Wikipedia Blacks Out Site to Protest Bills

Wikipedia is blocking visitors from its English-language articles and Google has blacked out the logo on its home page as they join other sites in protesting legislation pending in Congress that's aimed at shutting down sites that share pirated movies and other content.

Wikipedia and Google are concerned that the legislation, if passed, could be used to target legitimate sites where users share content.

The 24-hour Wikipedia blackout is an unprecedented move for the online encyclopedia. However, it's not complete: the block can be bypassed by changing browser settings, or by using the version of the site designed for cellphone screens.

Clicking the blacked-out logo on Google.com takes surfers to a page where they can add their names to a petition against the bills.