Music industry's BPI pushing BT to block The Pirate Bay
Internet service providers and UK telecoms giant BT are being put under pressure by the BPI (a coalition of music industry officials, publishers and Hollywood studios) to pull access to file-sharing site The Pirate Bay.
The request comes following a landmark high-court ruling that aims to enforce UK copywright law was passed, causing fellow file-sharing site Newzbin2 to be blocked by BT.
With that precedent set, BPI member groups and Pact, the Motion Picture Association and the Publishers Association, are hoping to force BT’s hand, switching off the website for BT’s 6 million customers.
Speaking to the Guardian, a BT spokesperson said “We can confirm we are now in receipt of a letter from the BPI [ requesting that BT block the Pirate Bay site]. BT is considering its response.
In line with the Newzbin judgment, a court order will be needed before any blocking could begin. BT is currently focused on implementation of that order.”
The BPI are hoping BT will act voluntarily.
It wouldn’t be the first time The Pirate Bay has been pulled by an ISP. In other territories across Europe, including Ireland, Denmark, Italy, Belgium and Sweden service providers have also removed the access to the torrent-hosting site.
