Web firms win anti-piracy victory: content companies quiet after sites' call to arms over legislation.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)

WASHINGTON -- The content industry was facing an uphill battle last week after losing major real estate to Web companies opposed to Senate and House versions of anti-piracy legislation.

In what is a very uncivil war between California's North (Silicon Valley) and South (Hollywood), the Google-led opposition to the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and Stop Online Piracy Act (PIPA) in the House was celebrating last week as Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced he had decided not to hold a vote that would have paved the way for considering PIPA on the Senate floor.

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SOPA SPONSOR PULLS BACK

And on the House side, Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), sponsor of SOPA, essentially struck the flag, saying he had gotten the message. "It is clear that we …