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The problem with self regulation is it means people have to police their sites and the sites of people they do business with. So far the excuse often used is "We're too big." Which is the normal BS.
The real problem isn't the cost of policing a site. Unless you factor in the loss of traffic. It's the will to police your site. And that will, has to be enforced with as severe as required penalties to enforce policing.
For instance. Telling affiliates or companies you do business with, that you are policing, banning and not paying sites that are sending traffic or business from sites "Dedicated to piracy". This will initially start people with these sites to think about moving their traffic or business or changing their ways.
Then companies who will get penalised will have to check where traffic or business is coming from, start at the top and work down. Some will be automatically approved because they are well known, others will take a few minutes. They may have a little part but not "Dedicated to piracy". Some will take a little longer. And a few will take no time at all. Like some of the piracy forums, how long will it take to decide what Piratebay's business is based on?
New affiliates or companies are warned not to register if their sites are "Dedicated to piracy" and what happens if they are caught.
A company will soon find a lot of people and companies with sites "Dedicated to piracy" going elsewhere. Without the force of a law, this isn't going to happen. Then the playing field gets more level. Sites will have to police themselves or lose billing, advertisers, etc. Or be completely cut off from US funds. No CC processing, less advertisers will immediately hit their income.
One problem is, it's too easy to open a domain and start up today online. A domain registrant can be invisible by using one of many registrars who keep the registrants info secret. What's required to get the info they have? Then we don't know if the info is true.
And then just be a pirate, sell some traffic, take some ads, be an affiliates etc.
I would understand if people now, who turn a blind eye to piracy and say nothing were to tell us this is the way the world is. For instance, ST sells traffic. How much of that traffic comes from sites "Dedicated to piracy", VS have a problem making sure their ads and pop ups don't appear on sites "Dedicated to piracy" and Live Jasmin seems to also be hand in hand with pirates.
In fact given the ease and anonymity of setting up a site. How do we know who owns piracy sites. ST, GG, PJ and a few more anti stopping any legislation might own a few. No body really knows if I don't own a few.
And that's no way to run an industry.
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