probably haven't a clue as to what that might be.

[aaoo1]

The hypocrisy of the tech and related industries is astounding. If we were talking pirated software or counterfeit consumer electronics they'd be singing a different tune. It's called "piracy" for a reason, regardless of what is being pirated, from whom, or why.

[Epsilon_Rose]

There's no hypocrisy here. This bill does claim to cover pirated software. The problems are that it wont actually stop piracy and it will absolutely kill the internet (prevent important security infrastructure, stifle start-ups, damage legitimate site, etc.). Google and all the rest who are coming out against it are the people who are actually qualified to know what it will do; whereas the supporters are all big media types who don't actually have to consider how it'll work. THAT should tell you something.

[olejackmulligan]

Long live the Pirate Bay ! Arrrgh !

[oneStarman]

The REVOLUTION Will NOT Be Televised - It will be on Facebook.
SOPA isn't just about Piracy it is about How the Internet WORKS
When major PIECES of the NET Go BLACK - YOUR Website May CRASH because of Dependent Linked Components.