While the MPAA and RIAA will probably continue to insist that the blackouts yesterday were a terrible abuse of power (can someone please explain to these guys what irony is?) by major websites, it actually was a pretty noteworthy success. It was so powerful and so well-publicized — took you long enough, major media outlets — that 18 senators dropped their support for the bill and will vote against it come February. Even more important, 7 of those dissenters were co-sponsors of the bill.

While this doesn’t mean the fight is over, as we’ve got a lot more minds to change, it definitely is a step in the right direction. The fight has to continue, as these bills won’t just go away. Keep up the good fight, keep turning heads and changing minds, and keep telling those that represent you that they won’t have the chance to if they support these bills. This is what Democracy looks like, people.