The architect of SOPA, Rep. Lamar Smith, has scheduled a markup session next month in which the bill might be altered.  In a markup session, a bill is opened to members of the House Judicial Committee for debate, amendments and other changes. The House will not be taking a final vote on SOPA. The markup session was announced via a statement from the House Committee on the Judiciary, of which Rep. Smith (R-Texas) is the chair.  In another statement, Rep. Smith lambasted Wikipedia for its decision to blackout in protest of SOPA:  “It is ironic that a website dedicated to providing information is spreading misinformation about the Stop Online Piracy Act,” reads the statement. “The bill will not harm Wikipedia, domestic blogs or social networking sites. This publicity stunt does a disservice to its users by promoting fear instead of facts. Perhaps during the blackout, Internet users can look elsewhere for an accurate definition of online piracy.”  On Friday, Rep. Smith announced he would remove the DNS blocking and rerouting provisions of the bill, considered the most onerous by many in the tech community. As first written, SOPA would have allowed copyright holders and the federal government the ability to remove infringing websites from the DNS (Domain Name System). Many tech experts claimed this would have had negative consequences for the stability, speed and security of the Internet.  DNS works as a sort of “phone book” for the internet. When a user types a URL into a browser, DNS helps the users’ computer find and speak with the correct server hosting the content the user wants to access. If a website is taken off the DNS system, it becomes more difficult for the average Internet user to arrive at that site.  The news comes after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) assured a colleague there would not be a vote on SOPA unless there was “consensus” on the bill. After Cantor’s statement, many presumed SOPA dead in the water, and the focus shifted to a similar Senate bill (the Protect IP Act).  Rep. Smith’s scheduling of a markup session suggests SOPA isn’t quite dead yet.  Proponents of SOPA, such as Viacom and the MPAA, argue that it’s a necessary legislative tool to combat online piracy and content theft. The MPAA has said that DNS provisions are now “off the table,” but is still encouraging Congress to pass a bill to help fight intellectual property theft.  Detractors, including many in the tech industry (and tech giants like Google and Facebook), argue that SOPA would result in a slower, less stable and less secure Internet while hampering digital innovation.  Wikipedia, Reddit and Imgur are planning blackouts, while Google will add links to SOPA-related information on its main page. A public rally to protest SOPA and PIPA is planned for Wednesday afternoon.  Are Rep. Smith’s comments towards Wikipedia too harsh? Let us know in the comments below.
SOPA's author announced a Congressional debate of the bill in February while criticizing Wikipedia's decision to protest the legislation.