Malaysian gov't eyes blocking websites over illegal dloads

Malaysian authorities are eyeing blocking at least 10 websites that it said allow the illegal download of movies and videos. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has told the relevant Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block the sites, Malaysia's The Star reported. “The Commission has informed the relevant licensees under the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998 about this request and action is currently being undertaken in phases," the MCMC said, according to the Star report. MCMC said that it received a request from the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism's Enforcement Division that found the websites contravened the Copyright Act 1987. The agency stressed that the move was not an act of censorship, but was merely done in compliance with the law. The Star said that, under the law, a licensee is obliged to comply with a written request by MCMC to assist authorities "in preventing the commission or attempted commission of an offence under any written law of Malaysia." “Accordingly, compliance with the law is not to be construed as censorship," the MCMC said. The Star said a letter from the MCMC, believed to be addressed to all ISPs on the request, had been leaked online on blogs in the past few days. It said the web addresses listed in the letter included www.warez-bb.org and www.megavideo.com. - TJD, GMA News