Reddit Pressures GoDaddy Not To Support SOPA
A boycott started on social media site Reddit that spread to powerful internet figures has pushed website domain registrar GoDaddy to drop their support of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).
The controversial bill is intended to reign in unlicensed use of copyrighted material, but critics say it represents harsh internet censorship. Many powerful internet -based companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter have come out against the bill, especially because under the proposed law they could be held accountable and shut down for material posted to their sites.
But GoDaddy had been outspoken in their support for SOPA. (Maybe founder Bob Parsons thought it was the Shooting Of Pachyderms Act?)
In response, the notoriously dedicated users of Reddit initiated a protest against GoDaddy, urging members to transfer any domains they might have with the company. Redditors posted comments and evidence claiming to transfer everything from individual personal domains to hundreds of corporate accounts.
But perhaps GoDaddy was truly frightened when Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, and Ben Huh, founder of the meme network I Can Has Cheezeburger, threatened to transfer thousands of domains currently with GoDaddy. In any event, GoDaddy announced on Friday that it was withdrawing its support for SOPA.
It looks like an all-around victory for nerds: not only was internet freedom strengthened a little, but the guys glued to their keyboards showed they can flex their muscles (figuratively speaking).
What do you think?
[via CNET]
[...] Piracy Act (SOPA) – as in, statements by GoDaddy CEO Warren Adelman indicate that the …Reddit Pressures GoDaddy Not To Support SOPADrJays.com LiveHow to transfer your domain name between hostsMacworldGoDaddy CEO: 'We're Not [...]
Too bad GoDaddy already helped pen the bill and paid the money up front to support it. This is just damage control, they still support SOPA, just not openly anymore.
Hell with GoDaddy, I think it is time for Anon to go get em!
[...] Piracy Act (SOPA) – as in, statements by GoDaddy CEO Warren Adelman indicate that the …Reddit Pressures GoDaddy Not To Support SOPADrJays.com LiveHow to transfer your domain name between hostsMacworldGoDaddy CEO: 'We're Not [...]