Porn company free to pursue O2 users for file-sharing

[Simon]

A digital rights company has won a partial victory that could see O2 forced to reveal the details of subscribers accused of copyright infringement.

A High Court in London ruled that Golden Eye International and adult entertainment company Ben Dover could proceed with a so-called "Norwich Pharmacal Order", seeking the subscriber details of more than 9,000 O2 broadband customers they believe have downloaded copyright material.

However, the judge in charge of the case laid down guidelines on how the companies could pursue the case in a bid to prevent the legal action from mirroring the widely discredited practice of speculative invoicing, where copyright owners demand payment to avoid court action.

The judge also turned down the option for 12 other companies to proceed with action against end users.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/373771/porn-company-free-to-pursue-o2-users-for-file-sharing

[Rik]

And your mobile carrier is? 

[Simon]

[Niall]

There will be lots of O2 users hiding letters from their wives

[Technical Ben]

You know these accusations are often scams right? Even if it's done through legal means, the collection of IP addresses is no better than throwing darts randomly. :/
IE "I have your phone number, so you must be a crook!" kind of argument. 
(Remember the other scam run like this? How it got closed down, especially as so many innocent people got served notices!)

[zappaDPJ]

You know these accusations are often scams right? Even if it's done through legal means, the collection of IP addresses is no better than throwing darts randomly. :/
IE "I have your phone number, so you must be a crook!" kind of argument. 
(Remember the other scam run like this? How it got closed down, especially as so many innocent people got served notices!)

The judge in this case was rather on the ball and I suspect any attempt to operate an ACS Law type scam would see Golden Eye International and Ben Dover facing a contempt of court charge.

[Technical Ben]

Really? Give them a inch and all that.
I think as soon as they walk out of the courts they would go to the nearest phone book and sent letters to the entire list.

[zappaDPJ]

They can't do that at the moment. There's to be a second hearing during which the High Court will impose conditions on the wording of the order and the letters which are to be sent to O2 customers.