TalkTalk to begin blocking Newzbin 2 file-sharing website

ISP latest to be issued with legal request after landmark BT case

TalkTalk is in the process of blocking access to the Newzbin 2 website in the UK after it was revealed that a court order issued on behalf of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) requiring the block was granted last month.

The firm confirmed it received the order on 9 January and comes after the MPA used the precedent set in the historic ruling its secured last year against BT to block access to the site to demand the same of other ISPs, including Virgin Media.

TalkTalk had said it would only comply with the ruling if there was a court order compelling it do so, which has now been issued. TalkTalk confirmed it is the process of banning access to the site.

"We will comply with the decision made by the court and are in the process of doing this," it said.

"TalkTalk have always maintained that we are not in principle against blocking provided there is a court order."

V3 contacted Virgin Media to ask if it has received a court requiring it to block access but had not received any information at the time of publication.

The court order first granted to the MPA against BT was a landmark case as it was issued under the existing laws of the Copyright, Design and Patent Act, rather than the Digital Economy Act (DEA) which was introduced to address the issue of online copyright infringement.

The success the MPA achieved with the case also led to Ofcom to recommend the government remove web blocking provisions from the DEA.