ABSTRACT

Members of Congress were flooded with angry messages from constituents endorsing the internet industry’s view. A few lawmakers removed their support for the bills, and neither bill made it to a vote. Some observers saw the situation as reflecting the new clout of the internet technology industry with U.S. lawmakers. Historically, the interests of Hollywood and print publishing had their ears. Ethan Zuckerman, director of the Center for Civic Media at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a supporter of the internet side, wasn’t willing to declare victory. “It’s a long boxing match,” he told USA Today. He said grassroots organizers and tech companies “did an excellent job making the point clear. But I’m not ready to declare [the legislation] dead. It’s wounded.”1