Proposed Bill Requires ISPs and VPNs to Block Foreign Piracy Websites

<p>US Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) has proposed legislation that would mandate Internet service providers (ISPs) and other network operators to block access to foreign piracy websites. The proposed bill aims to assist copyright holders in obtaining judicial orders to be served to ISPs, domain name resolution services, and virtual private networks (VPNs).</p><p>Issa, who is set to retire from the House at the end of this year, is among several lawmakers from both parties who have introduced site-blocking legislation sought by the Motion Picture Association (MPA). He submitted the bill this week following a statement made during a hearing on June 30, where he indicated his intention to introduce such legislation.</p><p>“While millions of listings for copyright-infringing content are removed every day under [the] notice-and-takedown process set forth in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, right-holders have raised concerns with the speed,” Issa stated during the hearing. He further questioned, “Can we do it at the speed of sound? Can we do it at the speed of light? More importantly, in a 45-minute or sometimes a fraction of that live sports broadcast, can we do it soon enough to make it no longer profitable for those who pop up and sell their clandestine wares?”</p>