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In a UK legal first, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) has applied for an injunction that would force BT (British Telecom) to block access NZB site Newzbin.
The MPA, which is is the international arm of the Motion Picture Association of America – is the industry body for a string of UK movie studios. It said BT is its first target because it is the largest internet service provider (ISP) in the UK with over 5.6 million customers. However the main reason is because BT supplies a website blocking system known as CleanFeed to most other, large ISP’s.
If successful in court, the block could be forced upon the other Internet Providers.
Newzbin was a hugely popular NZB indexing site and was forced to shutdown by the high court in 2010. Soon after, it emerged that the site had new owners known as Team R Dogs, a group intent on bring Newzbin back to life as Newzbin2. In June 2010. Newzbin was back online has been ever since. It has also regained most of its followers.
Chris Marcich, President of the European MPA said
Newzbin has no regard for UK law and it is unacceptable that it continues to infringe copyright on a massive and commercial scale when it has been ordered to stop by the High Court”
"We have explored every route to get Newzbin to take down the infringing material and are left with no option but to challenge this in the courts."
Blocks imposed by courts have been used widely throughout Europe in the past, a successful outcome in this case would mark the first time the tactic has worked in the UK.
BT have refused to comment, but confirmed it will appear in court at a later date.
Watch this space.
