ISP BE Broadband and O2 UK Start Blocking Newzbin2 Piracy Website

It took longer than most but O2 (BE Broadband) has now finally implemented a network-wide block (censorship) that prevents its customers from accessing the NewzBin2 (NewzBin) website, which London’s High Court last year deemed to be responsible for facilitating internet piracy (copyright infringement).

The move follows a related court order in 2011 that initially only required BT to block access to NewzBin2 under Section 97A of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (here). This was later extended to all of the markets largest broadband ISPs and The Pirate Bay soon followed.

According to the BE Usergroup, customers of O2 and BE Broadband were restricted from accessing the website on Thursday last week and met with the following message.

Further blocks against more websites are expected to follow in the future as Rights Holders prepare new court orders and the government continues to debate the possibility of a new Comms Bill voluntary code for tackling the worst offenders.