Anti-piracy law set to kick in soon in Singapore

Posed photo of Internet user downloading data via BitTorrent. The Straits Times FILE PHOTO

SINGAPORE—A proposed copyright law aimed at piracy websites like The Pirate Bay is expected to come into force by the end of next month.

The Bill was put before Parliament on Tuesday and was on the verge of being passed when the sitting was adjourned. It is expected to be passed Wednesday.

First mooted in April, it will let content owners seek High Court orders to get Internet service providers (ISPs) like SingTel or StarHub to block websites that “clearly and flagrantly infringe” copyright.

Currently, content owners can request only that ISPs block pirated content. They can sue the ISPs for copyright infringement if they do not comply. But this could mean months of litigation, so no content rights holders have tried it. Irene Tham, Straits Times Technology Correspondent

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