Latvia has passed a law that requires ISPs to block access to TV broadcasts that violate intellectual property rights.
According to Mediasat, the blocking will initially be undertaken in out of court orders by the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) for a period of six months.
It adds that the process is similar to that already employed in other countries and will see the regulator initially send cease-and desist notifications to offenders.
They will be given 15 days to stop their illegal activities, after which their sites will be placed on a national blacklist sent to local ISPs.
It is estimated that the state will provide the NEPLP with an additional €33,207 this year and €280,365 in both 2020 and 2021 to carry out its additional functions.
Mediasat notes that the move comes alongside the Ukrainian manufacturer and Clear Sky Initiative (see Broadband TV News report from October 2018) member Infomir stating it blocks access after receiving complaints from copyright holders.
Anti-piracy efforts in Latvia have been spearheaded by the Par legalu saturu society, with like Ukraine’s Clear Sky Initiate are signatories of the Warsaw Declaration that unites anti-piracy organisations and rights holders in their fight against copyright theft.
