A small loophole for Wikipedia’s SOPA and PIPA protest, in which the English-language version of the site has gone dark for 24 hours: the mobile site and apps are still working.

Instead of blacking out for the Jan. 18 SOPA protest, Google (NSDQ: GOOG) instead is using its power—and its most iconic communications tools—to make a difference without denying access to its services.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tx), who is leading a push to pass a controversial anti-piracy bill, issued a statement today scolding Wikipedia over its plan to go dark with its English-language website for 24 hours in protest of the legislation.

Wikipedia formally announced Monday night that the site will “go dark” this week to protest proposed anti-piracy legislation. The online encyclopedia also erected a stark black banner across its website.

Capping a flurry of recent developments in the fuss over the Stop Online Piracy Act, Wikipedia’s founder said the site will go dark for 24 hours starting Wednesday at midnight.

After years of employing an ad-hoc community-driven approach to mobile, one of the world’s biggest Web sites is going mobile in a much more organized way. Wikimedia Foundation is currently pitching deals involving a new mobile version of its ubiquitous Wikipedia site that it hopes wireless carriers will offer to…

Few websites have changed the way we access knowledge as much as Wikipedia. Now, however, it looks like the online encyclopedia is hitting some snags, as the number of volunteers who write and edit its articles is getting smaller. While talking to the Associated Press during Wikipedia’s annual Wikimania conference…

Not sure on what basis the Wikipedia founder pontificates about the future of news media, but every disruptor deserves his say, so Jimmy Wales took the opportunity at MediaGuardian’s Changing Media Summit… —On Google’s China problem: Wales likened Google’s position up ‘til recently (agreeing to censor results in order to…

The evolution of *Google* News (and its impact on the news industry overall) continues. The company is experimenting with attaching Wikipedia links to certain stories—essentially giving those entries the stamp of approval for readers searching for more info on the article’s subject. And it’s up for debate as to whether…

One of Europe’s largest phone carriers, France Telecom’s Orange, has reached a deal with Wikimedia to provide its users with co-branded content. The content will be offered through specific Wikipedia channels on Orange’s mobile and internet portals, the two announced today. Orange will place ads alongside Wikipedia content and the…

The Wikimedia Foundation has picked up $3 million in grants from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The philanthropy will parcel out its grant in $1 million installments over three years to the non-profit group that runs Wikipedia. The proceeds will be used to support Wikimedia’s hiring and development. Sue Gardner, the…