US Crackdown on Copyright Infringement Continues

28 July 2010

US Crackdown on Copyright Infringement Continues

It has been reported that officials in the USA have continued their crackdown on online copyright infringement by closing down nine websites.

The websites were accused of offering its users free access to the latest box office releases and allowing these users to watch films that had only just been released at the cinema.

It is also reported that assets have been seized from various bank accounts relating to the sites.

The US government have described the action as the 'largest takedown of illegal move and TV websites in a single action'. It is thought that the sites had a combined audience of over 6 million.

This matter is another in a long line of actions that are being taken in the US (and other countries) against websites which offer content illegally and which make a profit by doing so. The growing access to films that have only just been released at the cinema represents a growing problem for the movie industry as it detracts not only from the rental market but also from initial box office takings.

It has also been reported that search warrants have been executed in various US states all of which have been offering the latest releases free of charge. Officials take control of the URL's (domain names) that the websites operate on however the concern is that infringers will simply relocate the site to a new URL.

Jody Tsigarides

jody,tsigarides@lawdit.co.uk