BT ordered to block links to Newzbin 2 website

.Griff. · Jul 28, 2011, 13:06:34

QuoteA High Court judge has ruled that BT must block access to a website which provides links to pirated movies.

Newzbin 2 is a members-only site which aggregates a large amount of the illegally copied material found on Usenet discussion forums.

The landmark case is the first time that an ISP has been ordered to block access to such a site.

More - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14322957

What an utterly pointless ruling.

Rik · Jul 28, 2011, 13:42:22

It demonstrates a lack of understanding, to say the least.

pctech · Jul 28, 2011, 13:54:58

Depends on how they do it of course.

Preventing the DNS resolvers from resolving it can be circumvented of course but I could in theory be blocked by reprogramming core routers but as BGP aggregates routes this will take a lot of effort.

Technical Ben · Jul 28, 2011, 15:00:16

Does BT own the infrustructure to do it though? It's like asking Royal mail to block the roads...

kinmel · Jul 28, 2011, 15:02:28

Ah, the futility of it all. It will be an impossible process to extend the blocking to all UK internet users

In the time it took to get one Court Order, users have already been given ways to defeat Cleanfeed and access the member only site.

Newzbin2 has a Tor onion address accessed either directly or through a Tor proxy. Or can go directly via the IP address and others who hate the concept of castrating free speech on the Internet have developed the MafiaaFire & "Gee! No Evil!" plugins for the Firefox and Chrome browsers.

If you are savvy enough to use the NFOs, NZBs, PAR2s etc necessary to make proper use of Newzbin, then such bans are no ban at all. They are not even an inconvenience.

pctech · Jul 28, 2011, 15:10:58

It won't affect non BT retail customers.

.Griff. · Jul 28, 2011, 16:26:18

Quote from: pctech on Jul 28, 2011, 15:10:58
It won't affect non BT retail customers.

It won't affect retail customers either if they've the slightest working knowledge of the internet

Inkblot · Jul 28, 2011, 16:32:37

On the rare occasion I want to download something 'dodgy' I use a search engine called 'Google', works well - usually finds me loads of hits very quickly. Does that mean the film industry should be asking for it to be blocked?

I also wonder quite what the film/music industries are going to do with all of the 'missing' billions of £££ that they seem to be expecting to recoup, they don't seem to realise that some (Most?) people don't download to avoid paying at the cinema/shop, they do it because they can - a film downloaded 1000 times does not equal 1000 missed cinema viewings. One guy at work is an avid film watcher & goes to the cinema at least once a week but also downloads the same films to watch at home, blocking him (Which won't happen of course) would make precisely zero difference to their bottom line - but they probably think they are losing 50+ viewings a week and I'm sure he is far from alone.

FritzBox · Jul 28, 2011, 19:34:48

I haven't been to the cinema since I took my niece to see Free Willy 2, believe the release date was around 1995. I do download the odd film, but nothing will entice me back until they have setee's that I can sprawl out on, put my feet up, drink a beer, smoke a cigarette and generally nod off. Not a good experience as far as I'm concerned

Technical Ben · Jul 29, 2011, 07:18:59

I'd be happy if they did not use gum for flooring, Your granddads glasses for the projector and pretended the popcorn was gold plated (at that cost I'd expect it to be!).

pctech · Jul 29, 2011, 12:11:06

Last went to see Quantum of Solace.

Sweet popcorn and a cola was something like 7 quid, the popcorn tasted like I imagine polystyrene tastes like and the cola was just like syrup sprayed into carbonated water.

I'll go and watch a film but they can keep the rest of the overpriced c**p.

Dougc · Sep 16, 2011, 12:11:57

So, does this mean BT are restricting access at the wholesale level? Or just for their own customers (i.e. people who use BT Openworld, or whatever it's called, as their ADSL provider)? Just trying to work out if this will affect me as an IDNet customer!

I have absolutely no desire to visit any of the sites they're "blocking", but I don't feel comfortable with the whole thing at all, it feels like enforced censorship $:-\$

Rik · Sep 16, 2011, 12:41:26

It is, Doug.

JB · Sep 16, 2011, 12:44:28

I don't believe that BT are doing anything at all at any level yet.

The way I read the case is that BT would return to court in October to present/discuss possible plans for what should be blocked and how. As yet nothing has been done and a problem some users had a while ago was I believe traced to a duff DNS.

I see the whole thing as futile and it looks increasingly more like a vendetta between the MPA and Newzbin2. It's futile because there are various ways to circumvent any 'blocking' and in any event there are several other sites providing the same data that Newzbin2 has available.

And let's not forget about Google, one of the most prolific 'pirate' search engines ever.

Polchraine · Sep 16, 2011, 13:07:43

Quote from: Dougc on Sep 16, 2011, 12:11:57
... but I don't feel comfortable with the whole thing at all, it feels like enforced censorship $:-\$

It is something BT fought against - they are the carrier not the provider and have no desire to censor anything on the web (with the exception of Child sexual abuse/pornography). This ban and any further ones will be a significant cost to BT and they have stated that they will pass on the costs to the MPA.

JB · Sep 16, 2011, 13:48:13

Quote from: Polchraine on Sep 16, 2011, 13:07:43
they have stated that they will pass on the costs to the MPA.

I imagine this will be one of the issues raised in court in October.

kinmel · Sep 16, 2011, 14:51:20

By 14th October, all Newzbin2 members, wishing to do so, will have downloaded and migrated to the new Newzbin Client application for Windows or Linux and there will be nothing visible to block.

cavillas · Sep 16, 2011, 16:04:17

If you buy a dvd of a film and watch it 30 or 40 times does the film industry lose 31 to 40 times the revenue of people who go to the cinema? I think they should charge peopel each time they watch their own dvd's in future so that these poor film companies don't lose out.

pctech · Sep 16, 2011, 16:07:58

Filmakers are running out of ideas so they are recycling old ones.

Technical Ben · Sep 16, 2011, 16:59:58

Quote from: cavillas on Sep 16, 2011, 16:04:17
If you buy a dvd of a film and watch it 30 or 40 times does the film industry lose 31 to 40 times the revenue of people who go to the cinema? I think they should charge peopel each time they watch their own dvd's in future so that these poor film companies don't lose out.

You do realise they will? As soon as Blue ray becomes obsolete, we are on to cloud based media (almost there already). They do charge per use. Most download movie options are like this. See computer games as an example. I refuse to buy games from EA or Ubisoft because they often have 3 time limits on game installs. Granted, it's rare to ever do that. But one original install, 1 crash on a PC plus one PC upgrade and you have used up all 3. I've got EA games I like to go back to on occasion (like rewatching old movies) just for a moment of fun. However, these companies are already preventing that.

Most Valve games (via Steam) are the complete opposite. They even allow multiple computers (cross platform Mac AND PC) plus unlimited reinstalls. They trust their customers and provide the service they want and pay for.