Law firm piracy crackdown criticised

Law firm ACS:Law have sent out a letter campaign to thousands of internet users they believe to have been involved in illegal filesharing.

The letters offer the file sharers a chance to settle with the firm by paying £500. Consumer Publication Which? Says they have been approached by many who say they have no knowledge of the piracy.

Music industry representative BPI have criticised the approach used by the firm, saying that such penalties shouldn’t exist as a first response and added that “our view is that legal action is best reserved for the most serious or persistent offenders”.

ACS:Law tracked users through their IP addresses to gain details of illegal file sharing. However up to 150 of those they mailed say they are innocent. This highlights the problem of tracking illegal users through IP addresses, as it does not necessarily find the offender who may have hacked into someone’s wireless network.

The Government’s Digital Economy Bill is in the process of being put through parliament. The bill lays out the approach that first time offenders will receive a warning letter, and persistent offenders will be fined.

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