UK court to unmask 'file-sharers'
Posted by Steven Parker on 31 January 2006 - 10:02 · 26 comments & 4868 views
The BBC is reporting that 10 Internet Service Providers have been ordered to hand over the identities of 150 UK individuals illegally sharing software online. Among the providers are BT, NTL, Telewest and Tiscali. It follows a 12 month covert investigation by the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST).
 
Julian Heathcote Hobbins, Fast's senior legal counsel, said the court action was "only the first wave of an ongoing strategy".
"We expect to be bringing these actions anytime and anywhere we see software being misused," he said.

According to the anti-piracy trade group, the Business Software Alliance, about a quarter of software used in the UK is an unlicensed, counterfeit or pirated copy.
 
News source: BBC News via Back Page News, Thanks BobMarley


There are 26 additional comments
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Quote this comment Reply to this comment #1 Posted by m-head on 31 Jan 2006 - 10:08
We had to research FAST and other organisations in college...my teacher will like this!
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #2 Posted by AshMan on 31 Jan 2006 - 10:18
Who are the other ISPs, anyone know?
Quote this comment #2.1 Posted by Yakkob on 31 Jan 2006 - 11:58
/passes him the bog roll
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #3 Posted by kravex on 31 Jan 2006 - 10:25
Taken from the BBC page:

"Instead, we plan to take action a lot further, making an example of the perpetrators to stop them from stealing and passing on the intellectual property of our members for good."



Yeah, this is such a great tatic, I saw a guy get done for speeding, now no-one in the world speeds anymore. Making examples of people really works....

Quote this comment #3.1 Posted by XP-RTM on 31 Jan 2006 - 13:07
i like your comment
Quote this comment #3.2 Posted by DJ Specs on 31 Jan 2006 - 20:30
Probably the most logical comment ever made!
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #4 Posted by digitalsoft on 31 Jan 2006 - 13:35
What does this mean? people that share software over the internet? or people that download software over the internet?... my mate is on tiscali...
(3 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #5 Posted by alsheron on 31 Jan 2006 - 14:01
People! Don't worry! No-one, not one person on the whole of Neowin, including myself, shares downloads, or assists is the sharing or downloading of illegal pirated material on the internet. That being the case, we have nothing to fear..... Now.... if i could just remember that site that had the latest version of OSX for Intel.........

For the love of sanity, dont use illegal software.

Pay for everything, or if you can't afford the software you want to use, use free, mostly sub-standard software. It's only fair.
Quote this comment #5.1 Posted by Fubar on 31 Jan 2006 - 15:20
gotta love capitalism Pay For Everything cracks me up lol
Quote this comment #5.2 Posted by rIaHc3 on 31 Jan 2006 - 22:08
IMO The quality of some products are not worth the pricetag.
Quote this comment #5.3 Posted by TRC on 01 Feb 2006 - 22:59
Remember to tell that to the judge if you ever get caught, I'm sure he'll nod in approval and let you walk.
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #6 Posted by Fubar on 31 Jan 2006 - 14:33
i think its funny how they are only starting todo this now , and with no benafit at all
Quote this comment #6.1 Posted by Lt-DavidW on 31 Jan 2006 - 15:59
It pays their wages.
Quote this comment #6.2 Posted by DJ Specs on 31 Jan 2006 - 20:31
Ya, it spells 'Payday' for those involved. Simple as that.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #7 Posted by PlainLazy on 31 Jan 2006 - 22:50
A more detailed article can be found here
(3 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #8 Posted by Magallanes on 01 Feb 2006 - 01:10
Can they trust in the "logs" and registry from the ISP?. In fact, they can be easily altered. Currently there not exist a "legally trusty database"!.

Quote this comment #8.1 Posted by phrea on 01 Feb 2006 - 05:10
If the federal government here in the US can use isp logs to raid/arrest hackers, I dont see why the logs would not be "good enough" to get others for stuff like this.
Quote this comment #8.2 Posted by minnow_trap on 02 Feb 2006 - 03:13
True, but..... What happens to the people that trade files over someone else's unencrypted home wireless network? (I'm obviously talking about the less savy home computer users) They of course would go after the owner of the IP address....... It does happen, ALOT.
Quote this comment #8.3 Posted by pgudge on 02 Feb 2006 - 13:00
So its the owners fault. Its okay to say "less savy" but its up to them to secure the wifi.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #9 Posted by wetlegs6 on 01 Feb 2006 - 06:15
Crap, im on Tiscali
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #10 Posted by YaZoR on 02 Feb 2006 - 11:07
Don't know why anyones worried.

Everyone knows pirates/h4ckz0rs use AOL.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #11 Posted by pgudge on 02 Feb 2006 - 13:05
Is Kazaa still going?

Plus any of you dirty theiving torrent users dont have much to worry about, there is less chance of them getting you.

Plus, correct me if i'm wrong, 150 file uplaoders, out of the whole of the UK, this is purely the people that are providing the software on the net for the first time, if your a dirty theiving leecher then your clearly in the clear.
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #12 Posted by elONEam on 02 Feb 2006 - 17:34
Moral of the story: Never share. Ever.
Quote this comment #12.1 Posted by digitalsoft on 02 Feb 2006 - 19:31
did you mother never tell you to share? lol
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