O2 says better approach would be for copyright holders to devise a new business model where customers get what they want, when and where they want it, for a “fair price.”
UK ISP O2, the “leading provider of mobile phones and broadband” in that country, has condemned the approach to illegal P2P taken by law firm ACS:Law in which it’s been ending thousands of “settlement letters” to suspected file-sharers.
It prefers a “win-win” approach to the problem that involves “encouraging the development of new business models that offer customers the content they want, how they want it, for a fair price.”
Even the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), hardly an advocate of developing new business models to combat illegal file-sharing, has criticized ACS:Law, though it prefers a “three-strikes” graduated response system instead.
ACS:Law announced an initial plan to target some 15,000 alleged illegal file-sharers across the UK last December as part of a “revolutionary business model that “generates revenue for rights holders and effectively decreases copyright infringement in a measurable and sustainable way” unlike what it says are “costly and ineffective” anti-piracy measures used by other companies.
After careful review it later decided to drop a number of those cases, limiting their lawsuits only to those it deemed “viable” or “beneficial to its clients.”
Soon thereafter Which?, the largest consumer body in the UK with over 650,000 members, reported it had received letters from more than 150 people claiming to have been wrongly accused, with even more now choosing to come forward after hearing they’re not alone.
Some of the P2P lawsuits were handed over by Davenport Lyons, the law firm which in many ways pioneered the controversial strategy. It’s worth noting that two of the law firm’s partners at the time, David Gore and Brian Miller, will soon face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over complaints they engaged in “bullying” and “excessive” conduct while acting on behalf of client copyright holders.
However, ACS:Law seems immune to any criticisms.
“Neither we nor our clients threaten or bully anyone,” said Andrew Crossley of ACS: Law. “We send out letters of claim to account holders of internet connections where those internet connections have been identified as being utilized for illegal file-sharing of our clients’ copyrighted works.”
Crossley emphasized that the real crime is not overzealous lawyers, but rather the fact that his clients are losing money to illegal P2P.
“My clients are losing money because of copyright infringement and they are equally upset that their copyright is being stolen,” he said. .
That may be so, but suing people en masse will never solve the problem. Crossley, apparently unaware of the failed history of the RIAA pursuing a similar approach for almost a decade, even chastises the BPI for not doing the same.
“I think the BPI is letting its members down. I think they are scared of alienating their customers,” he said. “My clients don’t have the same fear. They take the view that the people they target aren’t their customers because they are stealing from them.”
If that’s what his clients truly believe then their sadly mistaken. How many of you have downloaded a movie and then saw it later at the theater? How many of you have downloaded and album and then purchased it to support the band?
Furthermore, potential loses are not theft. One can’t suggest that simply because a person illegally downloaded a piece of content they would have otherwise purchased it.
Stay tuned.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0069w9h
Check out this link. Mark Thomas interviews both sides.
THX
its just another pyramid game that was around in the 90′s its all a joke about time the government stepped up and put a stop to these companies that extort money from ppl
I work for a law firm, and unfortunately a close relative has been the victim of the ACS: Law letter in question.
The fact that they call themselves Solicitors is an insult to every other UK firm.
The letters they send not only bully the apparent ‘offender’, but also insult their intelligence with obvious signs of letter duplication and trivial court proceedings.
If I had not advised my family relative of this scam, and yes to most it clearly is a scam, they unfortunately would have been duped into paying £400, for an offence they had no involvement or knowledge of.
The £400 figure is clearly plucked of ACS: Law air, with their Partners or apparent decision makes seeing this an opportunity to make a quick buck, taking advantage of those who fall victim to the bullying “legal” tactics.
That’s the worst part. The £400 is an arbitrary figure that bears little relation to perceived or actual losses. It’s not even enough to serve as a deterrent as was the RIAA’s motive for a similar campaign.
It’s a money-making scam pure and simple.
The problem is that mafiaa.org declard war on us 10 years ago. They fked themselves. I will pirate forever because of this. They try to take down our wonderful torrent sites, so they get the ax.