p2pnet - rss feed: ‘Hand over client names’
p2p news / p2pnet: Ten ISPs including BT, NTL, Telewest and Tiscali, have been told to hand over the details of 150 UK customers accused of sharing software, says the BBC.
The High Court order follows a 12-month covert investigation by the Federation Against Software Theft (Fast), it says.
FAST is, of course, yet another software cartel ‘trade’ organization that often plays Scotland Yard.
"An undercover investigator working for Fast in a project codenamed Operation Tracker identified 150 people suspected of illegally sharing software," says the BBC.
"Most file-sharers use false names and e-mail addresses. So the software anti-piracy group went to the High Court to force the internet providers to hand over customer details."
According to the Business Software Alliance, about a quarter of software used in the UK is an unlicensed, counterfeit or pirated copy, says the Beeb.
However, as Britain’s prestigious The Economist once said in BSA or just BS?, the BSA’s figures are sometimes just a little fanciful.
Also See:
BBC - UK court to unmask ‘file-sharers’, January 30, 2006
just a little fanciful - The Economist angers BSA, June 15, 2005
January 31st, 2006 at 4:55 am
Then maybe everyone should start using an anonymizing client, or using I2P or TOR for proxying their connection.
Hello, UK peeps; TOR!
Of course, if someone made a client that built the support in, it would be easier.
Also, remember filetopia is supposed to be hard to track too.
January 31st, 2006 at 10:40 am
How pathetic.
Software should be free to the general public anyway. They are simply delaying their own death.
Most companies have now realized that providing support is the best way for remuneration.
Viva open source.