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Innocents chased to pay for illegal porn downloads
Thousands of people around the UK were sent letters by a controversial law firm, accusing them of allowing their computers to be used for illegal downloading but a whistle-blower claims not everyone who was sent a letter was guilty.
When "Sharon" opened her letter from a law firm, which came on bland, official-looking headed paper, she was shocked by its contents.
Sharon - not her real name - was accused of illegally downloading a pornographic film, and the letter included a demand for £495.
"It made me feel quite sick," she said. "And of course it created an awkward conversation with my husband. Fortunately we are very close and I knew I could believe him when he said he didn't download the file.
"It was not pleasant, being told if you don't pay up, you are going to be threatened with legal action."
Sharon had been caught up in a legal process based on shaky evidence and designed to get money from thousands of internet users.
An ongoing court case has focused attention on a firm of solicitors called ACS:Law, which sent demands for hundreds of pounds to more than 20,000 people, claiming they had illegally downloaded music, movies or porn without paying.
A judge last week estimated the company could easily have made £1m from the scheme, even though many of those who paid up may well have been innocent.
Whistle-blower
ACS:Law was acting on behalf of a copyright protection company called MediaCAT.
But one whistle-blowing former ACS:Law employee told 5 Live Investigates she felt so concerned about the firm's methods that she chose to quit her job.
Continue reading the main story
http://anonym.to/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12424996
you should also read (if you have not)
http://www.gayheaven.org/t166465-cf-torrenthotfile-sharers.html
Thousands of people around the UK were sent letters by a controversial law firm, accusing them of allowing their computers to be used for illegal downloading but a whistle-blower claims not everyone who was sent a letter was guilty.
When "Sharon" opened her letter from a law firm, which came on bland, official-looking headed paper, she was shocked by its contents.
Sharon - not her real name - was accused of illegally downloading a pornographic film, and the letter included a demand for £495.
"It made me feel quite sick," she said. "And of course it created an awkward conversation with my husband. Fortunately we are very close and I knew I could believe him when he said he didn't download the file.
"It was not pleasant, being told if you don't pay up, you are going to be threatened with legal action."
Sharon had been caught up in a legal process based on shaky evidence and designed to get money from thousands of internet users.
An ongoing court case has focused attention on a firm of solicitors called ACS:Law, which sent demands for hundreds of pounds to more than 20,000 people, claiming they had illegally downloaded music, movies or porn without paying.
A judge last week estimated the company could easily have made £1m from the scheme, even though many of those who paid up may well have been innocent.
Whistle-blower
ACS:Law was acting on behalf of a copyright protection company called MediaCAT.
But one whistle-blowing former ACS:Law employee told 5 Live Investigates she felt so concerned about the firm's methods that she chose to quit her job.
Continue reading the main story
http://anonym.to/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12424996
you should also read (if you have not)
http://www.gayheaven.org/t166465-cf-torrenthotfile-sharers.html
