Opponents of the Pirate Bay embargo often miss the point On the matter of whether blocks on websites can be circumvented, they did not rule. Technically, the opponents of restrictions on access to The Pirate Bay are absolutely right. The network-literate will be able to tunnel under any barricades that are erected, there are dozens of alternative websites, and new ones can be created in a matter of hours. All of which rather misses the point. Just as some people still drink drive, some people will always be able to infringe copyright if they want to. The most ardent supporters of The Pirate Bay subscribe to its stated ideological mission to destroy copyright laws and have the technical skills to keep the Jolly Roger flying for as long as they like. But the hope among film and record executives is that raising a barrier, even a porous one, will mean some people change their behaviour and switch to legal paid services. Some of the ways of circumventing blocking cost money themselves, after all. Reasonable understanding of their position does not mean they do not deserve criticism for their approach to the internet. Licensing is still too complicated, the catalogues of legitimate services still do not match pirate websites and some some of their legal attacks on individuals have been outrageously vindictive. But for now, whether it is symbolic or has a real impact on levels of piracy, and even if it will be circumvented, blocking The Pirate Bay is a victory for the men in suits.