The Joomla! project joins the ranks of US and international internet and technology organizations like Free Software Foundation (FSF), Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE), Mozilla, Google, Wikipedia, Open Source Initiative, WordPress, and Human Rights organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, in expressing our concern with these US Congress and Senate bills:

• Information on H.R.3261 - Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)
  http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/show
• Information on S.968 PROTECT IP Act (PIPA)
  http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s968/show

A US Congressional vote is slated on these bills for this month [now delayed until February], and many feel that it will inevitably become a mandate for formalized Internet censorship, with an impact that goes far beyond the borders of any single country.

PIPA introduces a deeply concerning degree of legal uncertainty into the internet economy, particularly for users and businesses internationally. And while SOPA is also a US bill, it has several provisions that would have serious implications for international civil and human rights which raise concerns about how the United States is approaching global Internet governance.

The Joomla! project respects legitimate Intellectual Property rights of others, but we are concerned about the consequences of such far reaching laws, both for citizens of the US, and the global community.

Today, the 18th of January 2012, many organizations will show solidarity by participating in a massive website blackout, and other forms of protest. As an international Open Source software project, Joomla! champions an open internet for all, and expresses its concern over these US Congress and Senate bills.

Sources and links:

• https://www.accessnow.org/policy-activism/press-blog/human-rights-community-speaks-out-on-protect-ip-act
• https://www.accessnow.org/sopa-letter (PDF)
• http://americancensorship.org/infographic.html

The Joomla Project is pleased to announce the availability of Joomla 2.5 Beta 2 for download. Version 2.5 is the second release made within the new six-month release cycle that started with the delivery of Joomla 1.6 in January 2011.

What is this release for?

There are several goals for this release:

1. To allow advance testing of sites and custom extensions so that site administrators and developers can report any problems before the final release.
2. To raise awareness that the end of the current development cycle is fast approaching.
3. To allow testing of the upgrade from version 1.7 to 2.5.0.

Click here to download.

What is this release NOT for?

This beta version of Joomla 2.5 Beta2 is not suitable for production sites. It should be used for testing only.

The January issue of the Joomla Community Magazine is here!

Our stories:

Editor's Introduction

Joomla! is shooting for the stars..., by Dianne Henning

Feature Stories

CloudAccess.net: A New Company on the Bay, by Ryan
What's new in Joomla! 2.5?, by Hagen Graf

Website Case Studies

Website Case Study: Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center, by Ryan Meravi

Leadership Connections

Leadership Highlights - December 2011, by Alice Grevet

Administrators Toolkit

Joomla 1.6, 1.7, and 2.5: ACL Concepts Overview, by Jen Kramer

Developers Workbench

Customizing Joomla! Help!!, by Ilagnayeru 'MIG' Manickam

Integrating WebSocket to Joomla!, by Matias Aguirre

Did you know...?

Shining up your website with five stunning and free Joomla photo galleries, by Anh Tuan Bui

Joomla! Events and User Groups

Joomla! Day LA Recap, by Mark W. Bender

Help Wanted

The Joomla! Project Wants You - January 2012, by Paul Orwig

Joomla! in the Press/Media

Joomla! in the Press/Media - January 2012, by Mark W. Bender

The Joomla! Haikus

Post your haikus for January, by Paul Orwig

Joomla Books

Download the free Joomla! Development Guide, by Hagen Graf

In our next issue

We want to publish your Joomla! story in the next JCM issue! So take a look at our Author Resources content to get a better idea of what we are looking for, and then register to become a JCM author and submit your Joomla! story!

The Joomla! Project is pleased to announce that the first Joomla World Conference will occur in November 2012.  We are very happy that eBay has graciously offered significant support for this event, inviting us to use their facilities in San Jose, California.

Here are the preliminary details for the Joomla! World Conference:

Date: 16th-18th November 2012

Location:
eBay Town Hall
2161 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95131
USA

Tickets: Price for a 3-day Ticket is $199 USD

More details will follow next year.