ACS:Law copyright file sharing claims, Gallant Macmillan - and probably some others along the way...

[zero_flight]

DO NOT PAY, if you do they could take it as an admission of guilt. Possibly accuse you of other things, in the future. If your innocent why should you pay, you would just be lining this so called firms pockets. I am sure that I have heard of someone that has paid out, they then came after them for more money. The majority of us are all in the same boat, it is worrying but thats what they are counting on so that people pay to make it go away.

[wonkyfunk303]

hi all well ive sent the letter of denial and i contacted their office to ask if they had recieved it. didnt go into conversation about it to them on the phone just asked if they had recieved it, ok they had and i put the phone down on them.

 

not heard owt since. ( was 2 - 3 weeks ago)

 

All the new peeps on this, please dont worry, dont pay em feck all and more importantly, dont ignore the first letter.

 

simply send a letter very basic,for example: i didnt do it and provide me with all the evidence you say you hold in case it did go to court so i could be suitably represented.

 

simples.

 

these jokers make my blood boil and i can see how this is an easy money maker for them as the first instict is fear. bloody damn predators.

[Jasper1965]

Wow got my letter through on Friday on behlaf of Media Cat asking for £1200 for a Porn film British Granny ****!!! needless to say that's not really my thing!

 

 

Peer-to-peer Stand Off - Tiscali goes against the British Pornographic Industry - Softpedia

[randomuser]

Peer-to-peer Stand Off - Tiscali goes against the British Pornographic Industry - Softpedia

Serious respect to them! They do right to stand by their customers - innoncent until proven guilty.... why should ISPs do all the dirty work?

[loki23]

hey guys just been shown the same letter stamped 17th Feb 2010 regarding "Evacuate the Dancefloor" did some checking on the address and it came up with a company called FLAWLESS IMAGE residing at 20 Hanover square. I checked the law society listed address of ACS:Law (20 Hanover Square, London W1S 1HX) against the address given on the letter (20 Hanover Square, London W1S 1JY) how can you have the same street number but different postcodes. Also the Chancery Chambers stamp on mine in the top right corner has a scribble over a number 3. im pretty sure this is a [problem], and was planning to ignore it. thankfully found you guys on here and will take your advice on sending out an LOD

[danw82]

hey guys just been shown the same letter stamped 17th Feb 2010 regarding "Evacuate the Dancefloor" did some checking on the address and it came up with a company called FLAWLESS IMAGE residing at 20 Hanover square. I checked the law society listed address of ACS:Law (20 Hanover Square, London W1S 1HX) against the address given on the letter (20 Hanover Square, London W1S 1JY) how can you have the same street number but different postcodes. Also the Chancery Chambers stamp on mine in the top right corner has a scribble over a number 3. im pretty sure this is a [problem], and was planning to ignore it. thankfully found you guys on here and will take your advice on sending out an LOD

 

Hi loki23,

Somebody has just shown me there letter and I too noticed the scribble over the stamp which also appear to be the number 3 and quality of the print it poor and pixilated, like a 2nd or 3rd generation scan or photocopy. If it was printed from the original document I very much doubt you'd get that kind of pixaliation round the lettering.

 

 

This letter is between:

(1) ALLAN KOPIE

(2) MANUEL REUTER

(3) YANN PEIFER

-and-

(1) BE UN LIMITED

(2) BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING LIMITED

(3) BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLC

(4) EASYNET LIMITED

(5) PLUSNET PLC

(6) TELEFONICA O2 UK LIMITED

 

Its dated 17 Feb 2010

I/A No. 2 of 2010 - Front Page

I/A No.[] of 2010 - Back page

 

Does anyone have a differnt list of ISP's or do we all have the same? Judging by the fact the letter looks like a photocopy I suppect we all have the same list.

But I'll find it strange if nobody has VIRGIN Media or Cable and Wireless listed.

 

Back Page - on this letter its off center and the I.A No. (as above) is different to the front page, does anyone know what this I/A No. means? Could just be and ACS internal thing but I'd think it should be conistant though the document unless they piece together different documents for this letter which would explain the photocopy appearance.

[Scooby Doo69]

Hi abc

 

scared like a rabbit in a headlights over this.

 

Which is EXACTLY what they are banking on (literally). Only the scared, clueless, worried pay up. It is NOT the answer as it can be taken as an admission of guilt. The chances are that for the innocent, someone else has spoofed or hijacked the connection and if you pay up you just add yourself to the hitlist for more invoicing.

 

Send a single letter of denial advising them that no futher correspondance will be entered into.

[Scooby Doo69]

hey guys just been shown the same letter stamped 17th Feb 2010 regarding "Evacuate the Dancefloor" did some checking on the address and it came up with a company called FLAWLESS IMAGE residing at 20 Hanover square. I checked the law society listed address of ACS:Law (20 Hanover Square, London W1S 1HX) against the address given on the letter (20 Hanover Square, London W1S 1JY) how can you have the same street number but different postcodes. Also the Chancery Chambers stamp on mine in the top right corner has a scribble over a number 3. im pretty sure this is a [problem], and was planning to ignore it. thankfully found you guys on here and will take your advice on sending out an LOD

 

20 Hanover Square is a virtual office. Loads of companies do it. ACS don't exist in the real world and the office is used for sending post to. In the past others have called in person to the office only to get another company representative meet them in reception. It is possible for FLAWLESS IMAGE to actually reside there.

