UK court to unmask 'file-sharers'

[HaX]

Taken from here

UK court to unmask 'file-sharers'

About a quarter of software in the UK is estimated to be pirated
Ten internet service providers have been ordered to hand over the details of 150 UK customers accused of illegally sharing software.
The High Court order follows a 12-month covert investigation by the Federation Against Software Theft (Fast).

Among the internet providers are BT, NTL, Telewest and Tiscali.

Over the next two weeks, they are expected to provide the names, addresses and other personal details of the alleged file-sharers.

Sounds like the Software companies are tightening up a little bit regarding piracy. To be honest I can see that they need to.

I do however think that if software wasn't so expensive, people would be more disposed towards purchasing it legitimately.

I wonder how much they are going to sue individuals for. Its' not as if the average bloke on the street will be able to afford being sued for £30 k for instance.

 

[MrMatteh]

fun

annoyingly my housemate used/uses bittorrent. As the bill payer, however, i would be screwed

 

[dirtydog]

 

[Neoni]

this is slightly worrying but these so called file sharers will do it for a living i bet.

*quickly unshares files*

 

[Robert]

I would HOPE these are the "serious" sharers.

 

[PureAppleJuice]

The figure is 150, so you can safely assume it's those heavy uploaders of software such as Windows etc.
So those who may 'occasionally break the law' shall we say, are safe, I should imagine.

 

[dirtydog]

*quickly unshares files*

It's too late now mate.. they're coming for you

 

[Neoni]

No please...Spare me!!!

*Runs Away From Home*

 

[Sudden]

Since the number is as low as 150 (compared to the masses that use file sharing programs) i'm assuming these are the people who cross limits of a few hundred gb a month of data transfer

(At least I hope so )

 

[cleanbluesky]

*kisses Protowall*

 

[HaX]

By law, will the ISPs be required to notify their customers that they have passed their details onto a law enforcement agency?

 

[PureAppleJuice]

Not sure but I know it takes a lot of work on the part of the courts to get hold of those details, and a lot of evidence. No idea if they need to inform the user though

 

[cleanbluesky]

By law, will the ISPs be required to notify their customers that they have passed their details onto a law enforcement agency?

In Communist China, the IPs pass law enforcement details onto YOU!

 

[PureAppleJuice]

Haha, so true. What's Protowall btw? A similar type thing to Peerguardian?

 

[dirtydog]

I wouldn't bank on protowall or peerguardian protecting you.

 

[HaX]

In my line of work (working for high profile financial clients in the IT Outsourcing industry) I'd be screwed for a job aswell as a way of life.

As I understand it, FAST tend to sue people for all they've got.

Where would someone stand if they were sued for an amount of money which would financially cripple them for the rest of their lives?

 

[Ricochet J]

Oh oh. Spegettio

 

[dirtydog]

This is interesting as well, people in the UK being fined for sharing music files over p2p. I wonder if movie and TV programme sharers will be next in the firing line.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4653662.stm

 

[EH75]

Just out of interest, what would happen if you found out this was goin to happen to you, and promptly ripped out your hard drive and threw it in a river/stamped it into small pieces? Surely they would then have no real evidence?

 

[bingham67]

£100 for xp i say no more

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Operating_Systems_20.html

I dont condone piracy but this is why i beleive how much is office that ridiculous like £200 if things were cheaper like somone said above it may not happen.