Talk Talk and Virgin Media are waiting for Newzbin2 block orders

UK INTERNET PROVIDERS Talk Talk and Virgin Media have confirmed that although they will comply with court orders to block the filesharing web site Newzbin2, they are still waiting.

Yesterday we reported that Sky had quietly announced that it was blocking the web site, both because it respects the value of content and because a court ordered it told to do so, and earlier BT said that it had complied with a court order obtained by the Motion Picture Association.

Court orders have not made their way through to Talk Talk or Virgin, but both firms are expecting them.

"We are not in principle against blocking provided a court decides. We have received no such order in respect of Newzbin2," said Talk Talk in response to a question on its stance on blocking the web site.

Virgin Media echoed this, but added that it was important to counter such measures with others that were designed to support artists.

"The Newzbin2 ruling clarifies the legal process for content owners to challenge alleged copyright infringement," said a spokesperson..

"As a responsible ISP, we will comply with any court order addressed to us but strongly believe such deterrents need to be accompanied by compelling legal alternatives, such as our agreement with Spotify, which gives consumers access to content at the right price."

The web site blocks come at a time of intense debate about the openness of the internet. The Digital Economy Act in the UK and the Stop Online Piracy Act in the US seem to fly in the face of internet freedoms and are being hotly contested right now. µ