[mackaz]

For anyone who needs to use a template,

 

Search online for The Speculative Invoicing Handbook. Not only does it provide a comprehensive guide to the whole scheme that ACS Law employ, it also contains a template LOD.

 

It is well known that if you use a template for your 1st LOD, ACS Law will reply saying they dont accept it "as it is based on a template available on the internet"

 

With this in mind I wrote my own LOD based loosely on the template mentioned above, in fact it bore little resemblance to the template and I still got their standard "as it is based on a template available on the internet" reply. (which, irionicaly IS a template letter)

 

I think the main points are that;

 

1. You do respond with a letter, either a template or your own work explaining that you did not do it. (If you didn't)

 

2. In your letter do not give any extra information away. They have to prove it was YOU that infringed copyright - you do not have to prove your innocence.

 

3. Be prepeared to receive several letters, including a "Part 36" offer where the origial amount of the claim goes up. This is them using "scary" legal speak to try to get you to panic into payng.

 

4. Be prepeared to wait a while between letters.

 

5. Report ACS Law to the SRA. They are already investigating ACS Laws conduct.

 

6. Report them to Which, Watchdog, the Legal Complaints Service. These can all easily be found by searching online.

 

 

i have also received a letter from ACS Law. very shocked. a little scared and completely bewildered.

 

there is some great advice here. thanks tp123.

 

i have looked at this on wikipedia. here is what it says there-

 

Digital Download Controversy

 

In May/June 2010 this track became the latest digital content to be used by Uk solicitors ACS Law in a speculative invoicing campaign. ACS Law are already under investigation by the SRA (Solicitors Regulatory Authority) over this practice which was first instigated in the UK by Davenport Lyons (SRA investigation results pending). ACS Law use a Switzerland based company to harvest ip addresses of UK internet users and then target those users with claims for money running into several hundreds of pounds for alleged copyright infringements conducted over peer to peer networks. The ip addresses are presented to a Court in the UK under a Norwich Pharmacological Order and the ISP's holding those ip addresses are forced to reveal who their records state held the ip address at that snapshot in time. It is worth noting that this method of harvesting ip addresses remains wholly untested under UK law but has been outlawed in several EU member countries. Anybody contacted by ACS Law is advised to seek help either through a qualified solicitor or one of the many reputable self help sites available on the internet.

BBC watchdog, Which magazine, several national newspapers, the SRA and other regulatory bodies are all aware of the conduct of this company.

 

i will not be paying. no way. i will be using a template as a guide to create my own reply and send this vie recorded delivery soon.

 

the scary thing is, if it wasnt for sites like this i would probably be scared into paying.

[mackaz]

Hi loki23,

Somebody has just shown me there letter and I too noticed the scribble over the stamp which also appear to be the number 3 and quality of the print it poor and pixilated, like a 2nd or 3rd generation scan or photocopy. If it was printed from the original document I very much doubt you'd get that kind of pixaliation round the lettering.

 

 

This letter is between:

(1) ALLAN KOPIE

(2) MANUEL REUTER

(3) YANN PEIFER

-and-

(1) BE UN LIMITED

(2) BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING LIMITED

(3) BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLC

(4) EASYNET LIMITED

(5) PLUSNET PLC

(6) TELEFONICA O2 UK LIMITED

 

Its dated 17 Feb 2010

I/A No. 2 of 2010 - Front Page

I/A No.[] of 2010 - Back page

 

Does anyone have a differnt list of ISP's or do we all have the same? Judging by the fact the letter looks like a photocopy I suppect we all have the same list.

But I'll find it strange if nobody has VIRGIN Media or Cable and Wireless listed.

 

Back Page - on this letter its off center and the I.A No. (as above) is different to the front page, does anyone know what this I/A No. means? Could just be and ACS internal thing but I'd think it should be conistant though the document unless they piece together different documents for this letter which would explain the photocopy appearance.

 

i have the same letter with the same bit scribbled out.

 

i have contacted sky and they have snet out a generic reply stating they had to comply with the court order. its also worth noting that easynet is also sky.

 

i genuinely believe the isp,s arent to blame here. they have to comply with a court order. it is strange though how only certain ones have been contacted and not all.

[mushypea10]

Have exactly the same document with the scribble on the stamp, same I/A [] of 2010 on the back page & same list of ISP's.

 

does anyone else have a 10 page letter of claim? Do you have a STATEMENT REPORT RELATING TO (your name) on page 7???

 

qwerty you are not alone!!!!

[mackaz]

yes i have that statement page.

[nomoremoney]

I have just got the evacuate the dancefloor letter today.

Apparently I uploaded it last September WHILEST I WAS ON HOLIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Although we were only camping in wales, so I don't know how to prove that..

 

I didn't have wifi security back then as my crappy Sky router kept crashing, it was since replaced.

