UK culture minister Ed Vaizey said that UK could block websites that host pirated material if a similar system is introduced in the United States.

Speaking in a conference in London, Mr. Vaizey said internet service providers in the United States were reportedly considering a voluntary filtering. He added that that such an agreement could be a great game changer elsewhere.

Internet service providers in the UK have so far resisted pressure from rights holders to monitor who is using pirated material.

Recently, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which represents the American film studios, asked the London High Court to order the Britain’s biggest Internet service provider, BT, to block access to Newzbin 2, alleging it offered illegal versions of Oscar-winning film “The King's Speech”.

Mr. Vaizey also criticized BT and TalkTalk for challenging the Digital Economy Act (DEA). Last year, BT and TalkTalk launched a High Court battle to get the (DEA) repealed.

However, Mr. Vaizey declined to reveal what came out of last week's meeting between Internet Service Providers and content providers over the piracy issue.