Siteblocking

There has been much attention given to siteblocking in the media recently and false suggestions that this could lead to sites with legitimate content being blocked.

 

The content industry is looking specifically at illegal sites that masquerade as legal services which refuse to remove infringing content when asked. These illegal websites, often based overseas, are making money from distributing other people's creative work without payment or permission and undermine the development of an attractive online market for legitimate content.

 

As any business will tell you - online or offline - it’s very difficult to compete in a market where your product is offered for free by someone who has taken it for nothing.

 

Blocking the sites that are focused on infringement and that refuse to remove illegal content will help. Regardless of how the scheme is set up, sites that are responsible and that respect the law are not going to be blocked and it is completely wrong to suggest otherwise.

 

Unlike content providers who provide much needed jobs and revenues to the UK, pirate sites, many of which are based overseas and run by criminals are making money from consumers instead of British creators and ultimately the Exchequer.