News

Music Industry Site Blocking Case On Track

Music Rights Australia issued a clarification about the progress of the music industry’s site blocking case which targets the notorious site KickassTorrents.

Various reports released yesterday have incorrectly stated that the music industry’s counsel sought to have the hearing delayed. The quote which has been widely misreported as coming from the music industry’s counsel was in fact made by a counsel for Foxtel Management Pty Ltd. Foxtel Management is a respondent in the case in its capacity as an ISP.

Vanessa Hutley, General Manager of Music Rights Australia, who is overseeing the case said:

“Universal Music Australia Pty v TPG Internet Pty Limited has been set down for hearing at the earliest date which the court could give us. The Applicants did not seek to delay this case. The case is on track and we are currently finalising the Applicants’ evidence in accordance with the timetable we proposed. Music never sought to delay this important case as we believe the expeditious grant of these orders will benefit all copyright owners and their exclusive licensees whose creative content appears on the KickassTorrents site without their permission. We look forward to the matter being heard in October. ”

This matter was listed for a directions hearing before Justice Katzmann on Wednesday 18 May. At the directions hearing, the Applicants proposed a timetable which included listing the matter for   final hearing. The timetable was put in place and the matter was set down for a two day hearing on 25 and 26 October.

Universal Music Australia Pty Limited, Warner Music Australia Pty. Limited, Sony Music Entertainment Australia Pty Ltd and J Albert & Son Pty Ltd, together with APRA AMCOS, filed an application in the Federal Court of Australia seeking orders under section 115A of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) to have the offshore site KickassTorrents and related proxy sites blocked in Australia.

Please see the Press Release for more information:  Media Release - MUSIC INDUSTRY SITE BLOCKING CASE ON TRACK (209.29 KB)