This article is also available in:
Deutsch: Britische Rechteinhaber fordern Netzsperren

According to some leaked reports, copyright holders seem to have proposed during a roundtable with UK Government representatives, ISPs and others on 15 June 2011, plans that could lead to the blocking of websites that allegedly host copyright infringing material.

Apparently, the Rightsholder Group' plans include a voluntary website blocking scheme that would involve "expedited court procedures" letting an "expert body" decide if websites that host copyright-infringing material should be blocked, meaning that lobby groups might decide on website content.

The leaked document would make reference to a "balance" between evidence and speed of action, no analysis seems to exist on how the blocking will be done or on the effect of such measures, no clear or comprehensive definitions of what content will be considered blockable seem to be mentioned.

"The objective is to establish a system that protects a copyright owner's property rights by substantially inhibiting infringement while protecting the legitimate interests of consumers, site operators and service providers, including (where relevant) access to services and information and freedom of expression," says the leaked document.

The meeting where the document was presented was closed to copyrights group and only Consumer Focus attended it, as the official "consumer" watchdog. Consumer Focus's opinion is that blocking is no solution: "Consumers' willingness to, or preference for, watching football games online and on mobile devices will not diminish because access to unlicensed websites is blocked."

According to Consumer Focus, the copyright holders propose that, after the "expert body" has decided that copyright infringement evidence submitted by copyright holders is valid and that website blocking is appropriate, the Applications Court of the High Court issues permanent injunctions against the respective websites. "These proposals are a significant regulatory intervention and require at the very least significant changes to the Civil Procedure Rules. As such they should be publicly consulted on and evidence based," says Consumer Focus.

EDRi-member Open Rights Group (ORG) also believes that discussions over how to enforce online copyright infringement measures should be held in public. "It is critical that policy making happens through a broad and open public debate, especially on matters that so tangibly affect rights such as access to information and freedom of expression," stated Peter Bradwell from ORG.

Rights holders' proposed voluntary website blocking scheme (22.06.2011)
http://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/2011/rights-holders-propose-volunt...

Secret website blocking proposals presented to Ed Vaizey (21.06.2011)
http://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/2011/secret-website-blocking-propo...

Leaked proposals detail copyright holders' website blocking code plans (27.06.2011)
http://www.out-law.com/default.aspx?page=12030

Ed Vaizey website blocking roundtable (15.06.2011)
http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/files/2010/10/Consumer-Focus-response-...

BT wary of rights holders' site-blocking proposal (23.06.2011)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/23/site_blocking_vaizey/