Young Turks Recordings Ltd & Ors v British Telecommunications Plc & Ors [2021] EWHC 410 (Ch) (25 February 2021)

Young Turks Recordings Ltd & Ors v British Telecommunications Plc & Ors [2021] EWHC 410 (Ch) (25 February 2021)

The operators and users of stream ripping sites infringe copyright and circumvent technological protection measures; the defendant ISPs are service providers/intermediaries with actual knowledge and must block access; the order is proportionate and justified.

Citation
[2021] EWHC 410 (Ch)
Parties
Claimant: Young Turks Recordings Limited; Claimant: XL Recordings Limited; Claimant: Warner Music UK Limited; Claimant: Warner Bros. Records, Inc.; Claimant: Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited; Claimant: Simco Limited; Claimant: Queens Lite, Inc; Claimant: Matador Records Limited; Claimant: Domino Recording Company Limited; Claimant: Capitol Records, a division of Universal Operations Limited; Defendant: British Telecommunications PLC; Defendant: EE Limited; Defendant: Plusnet PLC; Defendant: Sky UK Limited; Defendant: TalkTalk Telecom Limited; Defendant: Virgin Media Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
25 February 2021
Procedural Posture
Application for Website Blocking Order / Final Judgment
Outcome
Order granted
Legal Topics
Website Blocking Orders, Stream Ripping, Copyright Infringement, Technological Protection Measures, Injunctive Relief, Service Provider Liability
Intellectual Property Copyright Technology Law Website Blocking Orders Stream Ripping Copyright Infringement Technological Protection Measures Injunctive Relief +1 more

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Parties

Young Turks Recordings Limited

Claimant

XL Recordings Limited

Claimant

Warner Music UK Limited

Claimant

Warner Bros. Records, Inc.

Claimant

Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited

Claimant

Simco Limited

Claimant

Queens Lite, Inc

Claimant

Matador Records Limited

Claimant

Domino Recording Company Limited

Claimant

Capitol Records, a division of Universal Operations Limited

Claimant

British Telecommunications PLC

Defendant

EE Limited

Defendant

Plusnet PLC

Defendant

Sky UK Limited

Defendant

TalkTalk Telecom Limited

Defendant

Virgin Media Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Application for Website Blocking Order / Final Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the operators and users of stream ripping sites infringe copyright and circumvent technological protection measures
  2. 2 Whether the defendant ISPs are service providers/intermediaries liable to block access under s.97A Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
  3. 3 Whether the order sought is proportionate and justified

Ratio Decidendi

The operators and users of stream ripping sites infringe copyright and circumvent technological protection measures; the defendant ISPs are service providers/intermediaries with actual knowledge and must block access; the order is proportionate and justified.

Court Disposition

Order granted

Orders

  • Defendant ISPs must block access to specified stream ripping websites and associated domains.
  • Permission to apply granted to any affected party.