Newzbin, a linksharing site providing access to movies, music, videos and software, has been targeted by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) which is demanding for it to be shut down.
Last year, a High Court ordered Newzbin to cease its business but the company went into administration.
It then resurfaced under a new management overseas where it falls no longer under British Jurisdiction.
This time, the Hollywood Studios is aiming to cut Newzbin of by its source, meaning the Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Since BT Group is the largest ISP in Britain with 5.6m customers, MPA has summoned the broadband provider to court.
Furthermore, BT is already using CleanFeed, a technology that blocks websites which offer indecent images of children.
A spokesperson of MPA was quoted as saying:
“If this case is successful, we would hope that other ISPs would take note of the result.”
Momentum Pictures, the British film distributor behind last year’s blockbuster the King’s Speech, said it would fully support the action.
“The King’s Speech is available on the Newzbin website without our consent,” said Spyro Markesinis, the firm’s vice president of legal affairs.
“Neither we, nor the filmmakers receive anything for this. Lost revenues not only threaten our business and our employees’ jobs but also mean we have less money to invest in new films so the whole industry – and particularly the independent film business – is at risk.”
BT confirmed it would appear in court but did not have any further comments.
