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First web-block injunctions issued in Bulgaria
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 2 June 2023
The International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry has confirmed it has secured some of those always fun web-blocking injunctions in Bulgaria, including against the good old Pirate Bay.
Web-blocking, of course, is the music industry’s anti-piracy tactic of choice. Internet service providers are ordered, usually by a court, to block their customers from accessing copyright infringing websites.
Whether or not such web-blocks are available varies from country to country. But Bulgaria has now been confirmed as a place where the tactic can be employed.
IFPI teamed up with Bulgarian industry group BAMP to secure an injunction ordering three ISPs to block access to both The Pirate Bay and local file-sharing site Zamunda.
While The Pirate Bay has been blocked in multiple countries, this is the first web-block against Zamunda, mainly because Bulgaria accounts for 80% of its traffic.
IFPI and BAMP say that the decision to grant the web-blocks in the Sofia City Court earlier this week will “have a big impact on limiting piracy in the country going forward”.
IFPI boss Frances Moore says: “We welcome this decision and the impact it will have on limiting illegal access to music. Copyright infringement of any sort causes serious harm to local music ecosystems and directs money away from those creating and investing in music”.
BAMP Executive Director Petya Totcharova adds: “We welcome the Sofia City Court’s decision which will strengthen the recorded music industry’s fight against online music piracy. It is the first time a website blocking order has been granted in Bulgaria and we consider this precedent an important step in the right direction”.
