A screen-shot photo of DU3's blacked-out SOPA HomePage was shown in the LA Times

[Tx4obama]

SOPA blackout: Who’s gone dark to protest anti-piracy bills? (Updated)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2012/01/sopa-blackout-who-is-joining-the-protest.html

[highplainsdem]

1. K&R! Thanks for the link!

[Warren Stupidity]

2. It was suggested that our participation would be meaningless.

I disagreed, thanks for the proof. This place has more visibility than many of us are aware of.

[joshcryer]

6. I think we were one of the few webforums to do it, props to the admins.

DU was certainly the most popular webforum to do it, that's without a doubt, imo.

[DavidDvorkin]

9. I thought so and said so

I'm glad that I was wrong.

[Warren Stupidity]

13. So here's the thing about standing up and joining in...

it's a lot like going to the gym: there are a million excuses to not do it, and you should ignore every damn one of them.

[DavidDvorkin]

16. I wasn't making excuses

I simply thought that it was silly and pointless for DU to go black. Wikipedia is a different matter. They were noticed. I didn't think DU would be. I thought it was just a feel-good action that would have no effect.

[Luminous Animal]

21. It's called solidarity.

[joshcryer]

31. I figured DU would be recognized because it's the single most popular liberal forum on the internet.

It's in the top 5000 most popular websites globally, and within the top 1500 websites in the US. Sure, it wasn't as big a deal as Wikipedia or, say, even Wired, but it's still a big deal, imo.

[LanternWaste]

43. Quite often, the mere declaration of intent...

Quite often, the mere declaration of intent may allow us to better maintain our personal convictions-- regardless of whether there is a noticeable effect of not.

I certainly don't think that's "silly".

[Honeycombe8]

3. Schwing! nt

[Skinner]

4. Awesome!

Thanks for posting.

[Luminous Animal]

22. Thank you for making the decision to go dark!

[joshcryer]

5. Awesome. As well it should. DU is top dog.

I contacted my Reps 3 different times (through Google, EFF, and StopAmericanCensorship I think). Then I called them.

[Renew Deal]

7. That's a powerful list

Thanks

[fadedrose]

8. Thank you for this.......nt

[getting old in mke]

10. When both DU and the Heritage Foundation

are part of the same protest, you know something has gone way overboard.

[Warren Stupidity]

15. There is common interest that cuts across ideological barriers.

Tptb would like us to think otherwise.

[Warpy]

25. No kidding, this dog of a bill is so poorly written that it would cut across ideological lines

and eventually manage to shut all of us down.

[valerief]

33. I know. Amazing, huh? nt

[Cleita]

34. When Darryl Issa is against it, you know something is really wrong. n/t

[Solly Mack]

11. K&R

[malaise]

12. Very cool

Go DU!!

[William769]

14. Recommended.

[dixiegrrrrl]

17. Wow..nice to see DU is known around town.

[madrchsod]

32. the little engine that could?

our us alexa traffic rank 1406 which put us third behind freeperland and the kos. we are known by the people who post here not the guys who run this site. that`s why i`ve been here for years

[madrchsod]

18. for pure visual /design du is one of the best.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. And off onto my OWS files it goes

This is part of the zeigeist of the country.

[jdadd]

20. Great!! We are noticed.......

I went to download Mozilla Firefox to my new laptop today, and found Mozilla.org was Blacked out also....

[bigwillq]

23. Very cool!

K and R

[Joe Shlabotnik]

24. Just saw DU's contribution get mentioned by Alyona on RT also. n/t

[gateley]

26. K&R! SO Proud of DU!! nt

[icymist]

27. Well alright!

[12kham]

28. democration

[link:http://childrenbookonline.com|

[Irishonly]

29. Thank you for posting the links

[hay rick]

30. Google only blacked out Google Search.

Not belittling Google, but they didn't black out News, Videos, Maps, Images, etc.

I was busy with other things today, but I thought about the blackout and realized that 90% of my web reading originates with either a Google search or a DU article/link.

[yardwork]

35. Very powerful images. Thank you.

[Scurrilous]

36. K & R

[pengillian101]

37. Cool beans!

Thanks for posting that story link.

[haele]

38. Wait a moment - did they get permission?

Showing a screenshot from a copywrited, incorporated website on a different money-making incorporated site that - wouln't that be considered piracy under SOPA or PIPA?

Hmmmm....?

Haele

[Tx4obama]

39. Hmmm....

Like this DU OP that posted a bunch of screen-shots?

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002184718

p.s. I don't know what the current rule/law is regarding screen-shots.

[joshcryer]

40. Yes, it could be considered piracy under SOPA, however, it's clearly fair use.

[sce56]

41. Here is what some of them looked like!

Craigslist



JoinTheSopa.com



MOVEON.org


WordPress.com



Google.com



FireFox.com



Wikipedia



Pocho.com

[MADem]

42. Great post! What a mix!

[Ian David]

44. Heritage Foundation? Really? n/t

[redqueen]

47. Surprising, isn't it? (nt)

[gademocrat7]

45. K&R

[redqueen]

46. Wow... nice!

Wish it was further up on the list but oh well.

[avaistheone1]

48. Recognition duly deserved.

Right on!

[lillypaddle]

49. Proud of DU!

WTG!