James Delahunty
17 Dec 2010 22:54
MasterCard has said it will cease processing payments to websites that offer illegal copies of movies, music and other content for download.
The credit card company supports the proposed Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, which authorizes the Department of Justice (DoJ) to shut down domain names of U.S.-based websites that are offering pirated content.
As for websites located overseas, the bill grants the DoJ the power to force ISPs, payment processors like MasterCard or online advertising networks from doing business with them.
"MasterCard in particular deserves credit for its proactive approach to addressing rogue Web sites that dupe consumers," Mitch Glazier, Recording Industry Association of America exec, told CNET. "They have reached out to us and others in the entertainment community to forge what we think will be a productive and effective partnership."
Hollywood has been shifting away from targeting individual file sharers with lawsuits as a means to tackle Internet piracy and more toward targeting the sources of income that keep websites going. Some sites charge fees for use of the service (or for premium use), while others rely on advertisements.
Earlier this month, Google said it would do more to make sure that piracy websites are kept off of its Adsense platform. The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), whose members account for more than 86 percent of U.S. advertising online, also said it will work with entertainment companies to cut off piracy websites.