SYDNEY – Entertainment company Village Roadshow has asked an Australian court to order Internet service providers to block access to a website that allows free access to films and TV shows.
The Federal Court complaint filed on Thursday will be the first test of Australia’s anti-piracy website blocking law, which went into effect last year.
Village Roadshow says it is targeting the Philippines-based website Solarmovie. Singapore’s high court recently ordered all ISPs to block access to Solarmovie following legal action brought by the Motion Picture Association.
Australia approved legislation last year that allows content owners to ask the Federal Court to block overseas websites whose “primary purpose” is to facilitate copyright infringement. If the court approves the request, all Australian ISPs are required to comply with the orders to block access.
