Film studios, record companies and others push for a ban on The Pirate Bay

A coalition of Hollywood film studios, record companies and publishers has formally lodged a request with BT for a ban of The Pirate Bay, one of the largest illegal filesharing sites in the world. The coalition won a landmark high-court ruling designed to enforce UK copyright law.

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in a letter to BT, the UK's largest internet service provider with 6 six million customers, has called on the telecoms company to block The Pirate Bay voluntarily.

The coalition led by trade bodies including BPI, Pact, the Motion Picture Association and the Publishers Association aims to pressure BT following last-week's high court ruling, to set a precedent by ordering the blocking of filesharing site Newzbin2.

Justice Arnold ordered that BT block Newzbin2, which is being accused by Hollywood studios as a promoter of illegal filesharing "on a grand scale.'' According to industry watchers the ruling would set off a wave of similar requests for blocking similar illegal download services.

A BT spokesman said it confirmed it was now in receipt of a letter from the BPI which was under consideration.

He added in line with the Newzbin judgment, a court order would be required before any blocking could begin.

He said BT was currently focused on implementation of that order.

According to John Smith, general secretary of the Musicians' Union, now that the law stood clarified by the court, as a sector, the union needed to keep up the pressure on these illegal sites.