Aussie ISP, Pirate Party win BitTorrent file-sharing case
Summary
The Pirate Party Australia has welcomed an ISP's internet piracy victory over a coalition of film and TV studios, describing it as "a victory for common sense."
Topics
Justice Cowdroy today handed iiNet a sound victory in the Australian ISP's long-running battle against a coalition of film and television studios, finding that iiNet did not authorize copyright infringement carried out by its customers using the BitTorrent file-sharing platform.
"This is a good decision by Justice Cowdroy, and reflects that there is no legal basis or obligation for any ISP to act in the interest of copyright holders, or to expect that they should disconnect any entity upon allegation of infringement without judicial oversight and due process," said Pirate Party Australia secretary Rodney Serkowkski.
In a statement, Serkowski said ISPs should be considered similar to a postal service — the data they carried should be considered private.
For more on this story. read EFA, Pirate Party: iiNet win 'common sense' on ZDNet Australia.
Talkback Most Recent of 8 Talkback(s)
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Misleading headline?
I get how this is a victory for the ISP, but how does it get the Pirate Party off the hook for supporting illegal file sharing? The ISPs should not be responsible for the actions of others, but the actions of the individuals who participate in this were not deemed legal, were they?
ejhonda4th Feb 2010 -
It seems that this was an ...
affirmation that the ISP is just the messenger, and as such, cannot be held responsible for what is contained in the message, e.g., downloads of Lady Gaga's latest POS. Illegal filesharing remains illegal, of course, but the ISP is not going to have to resort to policing what is being downloaded. If an ISP could be held responsible for what an individual downloaded, then it is possible they would have to start monitoring downloads. The Aussie Pirate Party was an agent working with ISPs to bring about this ruling.
RickB94th Feb 2010 -
RE: Aussie ISP, Pirate Party win BitTorrent file-sharing case
The Pirate Party is a political party in several countries - like the Green Party or Social Democrates
zclayton24th Feb 2010 -
midenginedrift4th Feb 2010 -
Good to see a court with a brain exists somewhere...
We certainly don't have many in this country.
BillDem4th Feb 2010 -
Sure we do.
It's just that they're agents of Corporate America. As are our President, congress and courts. If you don't believe it, just ask Scalia, Thomas, et. al.
john@...5th Feb 2010 -
se_lain@...5th Feb 2010 -
We won!
Argggwwwww!!!
Gradius210th Feb 2010
Talkback - Tell Us What You Think
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