Millions unable to look up SOPA, PIPA on Wikipedia

Tech News: A 24-hour blackout by the site Wikipedia has left millions around the world unable to look up the definitions of the SOPA and PIPA bills that it’s protesting against.

“This proposed U.S Internet legislation poses a very real threat,” said web expert Duncan Bulgar-Pastirma. “And once Wikipedia comes back online I’ll be able to tell you exactly what that threat is.”

Elsewhere, it is reported that Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales is using his day off to do some laundry, and finally get around to doing some household chores he typically doesn’t have time for.

“Jimmy has already put up some shelves – later he plans to sort through some old boxes of junk in the attic,” said a Wikipedia spokesman.

Millions of office workers across the country have described today as the ‘slowest lunchtime ever’ after being unable to view a quirky kitten site that is also protesting the SOPA bill.

The outage has already adversely affected workplace conversation, with reports that two people in an estate agents in Bedford had to abort a conversation about Kelly Brook after neither could be 100% sure how old she is.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica site has experienced a massive surge in traffic due to Wikipedia’s temporary closure. “I just hope it teaches people how to spell ‘Encyclopaedia’ properly,” said a spokesman. “Not being pedantic, but they should be called Wikipaedia, instead of opting for something easier to spell. It’s unfair.”

Story: Simon Swatman