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Major Labels File Copyright Suit To Block Access To Kickass Torrents

Staff Writer

It begins

Music industry powerhouses Universal Music Australia, Warner Music Australia, Sony Music Entertainment Australia and Albert Music have banded together in an effort to combat offshore site Kickass Torrents after filing an application in the Federal Court of Australia to have it blocked from local access.

Acting under Section 115A of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), the companies are seeking to have Kickass Torrents and its affiliated proxy sites banned by Australian ISPs in order to curb the amount that locals are contributing to the world's booming piracy industry.

"Last year, ARIA welcomed the federal government's passing of Section 115A as a critical element in supporting the legitimate digital content market in Australia," ARIA chief executive Dan Rosen said in a statement.

"ARIA and its members believe that this case will be an important step to ensure Australians are accessing their music from sites which contribute to our local industry, so that we can continue investing in talent to make the music we all love."

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However, Internet Society Of Australia chief executive Laurie Patton, while conceding the need to promote use of legitimate sites, maintains that such measures are ineffective and inefficient as a means of combatting piracy.

"The simple fact is that blocking Internet sites will not solve the problem," Patton said in a statement. "It's been tried without success elsewhere. We need to educate people that breaching copyright is wrong and potentially defrauds the very artists they are listening to and we need to encourage them to use legitimate sites."
 
In contrast, APRA Board chairwoman Jenny Morris OAM explained in a statement that online piracy remains a "major threat" for the nation's creatives and the sustainability of our artistic industries, claiming that "illegal offshore sites like Kickass Torrents show a complete disrespect for music creators and the value of music".

"Australian music fans already have access — for free if they choose — to the world's repertoire of music via more than 20 legitimate, licensed online music services.

"Blocking access to sites like Kickass Torrents is all about supporting those services and allowing the writers whose songs are available on them to be paid for their work."