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sopacountdown — Frequently Asked Questions
Everything about formats, quality, privacy and how SOPA Countdown works.
General
Frequently asked questions
Did SOPA actually pass?
No — it was shelved days after the January 18, 2012 blackout and never became law. The counter marks the time since that protest.
Is sopacountdown.com free?
Yes — free, no signup, no download.
Can I make my own countdown?
Yes — use the countdown timer for a custom duration, or watch the New Year countdown.
SOPA Countdown
Frequently asked questions
Did SOPA pass?
No. After the January 18, 2012 blackout protest, both SOPA and PIPA lost support and were shelved within days. Neither became law.
What is this counter showing?
The elapsed time since the January 18, 2012 blackout protest — the moment widely credited with defeating SOPA and PIPA.
What were SOPA and PIPA?
US bills (House and Senate) targeting online piracy whose broad enforcement measures sparked major free-speech and technical concerns.
Why does it count up, not down?
The original 'countdown' was to the 2012 vote, which never happened as planned. Since that's long past, the site now counts the time since the protest that stopped the bills.
Countdown Timer
Frequently asked questions
Does it beep?
Yes — an alarm sounds when it reaches zero, so make sure your device isn't muted.
New Year Countdown
Frequently asked questions
What's it counting to?
Midnight on January 1. When it reaches zero it shows a New Year message.