SOPA protest gets intended effect

The Internet community's rally cry against anti-piracy legislation is triggering its intended effect, though the final outcome remains far from settled.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill were flooded with calls Jan 18 in response to an online blackout by technology companies, including Wikipedia, Moveon.org, Reddit and thousands of other small sites protesting two related bills that would crack down on websites that use copyrighted materials and sell counterfeit goods. Some key lawmakers who've supported or co-sponsored the legislation are also backing off. Many of the sites that went dark Wednesday explained the legislation and entreated users to call their representatives by listing their phone numbers and e-mail addresses.