Websites that indiscriminately rip off content online will be blocked, if proposed amendments to the Copyright Act are passed later this year.
The proposed changes aim to empower rights holders to protect their online content more effectively via a direct application to the courts.
Currently, rights holders can issue a take-down notice to a network service provider (NSP) or internet service provider (ISP) to request the removal of copyright infringing material from its network. Should the ISP fail to respond, rights holders then have to sue the ISP and seek an injunction from the court to remove the material.
Apart from allowing rights holders to bypass the ISPs and, in the process, not implicate them unnecessarily, a more specific definition of pirate websites has also been suggested.
A public consultation was launched in conjunction with the proposal.
Interested parties may view the draft bill and submit feedback via the Ministry of Law website before April 21.
Photo: AFP
Websites that indiscriminately rip off content online will be blocked, if proposed amendments to the Copyright Act are passed later this year.
The proposed changes aim to empower rights holders to protect their online content more effectively via a direct application to the courts.
Currently, rights holders can issue a take-down notice to a network service provider (NSP) or internet service provider (ISP) to request the removal of copyright infringing material from its network. Should the ISP fail to respond, rights holders then have to sue the ISP and seek an injunction from the court to remove the material.
Apart from allowing rights holders to bypass the ISPs and, in the process, not implicate them unnecessarily, a more specific definition of pirate websites has also been suggested.
A public consultation was launched in conjunction with the proposal.
Interested parties may view the draft bill and submit feedback via the Ministry of Law website before April 21.
Photo: AFP