Changes

Following the SOPA blackout, many senators and congressmen withdrew their support of the bill. Marco Rubio and Tim Holden notably withdrew their support of PIPA and SOPA respectively, they were both co-sponsors of those respective bills.<ref>[http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120118/11581717456/more-senators-dropping-off-as-co-sponsors-pipa.shtml?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter More Senators Dropping Off as Co-Sponsors PIPA, TechDirt.com]</ref>  

Following the SOPA blackout, many senators and congressmen withdrew their support of the bill. Marco Rubio and Tim Holden notably withdrew their support of PIPA and SOPA respectively, they were both co-sponsors of those respective bills.<ref>[http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120118/11581717456/more-senators-dropping-off-as-co-sponsors-pipa.shtml?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter More Senators Dropping Off as Co-Sponsors PIPA, TechDirt.com]</ref>  

The Blackout  and online action by end-users were seen as being major reasons for Congressman Lamar Smith's decision to suspend the bill on January 20, 2012.<ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/20/lamar-smith-sopa-dead/ Lamar Smith SOPA Dead, VentureBeat.com]</ref> In a statement Cong. Smith said, “I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy. It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products." He promised that the House Judiciary Committee will continue work with copyright owners and internet companies and seek their inputs to be able to develop a legislation that will best address the online piracy problem and protect intellectual property rights and innovation.<ref>[http://lamarsmith.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=275770 Statement from Chairman Smith on SOPA]</ref>

The Blackout  and online action by end-users were seen as being major reasons for Congressman Lamar Smith's decision to suspend the bill on January 20, 2012.<ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/20/lamar-smith-sopa-dead/ Lamar Smith SOPA Dead, VentureBeat.com]</ref> In a statement Cong. Smith said, “I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy. It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products." He promised that the House Judiciary Committee will continue work with copyright owners and internet companies and seek their inputs to be able to develop a legislation that will best address the online piracy problem and protect intellectual property rights and innovation.<ref>[http://lamarsmith.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=275770 Statement from Chairman Smith on SOPA]</ref>