This is the message of research professor of economics Dr Brett Danaher, who has become an expert in the field by regularly consulting large entertainment firms regarding digital strategies and providing advice to governments on copyright reform in the digital era.

With Foxtel and Village Roadshow currently trying to force ISPs to block online file sharing websites in the Australia Federal Court, Dr Danaher was in the country to discuss his new research on the effectiveness of court-ordered site blocking of pirate sites at an event hosted by the Australian Screen Association.

Dr Danaher’s research of site blocking — which began in 2012 and examined ISP site blocking in the UK — discovered simultaneously blocking a number of popular piracy sites leads to a substantial decrease in total piracy and a significant increase in legal consumption.

According to his research, blocking one major piracy as a stand-alone measure does very little in the war against piracy.

“Even blocking a really popular site will only have a small reduction of piracy and will offer no increase in legal consumption,” he told news.com.au.

The problem is the never ending “whack-a-mole” cycle, which sees another piracy site appearing in the place of its blocked predecessor.

Dr Danaher said the only solution is to go after a large number of websites engaging in copyright infringement.

“The number one learning when evaluating was the number of sites blocked played a large role in limiting piracy,” he said.

“One, two or three major sites could have a small effect, but users don’t find it difficult to find their fourth of fifth favourite piracy website.

“Things become a lot more difficult when they are looking for website number 19 or 20.”