By Ahmad Hathout
A FEDERAL COURT judge has ordered Internet service providers to block the websites of possible streamers of the FIFA World Cup soccer matches that begin next month.
The dynamic blocking order, dated Oct. 21, will target a set of IP addresses linked to streamers who have previously illegally streamed Major League Soccer games and the sports networks of Bell Media, the exclusive FIFA games rightsholder in Canada, which brought the original website blocking application last month. It follows teleconferences held on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6.
Judge Richard Mosley’s decision leverages the first dynamic website blocking order in Canada, which targeted the NHL hockey playoffs this spring. The difference between the two orders is the NHL games were already underway, whereas the FIFA games have not started yet (they begin Nov. 20). But the scope of the order is similar: it is an order blocking the streams only when a match is on (with some time before and after) that will be lifted entirely after the conclusion of the tournament on Dec. 18.
A dynamic block means the ISPs will need to actively block streams as they emerge. Bell appoints an agent, who notifies the third-party ISPs about an IP address that needs to be blocked. In a regular blocking order, any additional streams beyond the initial court-approved list would need an additional court order.
The turnaround on the decision was relatively quick because, according to the decision, the affected ISPs did not raise objections to it.
Bell moved quickly to get an order against the unknown defendants to capture them before the games, first filing against them specifically and then following with a request to order ISPs to block their streams from view. Crucially, Bell said it waited for a results report from the NHL block, which it said showed that the order was effective. The company said in its FIFA blocking application that a public version of the report would be available.
Bell is responsible for costs incurred by the third-party ISPs of up to $15,000 to implement the order.
