M-Net wants internet service providers (ISPs) to send warnings to South African internet users who pirate TV shows and films through illegal downloads and also wants internet providers to block piracy websites in South Africa as part of the "massive" problem of copyright infringement of content happening on the internet.
In America some internet service providers have, at their own discretion, at times, issued warnings to users who illegally download TV shows and films that's copyrighted material.
Some film producers, the Southern African Federations Against Copyright Theft (Safact) and the pay-TV broadcaster M-Net have asked the South African government for tough anti-piracy measures to be included in the Cybercrimes and Cyber-security Bill.
The South African government currently doesn't plan to include the recommendations of ISPs sending warnings or for piracy sites to be blocked locally, saying that it doesn't fall within the scope of the proposed legislation.
According to the department the Cybercrimes and Cyber-security Bill doesn't deal with copyright infringements and is more suitable for the Copyright Amendment Bill.
Safact says it is currently investigating a number of models to curb BitTorrent piracy in South Africa and that one of these include engaging and collaborating with local internet service providers.
In their submissions, M-Net and others like the International Federation of Film Producers Association asked the South African government for tougher anti-piracy laws, to make it possible for ISPs to block piracy sites helping people to illegally download and watch content.
They also want ISPs to issue warnings to consumers who are illegally downloading content and who are involved in illegal file sharing.
"A balanced approach to address the massive copyright infringement on the internet is necessary," the groups said in their submission.
Like in the European Union (EU), they want access to pirate sites in South Africa cut off by ISPs, saying South Africa "should consider adopting technology-neutral 'no fault' enforcement legislation that would enable intermediaries to take action against online infringements, in line with Article 8.3 of the EU Copyright Directive (2001/29/EC), which addresses copyright infringement through site blocking".
"ISPs should co-operate with rights-holders and government to police illegal file-sharing or streaming websites and and [to] issue warnings to end-users identified as engaging in illegal file-sharing."
