Website Blocking Approved By Singapore Parliament

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ IFPI) Singapore's Parliament has this week approved a Bill introducing a civil law procedure for website blocking, a move welcomed by IFPI as a boost to the music industry in Singapore and internationally.

Frances Moore, chief executive of IFPI, says: "The recording industry welcomes the fact that Singapore has joined the list of nations that consider website blocking to be a proportionate and effective tool to tackle digital piracy. Website blocking is an important way of reducing infringement and stimulating the development of a licensed digital music market. We urge policymakers in other countries to look at introducing measures similar to those set to be implemented in Singapore."

Legislators approved the third reading of the Copyright Amendment Bill on 8th July and the website blocking measures will now come into force when the President signs the Bill into law. Under the new legislation, rights owners can obtain injunctions from the Singapore High Court that would require ISPs to block users' access to websites that flagrantly infringe copyright law.