Eircom blocks users' access to Pirate Bay

JOHN COLLINS

EIRCOM HAS confirmed that from this morning its customers will be blocked from accessing the Pirate Bay, the world’s most popular website for filesharing, in accordance with a High Court order.

The Irish Recorded Music Association (Irma), representing the four major record labels, secured an order in July directing Eircom to block access to the Pirate Bay and certain related domain names and internet addresses.

In a statement released last night, Eircom reassured customers that it will not be monitoring their activities or sharing any of their personal details with third parties as part of its compliance with the order.

“Eircom recognises the legitimate rights of the owners of copyrighted material and believes that individuals who share or download copyrighted material without the authorisation or the permission of the owner of that content are acting illegally,” the statement read.

The telecoms and broadband provider also revealed that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with EMI Records, Sony Music, Universal Music and Warners to develop a new online music service.

Details of the service are still being negotiated but it is understood that both sides are working to have it launched before Christmas.

The block only applies to customers who get their service directly from Eircom and not those who buy an Eircom wholesale service through another provider.

Under the terms of an out-of-court settlement reached with Irma last January, Eircom will cut off subscribers who repeatedly download copyrighted material owned by the record labels. At this time, it also agreed to blocking the Pirate Bay in principle.

The record companies are now pursuing legal avenues to have other telecoms companies apply the same rules.