Law firm hands out thousands of fines to suspected digital pirates

Posted by Adam Bunker on Sun 29 Nov 2009

ACS:Law targets online culprits

Been doing some digital pirating recently? In the new year you might be getting an unpleasant letter form Law firm ACS:Law demanding your money.

The firm has just been granted access to thousands of users details from a myriad ISPs, and intends to send out letters to those they suspect of prolific file sharing with the ultimatum of paying a fine or going to court. ACS:Law’s Andrew Crossley said that the drastic move was to "eradicate" the illegal downloading of products owned by its clients, the majority of which is pornography.

It is claimed that 25,000 people using BT broadband will receive a letter in the coming months.

Mr Crossley said: "We give them opportunity to enter into compromise right at the start to avoid having to deal with it in court." The idea is that the in court battle probably wouldn’t go in the downloaders favour, and the financial damage then would "run into several thousands of pounds.”

It’s a controversial move, and many are claiming that hundreds of people will be wrongly accused, but end up paying anyway out of embarrassment.

Link: Via Tech Watch