THOUSANDS OF British people suspected of sharing music, films and games over the internet will be pursued through the courts for damages, lawyers for entertainment companies said yesterday.
London-based law firm Davenport Lyons said it will apply to the High Court to force internet service providers to release the names and addresses of 7,000 suspected file-sharers.
The firm won a case at the Patents County Court in London against a woman who shared a pinball game online. She was ordered to pay damages of £6,000 (€7,500) and £10,000 in legal costs to the game's maker, Topware Interactive.
"Illegal file-sharing is a very serious issue resulting in millions of pounds of losses to copyright owners," David Gore, a partner at Davenport Lyons, said in a statement.
A government-backed deal was struck last month between Britain's six biggest internet service providers and the entertainment industry under which file-sharers will be sent warning letters. Taking direct action against file-sharers will become an "important and effective" weapon to tackle online piracy, Mr Gore added.
The number of people targeted by Davenport Lyons for sharing games could reach 25,000, according to a report in the Times of London yesterday. They will be offered the chance to pay £300 each to settle out of court, the report added. - (Reuters)
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