Slashdot Mirror
Potentially Huge Legal Boost for EU File Traders
Mishtara2001 writes "BusinessWeek reports that a high court adviser in the EU has decided that ISPs are not required to reveal information to authorities, when users are suspected of music piracy. If this is adopted across the EU then it can potentially spell doom for the IFPI's (the global RIAA) efforts to litigate against European P2P users. From the article: 'Promusicae wanted the personal data so that it could start taking legal action against the file sharers, but Telefonica claimed that it could only turn over such information as part of a criminal prosecution or in matters of public security and national defense. A Spanish court hearing the case referred the issue to the ECJ for guidance on how to interpret EU law on the subject and Ms Kokott's legal opinion is the advice for the ECJ judges who will eventually rule on a recommendation for the Spanish court to take. The final court decision is expected later this year. Once it comes out, it could form the basis for similar decisions throughout the 27-member EU bloc.'"
On the other hand, here in Belgium it was ruled by a judge last week that one of the internet providers (Scarlet) should install a filter on its customers' data traffic to prevent them from downloading copyrighted material:
http://www.legalday.com/commentaries/clintons/SA_S carlet_Internet_Sharing.html
And they plan to take the other ISPs to court as well if they don't install those filters. Luckily, the ISPs don't like to do that, due to high costs and because one could easily circumvent it. But if the court orders it...
Let's just see where it will go...