20^th Century Fox v BT:  Can an ISP have ‘not the right kind of knowledge' in respect of copyright enforcement liability?

Second report on the case from last Wednesday in the High Court, when I attended the hearing.

 The case of Twentieth Century Fox v BT  (the Motion Picture Association of America ‘s European arm suing  British Telecommunications)  could be a key landmark case for copyright enforcement on the Internet.  At stake is whether an ISP in Europe  can be ordered to block a website which is alleged to be   infringing copyright.  The legal chasm between the two parties  is the meaning  of ‘actual

Read more: Hollywood v BT: the wrong kind of knowledge?

20th Century Fox v BT:

Is BT the first in a domino effect of blocking orders? BT's  defence against the Hollywood studios who files for a blocking order, will be critical for the Internet in the UK and Europe.  The case could set up an important precedent. Both parties in court were accutely aware of this possibility.

I attended the court hearing yesterday. Here is my first report of the proceedings. Most media appear to have reported this case based on information supplied by the MPA. I heard  BT's submissions, as well as responses from the MPA. 

British Telecom (BT), the UK's largest Internet service provider, is defending itself in court this week against a website blocking order filed by  the the Motion Picture Association ( MPA ) which is the European arm of the MPAA, representing the major Hollywood film studios. The MPA is asking for an order to make BT block access for all of its subscribers,  to a website called Newzbin, which allegedly offers access to unauthorised copies of films and music. 

It emerged in court that the application for the blocking order followed months of

Read more: Hollywood v BT: consequences for all European ISPs, court told

Hollywood Studios are at the High Court In London today in an attempt to force BT to block a website that is allegedly infringing copyright. But  in a separate development, a document has emerged which outlines wider  plans,  by the rights holders, for blocking injunctions.

The request for the injunction was filed within the last week or so by the 

Read more: 20th Century Fox v BT - and Hollywood’s latest plan for ISP co-operation