The bizarre SOPA DNS-blocking measures have apparently been pulled as the bill slowly dies the death of a thousand cuts. PIPA also looks to be on hold.
Now, I'm all for this but I'd prefer these bills die and start over.
The first thing to be aware of: the massive amount of awareness about these bills and how tech companies, internet users, geeks, programmers, and more rallied against it. Quite frankly I think congress and many people were caught completely by surprise at the reaction to SOPA/PIPA. I wish I could say they learned their lessons and have a broader view of how the world works, but I'm not counting on it.
The second thing to be aware of: Internet users and e-freedom advocates organized and got results. What, I ask you are, they going to do in the future? What old organizations will benefit and new ones may appear? What kind of political lobbying comes from here (and what will Super PACs play?). How many people just became politically aware?
Oh, I don't know the answers, but I'm going to have fun finding them out . . .