Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will postpone a test vote next week on a bill to fight online piracy and counterfeiting.
Reid's decision comes amid a storm of protest from Internet companies and search engines who fear over regulation and censorship.
Protests included a blackout by Wikipedia and a petition by Google that generated more than seven million signatures.
Now at least a half-dozen senators who sponsored the measure say they oppose it.
Reid says he's optimistic about reaching a compromise that protects Americans' intellectual property and maintains openness and innovation on the Internet.