Singapore proposes law to block sites such as Pirate Bay

The amendment to Singapore's Copyright Act will allow content owners to compel Internet service providers to block infringing Web sites.

Singapore's Law Ministry is looking to follow in the footsteps of the UK with an amendment to the Copyright Act that will allow content owners to force Internet service providers in the island nation to block infringing Web sites.

The new law is set to be implemented by the end of the year, according to local online news site Today. The Singapore government has been considering a block since last year -- but this new law will become official when it gets passed in parliament.

In Singapore, content owners currently have to issue a take-down notice to ISPs to disable access to copyright and if the ISPs don't comply, right holders have to sue them or seek an injunction. The new legislation will allow rights owners to apply to the High Court directly for permission to get ISPs to block the site like how it's done in the UK.

Furthermore, a list of factors will be drawn up to to define such infringing sites and should not affect legitimate search engines such as Google.

While such measures can still be bypassed with the use of a virtual private network (VPN), Singapore's Law Ministry says 'no measure, no matter how well it is designed, can deny access to all illegal content.'

Those living in Singapore who want to provide feedback on the new law can do so by emailing this address.