Jun 9 2011, 10:36 AM, updated 15y ago
1M Malaysians Don't Want SKMM Block File Sharing Website
http://www.facebook.com/DontBlockFS
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11/6/2011 12:00 PM
Potential savings for ISPs
KUALA LUMPUR: Internet service providers (ISPs) can potentially save more by paying less for international gateway and also reduce bandwidth congestions on their network following the instruction to block access to 10 peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing sites.
Analysts said more than 65% of all Internet traffic today stemmed from P2P file-sharing applications and if data consumption was lowered, it would result in ISPs paying less for their international gateway.
An international gateway allows voice and data traffic to pass through from one country to another.
John Cheah
P2P hosting sites allow users to download files such as music, movies, and games using a file sharing software that searches for other connected computers.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has received a request from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry to prevent access to 10 websites that it found to have contravened the Copyright Act 1987. The commission has requested all ISPs to block access to those websites.
While ISPs could potentially stand to save more from paying high international gateway, an analyst said if the number of requests for overseas content was lower, there would not be any economies of scale resulting in service providers paying higher prices for international gateway.
He pointed out that just two months ago, Konsortium Rangkaian Serantau Sdn Bhd was set up to buy international bandwidth for Internet traffic in bulk to lower the costs of Internet protocol (IP) transit.
Concurrently, the move could also “hinder revenue” from subscribers as there are lesser means for data consumption.
It could also potentially lead to the termination of services by subscribers. Some ISPs earn additional revenue when subscribers run out of quota and decide to upgrade their broadband quotas.
A bank-backed analyst said that users would not just terminate their services just because the sites were blocked, adding that a minority group of users were hogging the bulk of network usage for such downloads.
The local service providers with their own international gateway points are Telekom Malaysia Bhd ™, Maxis Bhd, Time dotCom Bhd and U Mobile Sdn Bhd.
TM currently has control over most of the international gateways, landing points and bandwidth.
The move to filter access to those sites contradicts the Government's promise to not censor the Internet.
Under the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Bill of Guarantees, the Government promises there would be no censorship of the Internet.
IDC Malaysia associate market analyst John Cheah said this move would cause some inconvenience to P2P users.
“However, there are many more P2P and direct download sites that are still easily accessible to users who are familiar with the sources.
“Hence, its effectiveness is limited to how many P2P piracy web site addresses MCMC can identify and block. Furthermore, resourceful users are able to find alternative solutions and sources to acquiring illegal content,” he said.
Cheah said content providers could look into means to “offer more competitive pricings” so as to encourage consumers to not be involved in the piracy of copyright content.
Additionally, piracy is a global problem that needs to be addressed by numerous parties both locally and internationally.”
Industry observers noted that if MCMC wanted to make an issue on tackling pirates, the best way was not to block but to co-operate and find alternative means.
“Forcibly blocking access to the website only lent more credence to online censorship which contradicts the MSC Bill of Guarantees. In fact, it is foolish to think that online censorship works. There are still many other ways for surfers to access the portal,” he said.
One observer was surprised to note that one major hosting service provider, RapidShare was not included in the list directed by MCMC to all ISPs.
They said these websites requested by MCMC to be blocked did not entirely host illegal copyright violating files. Some actually use these sites to transfer pictures and document. “People will still be able to find ways to access those websites. There are ways to easily bypass the firewall using VPN (virtual private network), proxy or paid proxy,” an analyst said.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?f...39&sec=business
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PETALING JAYA: In a bid to combat piracy, the Government has declared war on filesharing websites with 10 such websites now blocked by the telecommunications industry watchdog.
The websites were among the most visited sites by Malaysians to illegally download movies.
On May 30, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had written a letter to all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) ordering the block.
The letter was signed by Digital Security Services division acting senior director Eneng Faridah Iskandar.
The letter, which was leaked online, also stated that the websites were being blocked for breaching Section 41 of the Copyright Act 1987, which deals with pirated content.
An MCMC spokesperson confirmed the ban and said it was done on the request of the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry.
The ministry's enforcement division director-general Mohd Roslan Mahayudin confirmed that the request was made.
“It is standard procedure for the ministry to request MCMC to block sites that violate the Copyright Act 1987,” he told The Star.
Roslan said the ministry had requested that 19 websites, including the 10 listed in the letter, be blocked for violating the Act but added that it was up to MCMC to decide on which ones to block.
When asked about the fate of surfers who legally use the websites such as for storing non-pirated content, Mohd Roslan said they could always write to the ministry.
“Anyone who feels the ban is wrong can write to us and we will look into it,” he said.
Film maker Norman Abd Halim of KRU Studios said the move was long overdue.
“The unauthorised use of copyright work is destroying the industry. If everyone feels that works should be shared, then there is no value in these works,” he said.
Norman equated the move to South Korea's three-strikes law, where a person guilty of copyright infringement can have their Internet access suspended for six months.
However, irate users have vented their frustration by creating a Facebook page to protest.
By 8.30pm yesterday, there were 410 supporters who “liked” the page that was named “1M Malaysians Don't Want Block File Sharing Websites.”
FilesTube Media Search Engine, one of the sites ordered blocked, also commented on the page.
“We have posted information about this on our wall. We are with you.”
Before the page was put up, some Malaysians were already protesting via Twitter.
“You can't create a walled-up Internet garden,” read one tweet.
Some also made reference to the MSC Malaysia Bill of Guarantees which states that the Government will not censor the Internet.
MSC Malaysia is a national initiative that kicked off in 1996 and is aimed at transforming the nation into a knowledge-based economy.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=...9884&sec=nation
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Online users bypass block
PETALING JAYA: The online file-sharing community remains active despite the Government’s move to block 10 such websites to curb piracy.
Blogger and online marketing consultant David Wang said most users simply moved on to other websites offering the same facilities and services to download content.
“Users can also continue using the blocked websites by getting around it in a few simple steps,” he said.
Wang, who published a blog post titled “What is a DNS (Domain Name System) block and three ways to get around it” following the Government’s ban against the websites, said IT expertise was not necessary to gain access.
“Anyone who knows how to download free content from such websites will be able to do it,” he said.
A quick online search using the keywords “How to bypass DNS block” also showed many websites offering detailed explanations on the ways to get past it.
It was reported that the Government had declared war on file-sharing websites, with 10 of them blocked by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in a bid to combat piracy.
The websites were among the most visited sites by Malaysians to illegally download movies.
The MCMC had on May 30 written to all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) ordering the block.
The letter, which was leaked online, also stated that the websites were being blocked for breaching Section 41 of the Copyright Act, which deals with pirated content.
The MCMC had said that the websites would be blocked in stages.
Sanjeev Nair, a marketing executive at an IT firm here, said although users could access the blocked websites through various other methods, the block should not have been imposed in the first place.
He said it was a violation of the MSC Malaysia Bill of Guarantees which stated that the Government would not censor the Internet.
“It is the principle of the matter and the authorities should realise that the Internet is all about sharing,” he said.
A check yesterday showed that nine of the websites were still accessible.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=...0415&sec=nation
This post has been edited by piskin: Jun 13 2011, 07:52 AM
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