Record Labels Sue Irish ISPs to Force 'Three-Strikes' P2P Policy

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 22, 2009 - 11:39am.

Dublin, Ireland - After suing Ireland's largest ISP Eircom and getting the company to agree to voluntarily implement a "three-strikes" policy on file-swappers, the four major record labels have now sued the country's second-largest telco, BT Ireland, and cable operator UPC, to get them to follow suit, the Irish Times reports.

The Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) -- Ireland's version of the RIAA -- reached a deal with Eircom wherein the ISP would forward two warnings to suspected file-swappers before terminating their account on a third offense.

However, no customers have yet been disconnected, as "Irma and Eircom are having ongoing discussions about exactly how the scheme will be implemented on a technical level," the Times reported.

While BT told the Times it could not comment because it had not yet seen the lawsuit, UPC said it would not agree to a voluntary implementation of a three-strikes policy.

"There is no basis under Irish law requiring ISPs to control, access or block the Internet content its users download," a UPC spokesman told the Times.

"In addition, the rights-holders' proposal gives rise to serious concerns for data privacy and consumer contract law. UPC intends to vigorously defend its position in court."

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/kody5 (Irish Times)

http://snipurl.com/kodlt (TorrentFreak)

http://www.irma.ie