PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet

Understanding the controversial bills that sparked unprecedented online protests The SOPA legislation threatened fundamental aspects of how the internet functions In late 2011, two bills were introduced in the United States Congress that sent shockwaves through the tech industry and online communities worldwide. The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House of Representatives and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate were ostensibly designed to combat online copyright infringement and protect intellectual property....