O2 and Be Broadband are latest to block The Pirate Bay Published duration 7 June 2012

image caption The Pirate Bay is campaigning against proposed EU anti-piracy treaty

O2 is set to block its customers from accessing file-sharing site The Pirate Bay from 0001 BST on Friday, the internet service provider has said.

The move means customers of Be Broadband, a subsidiary of O2, will also be blocked from the site.

The ISP is the latest to fall in line following a High Court order in April.

A judge ruled that TPB was facilitating copyright infringement by providing links to download pirated content.

'Obliged to comply'

In a statement, O2 said: "The main UK internet providers were ordered by the high court to block access to specific IP addresses and URLs used by The Pirate Bay website.

"We have no option but to comply with this order and will be doing so overnight."

Be Broadband posted a message about the blocking measures on its company blog.

It said: "Our parent company was one of the named ISPs so we are obliged to comply.

"We wouldn't chose to do this voluntarily but we need to comply with UK laws just like any UK business. We're aware of the concerns voiced by members about the broader issue."

TalkTalk is now the last remaining ISP featured in the court order not to have implemented a block on the Swedish-based site.