The Wikipedia blackout is over — and you have spoken.
More than 162 million people saw our message asking if you could imagine a world without free knowledge. You said no. You shut down Congress’s switchboards. You melted their servers. Your voice was loud and strong. Millions of people have spoken in defense of a free and open Internet.
For us, this is not about money. It’s about knowledge. As a community of authors, editors, photographers, and programmers, we invite everyone to share and build upon our work.
Our mission is to empower and engage people to document the sum of all human knowledge, and to make it available to all humanity, in perpetuity. We care passionately about the rights of authors, because we are authors.
SOPA and PIPA are not dead: they are waiting in the shadows. What’s happened in the last 24 hours, though, is extraordinary. The Internet has enabled creativity, knowledge, and innovation to shine, and as Wikipedia went dark, you've directed your energy to protecting it.
We’re turning the lights back on. Help us keep them shining brightly.
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Surely, I sent my voice over the internet and joined the crowds on Thursday to oppose SOPA and PIPA, but those words are still echoing in my head, "The sum of all human knowledge, [...] available to all humanity, in perpetuity."
Then it happened.
It occurred to me that because we nowadays have all kinds of services for free the whole world wants to be free, let the information flow and be available to anyone, any time, anywhere. Following is a partial list of all the services that I've enjoyed, that I can recall:
Free music/iTunes from coke cap codes
Free video viewing with flash, java, media players, realtek, linux and myriad other video capable tools
Free images given for free or for use with GNU licenses
Free information for key words, entries, technical terms, scientific literature, law, media, music, fashion, current trends, food, different cultures, traditions, past, present and future...
Free WIFI on hotspots throughout major metro areas, train stations, fast food venues, parks, libraries, cafes, the gym, even from your neighbor!
Free apps to make life easier, more convenient, and save you money and time
Free products that companies want you to try offered online
Free shipping for ordering online or for reviewing a product you bought
Free webinars and tutorials for you to learn a new skill even if that is Samba or Sepak Takraw and you don't live or have never been in Thailand or Brazil
Free courses to learn other languages (I learned basic Chinese over the Internet) and to repair things like your car or garage door
Free connections to make new friends and connect with long distant relatives, old friends or your high school teacher and say "hi, I am an engineer thanks to your advice! :-) "
Free tools to start your own business. Some start ups required only cents to open and became major firms very quickly.
Free movies and services to post your fun photos, comments and videos (yeah, wedding video)
Free blogging services such as this one to post anything you want, anytime, from anywhere (specially here in America) or just say Hello! to the World.
Freedom of Speech!
None of this could have been made possible without people raising their concerns. Speak up and stand for what's right. Freedom and the right to do anything or choose not to do so.
