Hacks

Earlier today, various media reported that internet service providers in the country have started blocking 472 websites, including Google Docs and Google’s URL shortener in response to a Delhi high court order. The court was acting on a petition by Multi Screen Media (MSM), the company that owns the broadcast rights to the ongoing FIFA World Cup. The story caused outrage on social media, with many wondering how exactly Google Docs, the word processing and sharing service, might have violated MSM’s copyright. Not to mention the court’s apparent lack of tech savvy in accepting a plea to block a url shortener. All of those concerns are valid. But users of Google Docs don’t have to worry. Before the department of telecom could direct ISPs to block the listed websites, some new developments diverted the court’s order. Namely, Airtel, a prominent ISP which was made party to the case, approached the court saying the order should specify individual urls hosting such content and should ...