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Ireland's Largest ISP Settles With Record Industry

An anonymous reader writes "In what has been billed as a world first, four music companies and Irish ISP Eircom have agreed to work together to end illegal music downloading. The Irish branches of the record companies (EMI Records Ltd, Sony BMG Music Entertainment Ltd, Universal Music Ltd and Warner Music Ltd.) brought a High Court action against Eircom last March which has resulted in this settlement after eight days of trial. Eircom will be implementing a three-step process — informing a subscriber that their IP address has been detected infringing copyright; warning the subscriber that if they do not stop they will be disconnected; and finally disconnecting the user if they fail to heed the warning. Which technology they will be using to spy on their customers is currently unknown. EMI and the other record companies have recommended US-based Audible Magic, which (among other things) claims to block copyright violating web content from sites like Youtube and MySpace. However, digital surveillance is nothing new in Ireland and Eircom may have already tested and implemented the necessary technologies."

5 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Wait a minute.. by AlterRNow · · Score: 2, Funny
    On another note, shouldn't the IP address be punished for infringing copyright, not the subscriber?

    Darn those thieving IP addresses *shakes fist*

    --
    The disappearing pencil trick. Let me show you it.
  2. Re:What about fair use? by oahazmatt · · Score: 4, Funny

    Whatever happened to free culture on the internet?

    It wasn't profitable.

    --
    Those who believe the Internet is private,
    find their privates are on the Internet.
  3. RIAA vs IRA by Hognoxious · · Score: 5, Funny

    Q: What's the difference between the RIAA and the IRA?

    A: One of them used to be a bunch of terrorists.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  4. Re:Freedom by MightyYar · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ireland: we put the "no" in "technology".

    --
    W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
  5. Re:Let' see how fast they will run out of customer by Dragonslicer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is it so hard to think of honest, decent behaviour these days?

    You don't leave the basement much, do you?