Hollywood’s Renewed War on Piracy: Motion Picture Association CEO Announces Legislation to Block Piracy Websites

Hollywood is gearing up for a new battle against piracy, with the Motion Picture Association (MPA) leading the charge. Chief executive Charles Rivkin announced plans to work with Congress on legislation that would allow companies in the media and entertainment industries to block access to websites hosting pirated movies and TV shows.

Rivkin emphasized the impact of piracy on everyone involved in production, from actors to writers to craftspeople. The proposed legislation aims to target sites dedicated to infringement and enabling piracy, with a process overseen by a federal judge for copyright holders to seek orders to block these sites.

The MPA’s vision for the legislation is a more focused approach compared to the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) from 2011. The new law would require intermediaries to halt infringement without involving them in editorial decisions on content.

Similar site-blocking legislation has been successful in other countries, leading to a decrease in visits to piracy sites and an increase in visits to legal sites. The MPA argues that these laws have not stifled free expression and have been effective in combating piracy.

Critics, however, raise concerns about potential abuse of the proposed law and its impact on free speech. They suggest that the focus should be on providing content through lawful channels that are user-friendly and reasonably priced to reduce infringement.

As Hollywood prepares for this new anti-piracy effort, the debate over balancing copyright protection with free speech rights continues to be a contentious issue in the digital age.