From The Telegraph:
Hollywood studios win landmark website blocking order
Hollywood studios have won a landmark High Court order today to force BT to block its millions of broadband customers from accessing Newzbin2, a website that offers links to pirated films.
The MPA represents the major Hollywood studios, including Warner Bros, which made the Harry Potter seriesBy Christopher Williams, Technology Correspondent11:00AM BST 28 Jul 2011
Newzbin2 provides its membership, estimated at 700,000, with an index of films, music and software available for free, unlicensed download from the peer-to-peer network Usenet.
BT will be forced to cut off access to the website using a system it developed to block images of child abuse online. Although the system can be circumvented, the judge found that it should be used even if it prevents only a minority of users from accessing Newzbin2.
The film industry today hailed its victory as a “test case” that “sets a clear legal precedent” that ISPs can be forced to act against copyright infringement via their networks. BT had argued that an order against it could lead to a wave of web censorship, but its policy director Simon Milner told The Telegraph it will not appeal against the “fair and reasonable” judgment.
You must log in to post a comment. Log in now.