UK ISP decision 'could impact Australia'

29 Jul 2011, 6:21 pm   -   By: Manny Tsigas
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Experts say a landmark win by Hollywood filmmakers in Britain could set legal precedents in Australia, Manny Tsigas reports.

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Britain largest internet service provider has been ordered to block access to a website that provides links to pirated movies.

It's the first decision of its kind -- and experts say it could set legal precedents here in Australia.

It may be illegal, but downloading movies for free has become so widespread: that has almost become the norm amongst the internet community.

But in Britain the Motion Picture Association, which includes Disney, Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox, claimed the website Newzbin was infringing copyright laws by illegally sharing movies online.

So a high court judge has told BT, Britain's biggest internet provider, to stop its customers from accessing the site.

While BT agreed that Newzbin's activities were illegal-- it was unclear whose job it was to stop it.

But now the decision could be used to win similar orders-- against other ISPs.

BT was up against the same studios that launched a similar case against Australian internet provider iiNet nearly three years ago.

It's due to be heard in the High Court next month-- which experts say is likely to review Britain's ruling.

One analyst says some local ISPs are willing to compromise with the movie industry over how to curb illegal downloads-- without any interference by the government.

But in the end-- it almost seems like an exercise in futility.

"Sure, they'll try to roll this out globally, but when it comes down to actually implementing it using currently technologies, it's quite easy to defeat and it will just drive illegal copying further undeground," Technology Journalist Stilgherran told SBS. 

BT says it will not appeal the ruling, and will discuss how the blocking will be carried out in the coming months.
 

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Your Comments

Great Decision

John - from Brisbane, 10 months ago

About time. Money put back into film making.

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