Search engine giants Google and Microsoft’s Bing have signed an anti-piracy agreement that will see them work together with creative industries to make it harder to find pirate websites.

The Voluntary Code of Practice – developed and signed by Google, Bing, the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) and the Motion Picture Association – intends to remove links to infringing content from the first page of search results. The Code, which was first agreed on 9 February, comes into force immediately – with the aim of reducing the visibility of pirate websites in search results by 1 June.

The minister of state for universities, science, research and innovation Jo Johnson MP, who will oversee the implementation of the Code, said: “Search engines play a vital role in helping consumers discover content online. Their relationship with our world leading creative industries needs to be collaborative. Consumers are increasingly heading online for music, films, e-books, and a wide variety of other content. It is essential that they are presented with links to legitimate websites and services, not provided with links to pirate sites.

“I am very pleased that the search engines and representatives of the creative industries have agreed this Code. I look forward to this valuable collaboration benefiting both the UK’s digital and creative sectors.”