 

Last November I moved house, the letter was addressed to my new address and I am now with TalkTalk and not a Sky customer at all (but Sky have my new address they keep begging me to come back 12months half price - not now!)

 

Letter says was uTorrent with related title UK Top 40 Singles Chart 13-09-2009. Does this mean I'll be getting a letter for each of the top 40?

 

Going to do a LOD as seems to be the general advice, but should I mention I was on holiday or simply use a template and save my evidence for court?

Thinking of going out and buying the single just in case. Or wait is it a movie? They can't make up their mind. Must be a musical...

 

Thanks

[mackaz]

hi

 

the general advice on a couple of sites is to give as basic a response as possible. keep it generic.

 

although i am in no was legaly trained, i wouldnt personaly tell them i was away or even that the router was unsecure at this stage. its all ammo for later.

[mushypea10]

nomoremoney

 

The claim is only for 'evacuate the dancefloor' the Production team/writers behind cascada not the whole top 40.

 

Many posts stress DO NOT give any more information than is required on the standard LOD especially information on what type of connection/router you where using at the time.

[mushypea10]

yes i have that statement page.

 

Thanks mackaz

 

very clever how they make it look so official, which i guess is why people pay out to end the process

 

or does it?

[nomoremoney]

Thanks I'll just use the template for now then.

 

Thinking about it, I took my laptop with me camping! However it since got broken and was destroyed by insurance company.

[mackaz]

Thanks mackaz

 

very clever how they make it look so official, which i guess is why people pay out to end the process

 

or does it?

 

im no expert. i dread to think what could happen if an innocnet person admitted liability. if this is for one song. what about the same company or sister companies persuing you for other songs. could get expensive.

[mushypea10]

Which i guess is why they include the top40 within the scheme for maximum fear factor!!

[Jasper1965]

i have also received a letter from ACS Law. very shocked. a little scared and completely bewildered.

 

there is some great advice here. thanks tp123.

 

i have looked at this on wikipedia. here is what it says there-

 

Digital Download Controversy

 

In May/June 2010 this track became the latest digital content to be used by Uk solicitors ACS Law in a speculative invoicing campaign. ACS Law are already under investigation by the SRA (Solicitors Regulatory Authority) over this practice which was first instigated in the UK by Davenport Lyons (SRA investigation results pending). ACS Law use a Switzerland based company to harvest ip addresses of UK internet users and then target those users with claims for money running into several hundreds of pounds for alleged copyright infringements conducted over peer to peer networks. The ip addresses are presented to a Court in the UK under a Norwich Pharmacological Order and the ISP's holding those ip addresses are forced to reveal who their records state held the ip address at that snapshot in time. It is worth noting that this method of harvesting ip addresses remains wholly untested under UK law but has been outlawed in several EU member countries. Anybody contacted by ACS Law is advised to seek help either through a qualified solicitor or one of the many reputable self help sites available on the internet.

BBC watchdog, Which magazine, several national newspapers, the SRA and other regulatory bodies are all aware of the conduct of this company.

 

i will not be paying. no way. i will be using a template as a guide to create my own reply and send this vie recorded delivery soon.

 

the scary thing is, if it wasnt for sites like this i would probably be scared into paying.

 

 

Great that was me and I'm glad you've either as a result or subsequently found help to deal with this.

 

Maybe if we add such an article to all wikipedia entries relating to the affected media more people will find out about this practice as the Wiki pages do tend to come out pretty high up on the google rankings?

 

Keep it clean and accurate and then it can be contested if certain people try to get it removed.

[mackaz]

sound advice. its great that people like yourself provide information for people like me.

 

thoroughly appreciated.

[danw82]

i have the same letter with the same bit scribbled out.

 

i have contacted sky and they have snet out a generic reply stating they had to comply with the court order. its also worth noting that easynet is also sky.

 

i genuinely believe the isp,s arent to blame here. they have to comply with a court order. it is strange though how only certain ones have been contacted and not all.

 

Hi mackaz,

I agree can't blame the ISP's for responding to a court order (I'm assuming there was a court order issued as i'm no legal expert.) but i'd be interested to know how they got the list IP Address's in question, I've not read the full thread but at a glance I've only noticed people saying they've contacted sky but haven't noticed anyone contact any other ISP's, which is what makes me question the source of the information, if its from a company in Switzerland are they only able to target certain ISP users for some reason?

[shawon007]

Utorrent displays the IP addresses of everyone downloading the file; It even sometimes gives the name of the ISP and Geographical country related to the IP. They must be downloading the same file to actually find out who else is downloading the file. In essence, they are committing the same 'crime'.

[mackaz]

LOL bet they dont get a strongly worded letter regarding that.

 

interesting though seeing as i didnt actualy download any music or videos.

[Marmalade2010]

Hi Everyone!

 

This company is being investigated through the Solicitors Regulation Authority. You need to contact them and complete the form. All you need to do is give the name of the company. This sort of [problem] is wrecking peoples lives!!! The more of us that have been scamed and that report this to the SRA the quicker they will get closed down!

 

 

Solicitors Regulation Authority - For consumers

 

Tel - 0870 606 2555

 

Just give them a call - like I said, you don't have to give them any details just the company name and they will explain that they are being investigated.