Volume IV

Issue : 9: May 5, 2006

• Penalties Imposed for Cyberspace Bullying
• European Union Expected to Adopt Anti Piracy Anti Counterfeiting Legislation
• BitTorrent User Hit With $35,000 Default Judgment
• Judge Bars Civil Servant from being Fired for Web Surfing
• U.S. Supreme Court Seeks Opinion of Justice Department in Microsoft Appeal
• EBay User Sentenced to Prison for Threats against eBay Executives
• Increased Reward for Employees Who Report Illegal Software Use
• Jury Awards Memory Chip Designer Rambus $306.5m (U.S.) in Patent Verdict
• Supreme Court of Canada Affirms the Paramount Importance of Privacy

Home > Volume IV > Issue 9: May 5, 2006 > BitTorrent User Hit With $35,000 Default Judgment

BitTorrent User Hit With $35,000 Default Judgment

Columbia Pictures has obtained a default judgment award of $35,000 against a BitTorrent user. Columbia sued the man for copyright infringement, alleging that his server and website allowed visitors to download copyrighted movies and television shows. The defendant did not respond to Columbia’s lawsuit, and did not challenge the default judgment order.

The US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin found that statutory damages of $35,000 was a proper award in light of the “massive online piracy” orchestrated by the defendant and the “harsh effects” that illegal downloads have had on the motion picture industry. The defendant has also been prohibited from downloading, uploading or otherwise reproducing Columbia’s copyrighted works by any means.

For additional information, visit:

www.internetcases.com/archives/2006/04/court_slaps_bit.html