ISPs refuse BPI request to block access to three torrent sharing sites

A request from the British Phonographic Industry for ISPs to block access to three additonal torrent sharing sites has been rebuffed.

The BBC reports that the BPI sent a letter – which was subsequently leaked – to BT, Sky, Virgin Media, O2, EE and TalkTalk asking that they voluntarily block access to Fenopy, H33t and Kickass Torrents, all of which it accuses of illegally distributing music.

The organisation had hoped for swift action with blocks to be put in place before Christmas, but all of the ISPs have said they will not act on the request voluntarily and would only take action if forced to by the British courts.

"Like The Pirate Bay, these websites are profiting illegally from distributing music that isn’t theirs, without permission and without paying a penny to the musicians, writers and producers who created it," a BPI spokesman stated.

"It is plain wrong. The existence of these sites damages the growth of Britain’s burgeoning digital music sector."

Web freedom advocates argue that blocking sites is ineffective. Indeed, one ISP told the BBC that after the initial dip in traffic experienced in the immediate aftermath of the infamous Pirate Bay blockage, traffic had returned to normal levels within a week.

Nielsen, however, says that The Pirate Bay’s UK traffic has decreased by 75 per cent following the block.