The UK High Court has ordered leading internet service providers (ISPs) including BT, Virgin Media, Sky, EE, and TalkTalk to block access to websites offering pirated eBooks for download.
The Publishers Association has obtained the order from the High Court that requires ISPs to act by 9 June. The order applies to seven major websites which “have been found to contain substantial amounts of infringing content.” All off the alleged websites – AvaxHome, Bookfi, Bookre, Ebookee, Freebookspot, Freshwrap, and LibGen – are based overseas.
According to the Publishers Association, the sites collectively hold around 10 million e-books and at least 80 percent of the material infringes copyright.
The organization said it is also putting pressure on Google to remove more than 1.75 million links from its search results relating to material found on the offending sites.
“A third of publisher revenues now come from digital sales, but unfortunately this rise in the digital market has brought with it a growth in online infringement,” said the Publishers Association chief executive Richard Mollet in a statement.
“Our members need to be able to protect their authors’ works from such illegal activity. Writers need to be paid and publishers need to be able to continue to innovate and invest in new talent and material.”
“We are very pleased that the High Court has granted this order and, in doing so, recognises the damage being inflicted on UK publishers and authors by these infringing websites.”
