GoDaddy withdraws SOPA support in face of massive protests

[Ian David]

Internet domain registrar GoDaddy just announced it will no longer support the controversial SOPA legislation after being threatened with a massive boycott from users who oppose the bill. GoDaddy had been an outspoken supporter of SOPA until just now, even saying that it had worked with lawmakers to draft its provisions, but that support ultimately made the company an easy target for SOPA's furious opposition.

A boycott movement started after Cheezburger CEO Ben Huh threatened to move his company's 1,000 domains away from GoDaddy unless the company reversed course, leading to Reddit users planning a December 29th "Leave GoDaddy Day." Faced with concrete impact to its business, it appears GoDaddy did the only sensible thing — fold.

Although the pressure was enough to cause GoDaddy to withdraw its support for now, the company still believes similar reform is ultimately necessary — in a statement, company CEO Warren Adelman said that legislation to fight piracy is important, but that "we can clearly do better... Getting it right is worth the wait."

We'll see how the company decides to act on that thinking in the future, and if it decides to stay involved — the fight over SOPA is just beginning, and ultimately the GoDaddy saga is but a sideshow.

More:
http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/23/2657930/godaddy-withdraws-sopa-support-in-face-of-massive-protests

[Cooley Hurd]

1. GoDaddy is a whore... and sexist

Whatever they do should never be met with surprise.

[Boston_Chemist]

2. And it has a creepy name, to boot: "GoDaddy"

What sort of marketing research made them come up with that idiotic name?

And, I would suggest continuing the boycott, regardless of this folding. This company should be punished.

[Fearless]

3. +1

[SaintPete]

4. don't you think such an act

would make companies less likely to correct anti-social behavior?