Landwell in Spain has launched its largest attack yet on file-sharers, targeting 4,000 people who are alleged to have swapped copyrighted material over the internet.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) led the way, with legal actions against peer-to-peer networks such as Napster and Kazaa. It has recently diverted from that tactic by sending subpoenas to internet service providers asking them to reveal file-sharers’ names, who it will begin legal proceedings against, but it has yet to attempt anything on this scale.
Landwell partner Javier Ribas is advising 32 Spanish companies, which he refuses to identify for fear of a consumer boycott, which is the reason why the RIAA has yet to attempt such an action.
Ribas used the peer-to-peer networks to pinpoint the computers of 95,000 Spaniards. He narrowed this down to the 4,000 who had infringed copyrighted material most often. He hoped the case would be heard in September and said he would demand jail sentences of up to four years, which is the maximum for software pirates.
Plexus Law to set up rent-a-lawyer scheme for supermarkets
Niche insurance firm Plexus Law is set to cash in on Lord Falconer’s recent decision to let supermarkets provide legal advice to their customers by renting them its lawyers.The firm is in discussions with high street retailers such as Tesco to provide them with lawyers to advise their customers directly, following the new constitutional affairs […]