MPA welcomes EU Court decision

The MPA has welcomed the verdict from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on blocking infringing sites.

Today’s verdict confirmed that blocking infringing sites is a proportionate and valid measure to be implemented by ISPs, and is an important milestone in the creative industries’ efforts to curb online piracy.

The CJEU’s decision sets a clear legal framework across the EU and it has also re-confirmed that intermediaries in general are best placed to tackle copyright infringement.

Chris Marcich [pictured], president and managing director of the MPA EMEA, commented: “Today’s verdict means that rightsholders will continue to have the ability to secure balanced website blocking orders from national courts across the EU to address infringing sites.

“A sustainable internet that benefits all must operate fairly, with proportionate and balanced rules. We must all play a constructive role in this aim including search engines who continue to lead consumers to illegal money-making sites.”

On June 15, 2012, the Austrian Supreme Court referred the case Constantin Film and Wega v. UPC Telekabel Wien, better known as the kino.to case, to the CJEU asking for clarifications about siteblocking and the ability of the creative industries to address online copyright infringement.

kino.to was one of the largest pirate streaming portal sites for Germany-speaking territories with up to four million visitors per day.