HTTP Status Code 451 – Unavailable For Legal Reasons
The HTTP status code 451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons indicates that the server is denying access to the requested resource due to legal restrictions. This status code is often used when a website has been blocked by a government or other legal authority, typically due to copyright infringement, censorship, or other regulatory reasons.
Examples
Example 1: Copyright Infringement
A website hosting copyrighted material without permission may receive a legal notice to take down specific content. Access to that content might return a 451 status code.
HTTP/1.1 451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons
Content-Type: text/html
<html>
<head><title>451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons</title></head>
<body>
<h1>451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons</h1>
<p>This content is unavailable due to a legal complaint.</p>
</body>
</html>
Example 2: Government Censorship
In some regions, the government may block access to certain websites, such as social media platforms or news sites, due to political reasons. Accessing such a site from those regions would result in a 451 status code.
HTTP/1.1 451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons
Content-Type: application/json
{
"error": "451",
"message": "This website is unavailable due to government censorship."
}
Example 3 Scenario
# Client sends a request example.
GET /example HTTP/1.1
Host: www.example.com
# Server Response
HTTP/1.1 451 451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons
Date: Wed, 09 Oct 2024 23:08:31 GMT
Server: ExampleServer/1.0
Content-Type: application/json
{
"error": "Description of the error for 451"
}
Example Four Scenario
# Client sends another example request.
POST /another-example HTTP/1.1
Host: www.example.com
# Server Response
HTTP/1.1 451 451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons
Date: Wed, 09 Oct 2024 23:08:31 GMT
Server: ExampleServer/1.0
Content-Type: application/json
{
"error": "Detailed message for 451"
}
Summary
The 451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons status code serves as an indicator that the requested resource is legally restricted. It helps to provide transparency about the reason behind the unavailability, which is often due to copyright issues, censorship, or other legal constraints. By using this specific status code, servers can communicate clearly about the legal reasons preventing access to the content.
