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| Attempt to cut off illegal websites' advertising revenue | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An initiative that hopes to cut off advertising revenues from websites offering illegal copyrighted material has been launched. | An initiative that hopes to cut off advertising revenues from websites offering illegal copyrighted material has been launched. |
| It will see the creation of an online database of websites "verified" as being illegal. | It will see the creation of an online database of websites "verified" as being illegal. |
| It is hoped that firms that handle advertising will use the resource to make sure they do not serve advertising on those sites, cutting off revenue. | It is hoped that firms that handle advertising will use the resource to make sure they do not serve advertising on those sites, cutting off revenue. |
| Top piracy sites generate millions of pounds thanks to advertising. | Top piracy sites generate millions of pounds thanks to advertising. |
| One estimate, from the Digital Citizens Alliance - a group backed by rights holders - suggested that the top 30 piracy websites worldwide generated $227m (£137m) from advertising revenue each year. | One estimate, from the Digital Citizens Alliance - a group backed by rights holders - suggested that the top 30 piracy websites worldwide generated $227m (£137m) from advertising revenue each year. |
| Smaller sites still command revenues into the hundreds of thousands, the group said. | Smaller sites still command revenues into the hundreds of thousands, the group said. |
| 'Safety tool' | 'Safety tool' |
| Most brands hire third parties to distribute their online advertising to hundreds of websites at once, which can sometimes lead to them unintentionally appearing against unfavourable content. | Most brands hire third parties to distribute their online advertising to hundreds of websites at once, which can sometimes lead to them unintentionally appearing against unfavourable content. |
| The Infringing Website List (IWL) will be an "up-to-date list of copyright infringing sites" that can be cross-referenced by those third parties, in the hope that they will pull their advertising from those sites. | The Infringing Website List (IWL) will be an "up-to-date list of copyright infringing sites" that can be cross-referenced by those third parties, in the hope that they will pull their advertising from those sites. |
| "If an advert from an established brand appears on an infringing website not only does it lend the site a look of legitimacy, but inadvertently the brand and advertiser are funding online crime," said Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fyfe from the City of London Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (Pipcu). | "If an advert from an established brand appears on an infringing website not only does it lend the site a look of legitimacy, but inadvertently the brand and advertiser are funding online crime," said Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fyfe from the City of London Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (Pipcu). |
| "Therefore the IWL also serves as a safety tool, ensuring the reputation of advertisers and brands are not discredited through association with illegal websites." | "Therefore the IWL also serves as a safety tool, ensuring the reputation of advertisers and brands are not discredited through association with illegal websites." |
| But Ernesto Van Der Sar, editor of Torrentfreak, a news site that covers issues around online piracy, said there could be worrying implications that arise from the IWL. | But Ernesto Van Der Sar, editor of Torrentfreak, a news site that covers issues around online piracy, said there could be worrying implications that arise from the IWL. |
| "As with all blocklists there is a serious risk of overblocking," he told the BBC. | "As with all blocklists there is a serious risk of overblocking," he told the BBC. |
| "Without proper oversight perfectly legal sites may end up losing good advertising opportunities if they are wrongfully included." | "Without proper oversight perfectly legal sites may end up losing good advertising opportunities if they are wrongfully included." |
| The City of London police said any sites listed would be notifiied in advance - but it was unable to tell the BBC how many sites would be on the list at launch. | The City of London police said any sites listed would be notifiied in advance - but it was unable to tell the BBC how many sites would be on the list at launch. |
| Following the money | Following the money |
| The battle against online piracy has seen content creators attempt many different strategies in order to stem the flow of illegal downloading. | The battle against online piracy has seen content creators attempt many different strategies in order to stem the flow of illegal downloading. |
| In the UK, the courts have ordered internet service providers to block almost 50 different websites offering pirated content, either by direct download or through peer-to-peer sharing. | In the UK, the courts have ordered internet service providers to block almost 50 different websites offering pirated content, either by direct download or through peer-to-peer sharing. |
| While effective in lowering the traffic of these sites, filtering is a flawed prevention method - many internet users are adept in using different technologies to circumvent the court-imposed restrictions. | While effective in lowering the traffic of these sites, filtering is a flawed prevention method - many internet users are adept in using different technologies to circumvent the court-imposed restrictions. |
| This latest attempt looks to hit the owners of these websites in a more painful way - by stopping advertising revenues from coming in. | This latest attempt looks to hit the owners of these websites in a more painful way - by stopping advertising revenues from coming in. |
| The City of London said a pilot of the IWL carried out last year resulted in a 2% reduction in advertising from major household brands on the identified illegal websites. | The City of London said a pilot of the IWL carried out last year resulted in a 2% reduction in advertising from major household brands on the identified illegal websites. |
| Mr Van Der Sar said the IWL may take away some advertising from these kind of websites, but argued that the effects would be minimal. | Mr Van Der Sar said the IWL may take away some advertising from these kind of websites, but argued that the effects would be minimal. |
| "As long as there is money to be made, there will be plenty of advertising companies who are happy to work with these sites." | "As long as there is money to be made, there will be plenty of advertising companies who are happy to work with these sites." |
| Creative industries minister Ed Vaizey said: "It is essential we protect our creative industries from people ripping off their content online. | Creative industries minister Ed Vaizey said: "It is essential we protect our creative industries from people ripping off their content online. |
| "Disrupting the money unlawful websites make from advertising could make a real difference to the fight against copyright infringement." | "Disrupting the money unlawful websites make from advertising could make a real difference to the fight against copyright infringement." |
| Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC | Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC |