UK piracy blocklist expansion proves ineffective as ExtraTorrent and Torrentz proxies emerge

The list of websites UK internet service providers (ISPs) have been ordered to block by the High Court has increased, however alternative mirror and proxy sites are making the blocklist ineffective.

Proxy and mirror versions of the websites ExtraTorrent and Torrentz were among those added to the blocklist, which features more than 100 banned sites, but new versions of the sites have already appeared.

The reverse proxies allow users to bypass the blocks put in place by ISPs and can usually be found easily through searches using Google or other search engines.

After a quick search online, IBTimes UK was able to find versions of ExtraTorrent and Torrentz, as well as popular streaming and torrenting sites included on the blocklist, such as KickAssTorrents, The Pirate Bay, Torrent Hound and Primewire.

The new proxy and mirror sites can be added to the list of infringing domains by the copyright holders but it is likely that more will appear in their place.

"The High Court has declared that ExtraTorrent and Torrentz are operating unlawfully and infringing copyright," a spokesperson for the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) told TorrentFreak.

"The court order which requires ISPs to block the sites also requires BPI to notify the ISPs of changes to the sites."

ExtraTorrent told the file-sharing news site that it experienced a slight dip in traffic following the new blocks, however its experience at setting up proxies meant that it did not take long for traffic to pick up again.

"The connectivity issues were totally solved after we launched a new mirror," a spokesperson for ExtraTorrent said.

"It appears that all UK visitors are able to visit the website now as the traffic is back and still growing."