Wlkipedia

[DTCwordfan]

Gone on strike effectively to two bills going through the US Congress.

Just the English Channel down, the French etc is running....

Views?

Why should they pull the plug on international operations.....isn't it a bit arrogant to do this re their users and advertisers?

[boxtops]

They clearly feel very strongly about the issues.

[Zacs-Master]

Not sure what you mean DT. I can still access it at the moment.

[ubasses]

You can still get into it. When you have put the site address in wait for it to come up then grey out, then type at the end of the address ?banner=none.
I have used it couple of times today

[DTCwordfan]

it flicks over to a protest page

for example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Thomas

[boxtops]

I can't - you get the front page, and as soon as you click on English, you get this screen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

[Zacs-Master]

Ah, now I see. After a few seconds you get a 'imagine the world without Wikipedia' message. Arrogant bu99ers.

[China Doll]

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1096776.html

^^^ Some good points on this thread. I don't really know enough about it to be honest.

[DTCwordfan]

thanks for that bypass.....but I think it's a bit rich for them to take the stance re their Intl users - why should we care a tuppeny-ha'penny about IP issues within the US - or is this another example of their Woodrow Wilsonian view that they are the world's Sherriff and the use of extraterritorial law.

[Gromit]

They have pull the Englush language version. Their aim is to show regular Americans how they internet could be shut down by these bills. If they just closed the US version but the International Englush version still worked, then US citizens would just use that and their point would not have been made.

It is a free service. So you cannot really complain about it being taken down for 1 day. If SOPA goes through, you may have to get used to empty black pages.

[daffy654]

The first post in the thread on this forum explains the issue in terms we should all understand. If these bills go through it will affect all of us worldwide, not just internet users in America.
http://www.ffxiah.com...c/28155/sopa-and-pipa

[ABerrant]

Wikipedia doesn't have advertisers.

The English language version covers the USA and all other English speaking users. It is unfortunate fallout for the 'others' that a US corporation chooses to protest against future US legislation via its primary presence in the US.

[DTCwordfan]

thanks China - useful background.....and comments.

[Buenchico]

The problem is that the US authorities have a nasty habit of trying to enforce US laws across the world. They're already pursuing people like Gary McKinnon and Richard O'Dwyer for offences allegedly committed against US law while they were in the UK (despite the fact that the UK authorities have declined to pursue prosecutions here):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...gland-london-16045737

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...th-yorkshire-16544335

If the legislation goes through, people who simply embed a Youtube link into a post here on AB (where it turns out that the content of the video breaches US copyright laws) will potentially risk extradition to the USA.

The proposed laws affect people across the world so it's not unreasonable for Wikipedia, along with others, to seek to warn everyone of its dangers.

Chris

[Gromit]

English.

That Malbec is hitting the spot.

[China Doll]

Thanks for that link daffy... I think I agree with wikki having read it.

[daffy654]

Me too China, it will be the cause of many forums being shut down and sued if it is passed into law. We all should be protesting against these bills!

[DTCwordfan]

Then who sponsors them, ABerrant?

I know that they make their pleas - but there must be some sponsoring organisation behind them.

[Zacs-Master]

Thanks Chris, I feel enlightened now. I'm not sure how 'policeable' the laws would be as far as individuals posting 'illegal' content.

[ChuckFickens]

If you want to bypass the block create a new book mark on your bookmark toolbar, name it whatever you want and enter the following as the location

javascript:(function(){$('#mw-sopaOverlay').h
ide();$('#mw-page-base,#mw-head-base,#content
,#mw-head,#mw-panel,#footer').show();})();


Then when the block comes up on wikipedia click the bookmark on the toolbar and it goes away....

(I support the principle of why they are doing it BTW)

[Gromit]

Wikipedia funding

http://www.readwritew...to_remain_ad-free.php