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NEW DELHI: A number of websites including torrent file aggregators, file storage sites and even Google Docs and Google’s URL shortener Goo.gl have been blocked in India, as per a new report.According to digital media focused website MediaNama, a Delhi high court order passed on 23 June 2014 instructs internet service providers (ISPs) to block as many as 472 websites. The order, sanctioned by Justice V Kameswar Rao, was passed following a complaint alleging online piracy by Sony ’s Multi Screen Media , which has broadcasting rights for the Fifa World Cup.The website also mentions that there is an updated order which shortens the list of blocked websites to 219 and excludes Google services websites. However, a number of ISPs including MTNL Delhi and Airtel continue to block Google Docs and Goo.gl. The site notes that BSNL is blocking sites at DNS level and using a Google DNS or OpenDNS address unblocks the websites.In its complaint, Sony has said that “various websites are indulging in hosting,streaming, providing access to, etc of infringing its exclusive rights and broadcast and re-production rights.” And that “the acts of infringement is not only causing Sony loss of substantial revenues but will also take away the legitimate revenue to the government through service tax etc which are payable on the subscription fee payable by the named and unnamed defendants if they conduct their business illegitimately.”The Delhi high court has passed an ad-interim, ex-parte order ruling that “websites named in the complaint, their partners, proprietors, officers, servants, employees, and all others in capacity of principal or agent acting for and on their behalf, or anyone claiming through, by or under it, and the websites listed, or any other website identified by the plaintiff are restrained, from in any manner hosting, streaming, broadcasting, rebroadcasting, retransmitting, exhibiting, making available for viewing and downloading, providing access to and/or communicating to the public, displaying, uploading, modifying, publishing, updating and/or sharing (including to its subscribers and users), through the internet, in any manner whatsoever, the plaintiff broadcast, as broadcasted/contained in its channels Sony Six, Sony Six HD, Sony Pix, and Sony Pix HD in relation to the 2014 Fifa World Cup matches and content related thereto, so as to infringe the plaintiff’s (Sony’s) broadcast reproduction rights.”This essentially means that Sony can get any website that it suspects being used for piracy, blocked. It is worth pointing out that file sharing sites are intermediaries, while URL shortening sites are also not directly used for video streaming or storage. As MediaNama points out, Indian IT rules suggest that intermediaries should not be held responsible for user generated content.Google has also refused to comment on the blocking of its services, stating that it does not have the details of the order, yet.