Sky is a business which has invested billions of pounds in content for its customers. We do this
because we know how much our customers value high-quality content. It’s therefore imperative that
companies like Sky do what they can, alongside Government and the rest of the media and technology
industries, to help content companies protect their copyright. Such protection will ensure that
consumers continue to benefit from TV programmes, movies and music both now and in the future. This
means taking effective action against online piracy and copyright theft.
Increasingly content owners are turning to the courts to present evidence of copyright theft by
those websites who offer content illegally to users. When they do so, and the court agrees that
copyright theft has occurred, content owners can seek a court order which can compel internet
service providers (ISPs) to block access to those sites over their broadband networks.
This happened with a website called Newzbin 2. We have received a court order requiring us to
block access to this illegal website, which we did on 13th December, 2011. Moving forward, as and
when clear and legally robust evidence of copyright theft is presented, we will take appropriate
action in respect to site blocking, which will include complying with court orders.
