The war on piracy is slowly being won thanks to the blocking of torrent websites

YOU had better make the most of downloading Game of Thrones because the war on piracy is slowly being won.

This is the message of research professor of economics Dr Brett Danaher, who has become an expert in the field by regularly consulting large entertainment firms regarding digital strategies and providing advice to governments on copyright reform in the digital era.

With Foxtel and Village Roadshow currently trying to force ISPs to block online file sharing websites in the Australia Federal Court, Dr Danaher was in the country to discuss his new research on the effectiveness of court-ordered site blocking of pirate sites at an event hosted by the Australian Screen Association.

Dr Danaher’s research of site blocking — which began in 2012 and examined ISP site blocking in the UK — discovered simultaneously blocking a number of popular piracy sites leads to a substantial decrease in total piracy and a significant increase in legal consumption.

According to his research, blocking one major piracy as a stand-alone measure does very little in the war against piracy.

"Even blocking a really popular site will only have a small reduction of piracy and will offer no increase in legal consumption,” The problem is the never ending “whack-a-mole” cycle, which sees another piracy site appearing in the place of its blocked predecessor.

Dr Danaher said the only solution is to go after a large number of websites engaging in copyright infringement.

“The number one learning when evaluating was the number of sites blocked played a large role in limiting piracy,” he said.

“One, two or three major sites could have a small effect, but users don’t find it difficult to find their fourth of fifth favourite piracy website.“Things become a lot more difficult when they are looking for website number 19 or 20.”

Dr Danaher said that in November 2014, 53 popular video piracy sites were blocked in the UK, which not only saw a decrease in piracy but a six per cent in traffic to paid legal streaming sites such as Netflix, as well as a 10 per cent increase in traffic to free legal streaming.

While obviously believing site blocking is a step in the right direction, Dr Danaher doesn’t believe site blocking will completely rid the internet of piracy.

“I don’t see piracy as something that will ever be fully eliminated or desirable to eliminate. The point in show is that it can be the most efficient in getting people to purchase content,” he said.

Australian film and television legend John Jarratt said he fully supported the idea of site blocking.

“You’d put a lock on your door if someone kept breaking in and stealing your DVDs, so why not put a block on the portals and stop the buggers who operate the sites stealing our digital DVDs,” he said.

Executive Chairman of the Australian Screen Association Paul Muller agreed, but said blocking websites were just one tool that should be used in the war against piracy.

“This is part of a bigger strategy that includes better legislation, a strong education program, continuing to make legal content available and affordable and the overall desire for people to want to do the right thing,” he said.

“There are plenty of ways to enjoy creative content through legal channels. Creating an environment where creative content is respected will benefit audiences, creators and businesses alike, stimulating innovation, driving the creative economy and developing local culture.

“Changing people’s attitudes and behaviours is a long running process. Just like it took a long time for people to look differently at smoking, it is going to take people a long time to think differently about piracy.”