Largest Irish ISP: piracy 'good for rock stars'

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Submitted by

dueyfinster

on Thursday January 15, 2009 @07:41PM

dueyfinster writes "Although recent news indicates the RIAA may be winding down legal actions against file-sharers; RIAA's conterparts around the World have continued legal action: IRMO (Irish Music Rights Organisation) whose members include Warner, Sony, EMI and Universal are suing Ireland's largest ISP Eircom. They have uncovered emails by the ISP relating to a meeting about Piracy in 2001:
"We need to reach a decision on how we are going to handle this," the email said. "PS 'piracy' is a loaded term. Could we say 'sharing'- 'piracy' implies there's something wrong with it. Think of it as helping the health and good living of rich cocaine sniffing rock stars by leaving them with less free money to spend on sex and drugs."

IMRO's prosecution is relying on European laws and the Irish Constition which both having 'right to property' laws; while Eircom is claiming common carrier status. Unfortunately for Eircom their is no provision for this in either Irish or European law (unlike the DMCA); as the recent three strikes law in France shows. IMRO says it loses € 13.8 m annually; which at 40% (Eircoms broadband market share) it claims makes Eircom liable for between € 4 and € 5 million annually. If nothing else it will be interesting to see how the 'Hookers and Blow' argument flies; a decision is expected in 4 weeks time."
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