EU Court Protects File Sharers

European downloaders may be protected from angry copyright holders
By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 18, 2007 5:53 PM CDT
EU Court Protects File Sharers
Music is dowloaded from a computer to an iPod , in this May 9, 2006 file photo taken in Paris. The European Commission said Tuesday it had opened an antitrust probe into allegations that Apple's iTunes and major record companies were unfairly restricting the choice and costs of online music consumers...   (Associated Press)

European ISPs cannot be forced to hand over identities of illegally-downloading subscribers in copyright infringement suits, an advocate general for the EU's top court ruled today. Such information could only be procured in criminal, rather than civil, proceedings. The court most often sides with such opinions, though they are not legally binding.

If the court rules in concert with the opinion, it would significantly impede the music industry's ability to acquire personal information about those they claim are engaged in illegal file sharing. However, a proposed amendment to the EU's intellectual property laws would classify some file sharing activity as a criminal offense, sidestepping any ruling by the court. (More music downloads stories.)

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