Why Have Websites 'Gone Dark' Today?

That Wikipedia search might have to wait until tomorrow. That’s because the site is joining other online entities across the country in a protest against proposed anti-piracy legislation.

Wikipedia is one of many sites across the Web that are "blacked out" today to show their opposition of SOPA and its Senate partner, PIPA. The only things users can see on Wikipedia are information on the legislation, the blackout, and contact info for senators and representatives.

The SOPA Strike was initially proposed by Reddit, which also has “gone dark” to protest H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act, and S. 968, the PROTECT IP Act, according to the Huffington Post.

Google, eBay, Mozilla, Twitter and Facebook are some of the other sites that have formally opposed the bills, the Post says.

"SOPA would give both the government and major corporations the power to shut down entire websites accused of copyright infringement with neither a trial nor a traditional court hearing," another Post article states. "The legislation is aggressively backed by Hollywood movie studios and major record labels, along with several major news providers, including Fox News and NBC-Universal, which have largely shied away from coverage of the bill."

As you're poking around the Web today, let us know in the comment box if you see any sites that have special "blackout" designs. Also tell us if you're a regular Wikipedia user, and if so, can you survive today's blackout?