Legal Issues

Legal Issues

by Mike Masnick


Filed Under:
ireland, isps, three strikes



Irish ISPs Point Out They're Under No Obligation To Follow Three Strikes Policy

from the pushback-time dept

Last month, we wrote about how the recording industry association in Ireland, IRMA, was sending around vaguely threatening letters to ISPs, telling them that they had to abide by the settlement terms made by the ISP Eircom, which included a three strikes policy and, according to IRMA -- but not Eircom -- an agreement not to protest should IRMA convince the gov't that certain sites, such as The Pirate Bay, should be blocked altogether. Luckily, the folks at those ISPs recognize they're under no legal obligation to do this, and as reader eoinmonty alerts us, those ISPs have now made that clear to IRMA, sending the group a letter, saying that the legal threat implied by IRMA's original letter was spurious, and the ISPs believe they're just fine under current European law.

11 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

Reader Comments

(Flattened / Threaded)

    Mar 17th, 2009 @ 5:43am
  • Erin Go Bragh!!

    by Anonymous O'Coward

    Perfect day to post this one, and glad to see some of the businesses out there won't stand for a strong-arm treatment. If I knew more Gaelic, I'd be the first to tell old Aunt IRMA to kiss my Irish Arse.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    • Mar 17th, 2009 @ 7:46am
    • Re: Erin Go Bragh!!

      by OnlyGaelic I Know

      That would be 'Pogue Mahone', O'Coward

      (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

      • Mar 17th, 2009 @ 8:09am
      • Re: Re: Erin Go Bragh!!

        by irishgoogler

        That'd be "póg mo thóin", feckin' amadán

        (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

      • Mar 17th, 2009 @ 8:23am
      • Re: Re: Erin Go Bragh!!

        by Paddy

        He he...Pogue Mahone...thats funny!

        It's actually 'Póg mo thóin' but your attempt was much more humorous :-)

        IRMA are seeing how far they can push the ISPs before they push back. Thankfully, it wasn't too far[yet..].

        Have a great Paddy's Day!!!!!!!

        (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    Mar 17th, 2009 @ 6:15am
  • by Patty O'Patty

    Looks like it's time for St. Patrick to return, and purge Ireland of a new breed of snakes.....
    Sure and Begorra

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Mar 17th, 2009 @ 6:42am
  • I love Ireland

    by Some IT Guy

    Ireland is supposedly the "free-ist" country in the world. Acts like this show that it is working on a hands-off approach. Yay for Ireland.

    PS Happy ST. Patty's day! (yay for green beer too!)

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    • Mar 17th, 2009 @ 8:15am
    • Re: I love Ireland

      by ehrichweiss

      Green beer?!?!? In Ireland it's typically dark brown or black.

      (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

      • Mar 17th, 2009 @ 8:38am
      • Re: Re: I love Ireland

        by interval

        Yeah, green beer. No self-respecting son of Paddy would touch the stuff. While St. Patrick's Day is one of church services and family togetherness in Ireland, in America its just an excuse to get stupidly drunk, stagger down the avenue all parade-like, and dump food coloring in all the libations.

        (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

    Mar 17th, 2009 @ 8:09am
  • Good to see

    by Anonymous Coward

    It is good to see business standing up to IP abuse. I noticed some US network outlets were actually daring to use the term "Superbowl" this year. I hope this is a trend.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Mar 17th, 2009 @ 11:28am
  • Yay Ireland.

    by icon Killer_Tofu (profile)

    Respect gained for the Irish ISPs.
    Now if only the US ISPs and Microsoft would follow their lead.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Mar 18th, 2009 @ 2:13am
  • Finally, some sense prevails

    by Colm

    I wonder how long it will be before Eircom realise that they made a massive mistake in signing this faustian pact with IRMA? They have provided their competitors a huge advantage free gratis.. Well done Eircom.

    Also I wonder to what extent public awareness of sites like Pirate Bay has been enhanced by IRMA?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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