Irish ISPs Rebuff Record Labels on 'Three-Strikes' P2P Policy

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 18, 2009 - 10:48am.

London - A group of Irish ISPs has stated its opposition to efforts by the major record labels, represented there by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), to have the ISPs implement a "three-strikes" policy that would terminate the accounts of repeat music file-swappers, The Register reported.

"Privacy of user communications is protected in European and Irish legislation. ISPs can not be expected to ignore these merely because it does not suit another private party," reads the letter from the Internet Service Providers in Ireland (ISPAI) group to the IRMA.

"To do so would breach the privacy of our users as well as having serious implications for the continued location of international e-business in this country and the jobs these generate."

The letter was sent in response to one from IRMA, stating that major Irish ISP Eircom had agreed to implement a three-strikes policy as part of a lawsuit settlement with the labels.

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/e3faa (The Register)

http://www.ispai.ie/docs/20090313copyright.pdf (PDF)

http://snipurl.com/e3g4f (DMW previous coverage)