The Rights Alliance has just won a case requiring Danish internet service providers to block 25 streaming services offering illegal film, TV, and live sports content.
Following the court’s decision, the blocks will be implemented by internet service providers in Denmark. This is based on the Rights Alliance’s collaboration with the Danish Telecommunications Industry Association, which establishes a procedure for blocking illegal websites.
The collaboration means that the Danish Telecommunications Industry Association’s members can quickly and effectively block services that have been ruled illegal by the courts.
The illegal services provided access to a huge catalog of Danish and foreign films and series, and several of the services also offered access to soccer broadcasts from the Danish Superliga and other live sports. The blocking case was brought on behalf of a broad coalition of members of the Rights Alliance within the film, TV, and sports industries, all of which are affected by the illegal services.
Close cooperation strengthens the battle against illegal websites
The court’s decision to block the 25 illegal websites is based on solid case law built up over more than 10 years. We have continuously used the blocking system to tackle new types of illegal services. Earlier this year, the Rights Alliance obtained a court ruling that illegal IPTV services can also be blocked in Denmark. This is an important milestone in the fight against IPTV services, which pose major challenges for the film, TV, and live sports industries.
To increase the effectiveness of website blocking, the Rights Alliance, together with the Danish Telecommunications Industry Association and the Ministry of Culture, has established the Share With Care partnership. The collaboration aims to guide users to legal services in Denmark where they can access entertainment content. This happens when users try to access a blocked illegal service, where instead of accessing the service, they encounter a blocking sign with a search function to find legal content.
The combination of website blocking and guidance to legal content is crucial to reducing piracy.
Maria Fredenslund, CEO of RettighedsAlliancen, says:
“The collaboration with the Danish Telecommunications Industry Association is a central part of our strengthened efforts to continuously develop and improve the blocking system. The current case is an important step in that direction, and the work does not stop here. Several more cases are already in the pipeline as part of our continued targeted efforts to remove access to illegal content across a wide range of rights holders we represent.”