Legal News

Anti-piracy code of practice for search engines proposed by rights holder representatives
Fri 27th Jan 12 - 15:42

Groups representing rights holders have a proposed a voluntary code of conduct for internet search engines operating in the UK.

Under the code, drafted by the British Recorded Music Industry, Motion Pictures Association, Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television, The Premier League and the Publishers Association, search engines could stop publishing links to websites that are deemed to be substantial infringers of copyright.

If it were adopted the code would also require search engines to relegate sites in their rankings for repeatedly making available pirated content, and to boost links to “licensed” sites under a new “certification” scheme.

The proposals have been described as "dangerous" by digital freedoms campaigners the Open Rights Group.