Volume II

Issue : 20: October 20, 2004

• VoIP Battle Intensifies in Hong Kong
• New York Court Refuses to Enforce Forum Selection Clause in Website Agreement
• U.S. Supreme Court Confirms ISPs Not Bound to Identify Music Sharing Subscribers
• ISPs Ordered to Divulge Names of British File Swappers
• Privacy Concerns Raised over FDAs Approval of Medical Data Chip
• First State Case under U.S. Federal Can-Spam Act Settles
• 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms Internet Fraud Damages

Home > Volume II > Issue 20: October 20, 2004 > ISPs Ordered to Divulge Names of British File Swappers

ISPs Ordered to Divulge Names of British File Swappers

A British court has ordered various Internet service providers to divulge the names and addresses of 28 "major file-sharers" who uploaded "massive" amounts of music to file sharing networks.

In making the order, the court noted "on the face of it, this appears to be a powerful case of copyright infringement." This conclusion can be contrasted with the Canadian Federal Court's conclusion earlier this year in the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) case that the CRIA had not made out a prima facie case of copyright infringement in respect of 29 alleged file-swappers.

For news coverage of the British decision, visit:

http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5410411.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3743596.stm

For a copy of the CRIA decision, visit:

http://www.fct-cf.gc.ca/bulletins/whatsnew/T-292-04.pdf