Are websites' SOPA blackouts an 'abuse of power'?

Contrary to this article's premise, it is not an abuse of power, but a remarkable show of solidarity and concern over threats to the independence of the internet. These misguided bills were drawn up and promoted by U.S. content providers who believe the internet belongs to them and that their interests are more important than anyone else's in the entire world...

Chris Dodd is behind this bill?! Enough said. If you liked the mortgage crisis and FinReg, you'll love this thoughtful legislation. What an anti-American he is.

Don't we have anti-piracy laws on the books? Why do they need more laws, huh Mr. Dodd, why does the MPAA need more laws on the books when there are already a boatload of them I am sure. I'm glad people are opposing your stupid bills and the idiots championing them - congress can't balance the budget but by God they can stop internet piracy (not).

No, they are protests AGAINST the abuse of power. No one is forced to read anything on the internet.

Well ... the MPAA claims it's an abuse of power to oppose the bills they bought and paid for. Color me shocked!!

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Ha, abuse of power? If you want abuse of power you should knock at congress's door

The abuse of power is coming from Recording Industry Association of America, and the MPAA are the ones abusing power. They are using their wealth and have Chris Dodd lobbying congress to pass laws that may take away your right to free speech. In their current form the laws are Draconian. Whats wrong with this picture?

If the government shuts down a site, that's right? But, when a site shuts down in protest they're going to far? So, if some corporate lobby bribes enough members of congress to pass a law so they can decide to shut down a site that's not going to far? But when a site shuts itself down as a statement against corporate bought censorship that's going to far? sheesh! I'm with Google. I oppose SOPA.

"This is an "abuse of power": Wednesday's blackout is an "irresponsible" gimmick, says Chris Dodd, head of the Motion Picture Association of America, in a statement."
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Well, thank goodness, an uninvolved and unbiased individual has weighed in with his "opinion". #sarcasmintended

Is that Dodd as in Dodd/Frank? My how the mighty have fallen. Guess he cant really deliver on the promised proffits to Hollywood can he. Hey Hollywood you want to be profitable? Stop paying actors millions for sub par performances. Pay them percentages only. That will seperate the gems from the junk

No, they are not an abuse of power.

Chris Dodd thinks it's an abuse of power? As long as it is legal for corporations to hire lobbyists it is not much different. Websites are concerned about their ability to continue operating, and this publicity stunt is equivalent to lobbying. If he wants to talk about abuse of power let's look at corporate campaign contributions and lobbyists making back room deals. (PS - I blacked out my 3 websites as a show of support)

lets think about abuse of power for a min....oh wait thats the whole reason for the shutdown in the first place...there is something ugly coming between politicians and the average person....does anyone else see this?

Protesting that these sites shutting down for a mere 24 hours is "an abuse of power" is ridiculous when you consider that these bills can potentially shut down many/most of these sites forever.

OK, first of all, who OWNS these websites who are protesting? How can you accuse someone of being in the wrong for shutting down their own site in protest? IS it theirs or not?
Second, who actually "relies" on Wikipedia? Most teachers and professors will not accept it as a resource.

What goes and comes over the internet is none of anyones business including the government and specifically those with unchanged diapers pushing this nazi bill !!

I am not sure why a company can be accused of abuse of power in the use of its own product. Of course it is the people wanting this over regulation making the acusations, mudslinging, the American way.

This legislation sounds like the War on Drugs nonsense which did nothing to stop drugs coming into this country but did replace the Jim Crow laws by selectively making felons of black kids who peddle drugs. A white kid with a bit of marijuana is given a slap on the wrist for the most part, a black kid goes to jail so he can no longer vote. This legislation after the internet says one thing but probably is going to open the floodgates to other power grabs; the money grubbing guys in Washington have regretted for a couple decades now that they could not control and tax the Internet. This legislation looks like another attempt to rectify that oversight.

If Chris Dodd relys on "Wikipedia and Co. for information" - he's worst off than I thought.

I think the MPAA is an abuse of power - their movie ratings system is arbitrary and stupid