Music Industry Orders BitTorrent Blackout

[bhachuj]

Throughout Europe, music industry lobbyists have tried to convince ISPs to block file-sharing sites, and not without success. The Irish ISP Eircom is the first to cave in to the pressure of the music industry, and without any argument will block all file-sharing related websites - starting with The Pirate Bay.

Last month, Eircom announced that at the behest of the music industry it will disconnect customers who are allegedly sharing copyrighted material. Initially the ISP planned to stand up for its customers in court. However, it didn’t have the courage of its convictions and the case was aborted. Capitulating to the music industry’s demands, Eircom agreed to start disconnecting those accused of illicit file-sharing.

But that wasn’t enough. Now the industry wants more and is ordering Eircom to block access to any sites it wants blocked. And it doesn’t end there.

Smelling blood, the music industry is ratcheting up the pressure and they are now demanding that all ISPs censor the Internet by blocking access to all file-sharing related websites.

More on http://torrentfreak.com/music-industry-orders-bittorrent-blackout-090223/

[Slav]

All the ISPs won't block filesharing sites as much as the music industry attempts to make them do so. People will start downgrading to cheaper and smaller usage internet plans and ISPs will start to lose money, so they'll eventually just go on to unblock these sites anyway.

A similar thing is going to happen here in Australia, as the government wants to introduce the internet filter which will block any "illegal" content/websites. A few ISPs are going to trial it, but realistically it'll never work because ISPs are going to realise that it's just not worth it.