The Belgian Court of First Instance in Brussels ruled late last month that a local Internet service provider must take certain proactive measures to block or filter peer-to-peer downloading of pirated audio and video files. The court's ruling was based on the European Union's Information Society Directive, which requires member states to "ensure that rightholders are in a position to apply for an injunction against intermediaries whose services are used by a third party to infringe a copyright or related right." The ISP must begin using technology to prevent copyright infringement within six months of the ruling, or face fines of €2,500 a day for non-compliance. While recording and movie industry groups have cheered the decision, it could greatly increase in liability for Internet service providers -- especially if other courts follow Belgium's lead.
© Copyright 2007 Steptoe & Johnson LLP. Steptoe & Johnson LLP
The law blog that focuses on ICT and IP Law in South Africa, EU and the USA
No comments:
Post a Comment