Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Asked To Block Newzbin2

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has confirmed that it has asked Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media to deny their users access to Newzbin2.

The MPA has already succeeded in forcing BT to block the members’ only file-sharing site, but is now intent on making other major ISPs follow suit.

Widening the net

All three companies have confirmed they have received letters from the MPA and although Sky and Virgin Media have indicated they are likely to comply, TalkTalk said it is considering its response as it objects to the fact that the financial burden of complying with the order rests with the ISPs.

“There are some elements of the order, for instance that we have to pay the costs of implementing it, that we think are inappropriate,” Andrew Heaney, head of regulatory affairs at TalkTalk, told the BBC, “In a sense it wouldn’t be worth having a legal battle over that but if the costs get a lot more we may reserve the right to contest it in the future.”

The High Court ordered BT to block Newzbin2 in July, following a lengthy process that started when the MPA filed an injunction in December 2010. This marked the first time that an ISP was forced to block a site under copyright law.

BT also had reservations about being forced to pay for the blockade, which it estimates at around £5,000, and challenged the ruling, but was told last month it had 14 days to comply with the ruling.

However Newzbin has released agent software that will allow its members to circumvent these measures and an eWEEK Europe test revealed that the site is still accessible on a BT connection.