Turkey to tackle illegal streaming

Turkey’s Culture Ministry has prepared a draft law to block illegal movie streaming websites and platforms that illegally provide copyrighted artwork.

According to Hurriyet and Yeni Safak, it suggests the creation of a centre that will have the authority to close websites streaming illegal content. Furthermore, websites will have to undertake procedures at the centre in order to legally distribute copyrighted material, including TV programmes. The draft law will also allow artists to file lawsuits against the illegal providers of works. Following investigations, these could lead to the complete shutdown of platforms.

Broadband TV News notes that the Turkish market saw the launch of Netflix and Apple Music in the first few weeks of 2016. Up until that point there were few if any legal online movie services in the country, with MUBI having recently shut down its Turkish service.

In a 2017 report, the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) says that, “piracy issues continue to plague the Turkish marketplace, undermining economic opportunities for Turkish and American creators alike. Digital piracy—via the internet, mobile phones, peer-to-peer (P2P), BitTorrent and linking and topsites—permeates the marketplace”.

It adds that Turkey is currently on its Watch List.