PayPal joins IFPI in effort to shut down illegal music sites

Andre Yoskowitz
24 Jul 2011 3:05

PayPal UK has announced today they have joined with the IFPI and the City Of London Police in an effort to "starve" websites which make money off the sharing of unauthorized music.
Says the press release:

When presented with sufficient evidence of unlicensed downloading from a site, the United Kingdom's PayPal branch will require the retailer to submit proof of licensing for the music offered by the retailer.

One official added:

We've always banned PayPal's use for the sale of content that infringes copyright, and the new system will make life even harder for illegal operators. Our partnership with the music industry helps rights holders make money from their own content while stopping the pirates in their tracks.

Additionally, the anti-piracy groups have created a set of "best practice procedures" for credit card companies "to distribute both internally and to banks that use their services, which help identify infringing websites and prevent them from being granted card payment facilities."
The IFPI says credit card payment services have already been withdrawn from 24 unauthorized music stores.