Government could block copyright infringing websites

The government has amended the Digital Economy Bill to give High Court judges the power to block any website with a "substantial" amount of copyright infringing content, such as YouTube.

The House of Lords passed the amendment to the controversial Clause 17, which last year raised concerns as it allows the Secretary of State to adjust copyright law in a bid to keep up with technological advances. At the time, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) defended Clause 17, saying it ensured the government could act if illegal downloaders develop new ways of obtaining material in the future.

Liberal Democrat Lord Clement-Jones said the amendment, which will "prevent access to specified online locations for the prevention of online copyright infringement", was designed to quash fears that web users accused of illegally downloading would be disconnected from the net under the 'three strikes' rule, which is also set-out in the Digital Economy Bill.

Instead, Lord Clement-Jones revealed Clause 17 would now offer a "more proportionate, specific and appropriate" way to deal with internet piracy. "I believe this is going to send a powerful message to our creative industries that we value what they do, that we want to protect what they do, that we do not believe in censoring the internet but we are responding to genuine concerns," he said.

However, Jim Kilock, executive director of the Open Rights Group, slammed the amendment to Clause 17, saying it would "open the door to a massive imbalance of power in favour of large copyright holding companies".

"Individuals and small businesses would be open to massive 'copyright attacks' that could shut them down, just by the threat of action," Kilock said in a blog. "This is exactly how libel law works today: suppressing free speech by the unwarranted threat of legal action. The expense and the threat are enough to create a 'chilling effect'."