Websites protest SOPA, PIPA with blackouts

Not sure what the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act are trying to accomplish?

Wikipedia voluntarily shut down its English-language website for 24 hours on Wednesday as part of Stop American Censorship Day. It is one of many websites protesting the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Property Act, controversial bills being considered in the U.S. Congress.

SOPA and PIPA would give U.S. law enforcement and copyright holders more power to fight websites accused of enabling or facilitating copyright infringement. Material includes music, movies and intellectual property, the last which could affect websites such as Wikipedia and Google.

Here's a roundup of stories about the anti-piracy bills and the Web community's response:

• The Associated Press reported on the "unprecedented" blackout by Wikipedia and similar actions taken by websites such as Reddit.com.
• Politico reports that at least two representatives are pulling their support of the anti-piracy act in the House of Representatives, but many supporters of the measure "accused the Internet community of hyperbole."
• The San Jose Mercury News provided a guide that analyzed the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act.
• Storify aggregated the actions that Wikipedia and other websites have taken in protest.
• Mashable gave a few ways to bypass the blackout and access Wikipedia on Wednesday and the humorous SOPA-related memes circulating the Web.
• About 7,000 websites might participate in the mass blackout to protest the bills, including Boing Boing and Cheezburger Network sites, according to PC Magazine.
• ProPublica provided a list of Missouri politicians and their stances on the anti-piracy bills.