Danish ISPs agree shutdown protocol

Danish ISPs have agreed to a protocol that would cause all of them to block trademark-infringing content online if so ordered by a court.

The agreement came following pressure from the government and will be appear in the form of a "Code of Conduct". The relevant government department - the Ministry of Culture - has been threatening to introduce a range of new laws to combat online infringement.

The result of the agreement will be that a company needs only take action - and win - against a single ISP for the decision to be reproduced across all ISPs in the country. The system will be automated.

The government has promised to back efforts to developing platforms that promote legal content, as well as expand awareness campaigns on content piracy.