Village Roadshow to push fight against Aussie pirates 'big time'

Village Roadshow has issued a new warning to Aussie pirates. The company’s co-CEO Graham Burke said they are continuing its push “big time.”

Village Roadshow and Foxtel’s landmark Federal Court case asked websites that offer content downloads, including Solar Movie, Pirate Bay, Torrentz, TorrentHound and IsoHunt, to be blocked by internet service providers in Australia. ISPs include Telstra and Optus.

The rule was handed down by a federal judge, who specified that ISPs must "take reasonable steps to disable access" to such sites. ISPs have blocked some privacy websites including Solar Movie, Pirate Bay, Torrentz, TorrentHound and IsoHunt in the country last year. Burke said more site-blocking cases can be expected.

Burke told Mashable that there will be further cases, when the court resumes next month. He has not specifically shared which sites Village Roadshow plans to focus on, but said there is a list that is as long as his arm.

However, critics continue to question the value of site-blocking applications. Internet Australia CEO Laurie Patton has commented that the site blocking cases are a "PR stunt," and a "very blunt way" of trying to educate about privacy. "They can mount as many cases as they like, it won't stop unlawful downloading of content," he told Mashable.

Patton suggested that the only way to deal with the privacy issue is to stop geo-blocking. He further stated that people should get an easier access to the "stuff" at a reasonable price.

In relation to this, Burke has clarified that site-blocking is only one of the company's initiatives to stop piracy in the country. He revealed that what they are planning to do is to sue copyright infringers.

"We have the legal ability and the right to do," Burke said. "Unlike previous areas where that's been explored, if anyone is of dire circumstances or poor health and they undertake to stop doing it, we will accept that," he added.