Kat.PH domain is down by PH government

Kat.PH or Kickass Torrents is a popular torrent site that serves all kinds of files from movies, TV shows, apps, games, books, and music. Go to that site now and it will get you nowhere.

DotPH Domains took down kat.ph after IPOPHL's Bureau of Legal Affairs last Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order (TRO). The TRO stemmed from a copyright infringement complaint filed by the Philippine Association of Recording Industry Inc (PARI), which groups music recording companies. PARI complained about kat.ph's unauthorized use of original Pilipino music (OPM), citing "irreparable damages."

The IPOPHL's 72-hour TRO may be extended to 20 days. If a counter-affidavit is filed by the domain registrar, the agency will issue a corresponding preliminary injunction to continuously block the website until the termination of the case.

The Philippines has been retained in the watch list of the 2013 Special 301 Report on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) released by the Office of US Trade Representative (USTR) last May, as the US agency cited "significant concern" on rising piracy over the Internet.