Copyright owners and Internet service providers in Sweden ally themselves to simplify web blocking
Digital labels and publishers Juridisk
By Chris Cooke | Published Monday, May 9, 2022
The entertainment industry and various internet providers in Sweden have entered into an agreement to simplify the web blocking process in the country and lobby for clearer laws regarding such web blocking.
When the music and film industry in Sweden first started seeking web blocking orders through courts – internet providers ordered to block access to piracy sites and especially The Pirate Bay – there were long-running legal battles when some network companies came back with the idea that they should block access to websites for copyright reasons. But in the end, the copyright holders won.
Many ISPs now partner with groups representing the music, film, gaming and media sectors to make it easier to process web blocking requests from copyright holders.
Inquiries will still go through the courts, but parties on both sides have pledged to exchange information early in the process, which should make things easier and faster when the web-blocking paperwork is actually before a judge.
Torrentfreak was discovered last week an update from the country’s Rights Alliance confirming cooperation with Internet companies. The rights group also stated that both copyright holders and internet providers will also “jointly strive for new, clear legislation for administrative website blocking in Sweden”.
Web blocking has become a choice against piracy for the music and film industry in the countries where such blocking is available.
ISPs often object to web blocking when it is first proposed in a country, although they usually fall in line eventually. But in some countries – such as Sweden – several years of back and forth in the courts were required before each network company came on board.