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Is Google genuinely 'anti-piracy'?

Is Google genuinely 'anti-piracy'?

POLL: Yesterday's Newsnight on BBC Two shone its light on online piracy - and Google's role in enabling the illegal downloading of copyright music.

During the programme, Google UK policy manager Theo Bertram claimed that the firm is now actively choking illegal filesharing sites at their commercial source.

"Our research shows however much you do on filtering or blocking, what is much more effective is to go after the money – to remove the financial underpinnings, the advertising, the payment processes," he said.

When pressed on whether this meant Google was now 'anti-piracy', Bertram said: "You can be pro-freedom of expression and anti-piracy – that’s true of Google, the the tech industry as a whole - the responsible players - and the music industry."

However, the BPI - alongside record labels and publishers - claims that Google itself profits from Google Ads on pirate sites... and that by refusing to delist illegal portals like The Pirate Bay, it is hurting, not helping content creators.

Where do you stand on the issue?

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Tags: Google, bpi, Labels, Publishing

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