Australians are reportedly accessing websites blocked over piracy concerns 53% less than they were a year ago, after a 2015 ruling allowed copyright holders to seek court orders against some of the internet’s biggest torrenting hotspots.
There’s also been a 25% reduction in the amount of content pirated overall in Australia, according to a new report on the efficacy of the site-blocking measures.
The measures, which allowed some of the biggest entertainment companies in the nation to compel internet service providers into blocking access to suspect websites, have been hailed by industry heavyweights.
Graham Burke, co-CEO of Village Roadshow, told Fairfax Media that site-blocking pages “shuts the front door” to Aussies looking to access content for exactly zero dollars.
At various points, The Pirate Bay, Torrentz, TorrentHound, and IsoHunt have been blocked by ISPs due to injunctions won by copyright holders including Village Roadshow.
That’s not all, either. Early last year, Burke said Village Roadshow had a list of potential take-down targets “as long as my arm.”
But Burke now says making use of the legislation is only part of a holistic approach he hopes will bolster the legal consumption of film, television, gaming, and audio content.
Hinting at the dominance of streaming services, Burke said “it’s also about providing product at home in a timely and cost-effective way.”
The industry will also unveil a new weapon against online piracy in a nation known for its rampant downloads: a new advertisement showing Aussies how piracy strips local talent of vital funding.
Expect the ad, which we can only assume to be a 2018 take on the classic “You Wouldn’t Steal A Car” VHS-preroll, to arrive in cinema and TV screens tomorrow. Good luck downloading it when it arrives, though.