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

[andydd]

No doubt the viabilty of taking legal action against ACS will become clear in the next few days.

 

Andy

[unclebulgaria67]

I wonder if the SRA are allowed under their rules to use this information. Potentially damaging or makes no odds, as they would have had this insight into the business anyway?

[cerberusalert]

I wonder if the SRA are allowed under their rules to use this information.

I don't see why not after all the information was not hacked. When the site reappeared after the DDoS attack a 350Mb file which was a backup of the site was made available to anyone for a short period of time.

 

In September 2009, complaints made to the SRA about the conduct of ACS:Law constituted more than 16% of all complaints to the body for the whole month, and the SRA confirmed that the firm were under investigation. By July 2010, the SRA had received a record 418 official complaints from members of the public.

 

In August 2010, the Solicitors Regulation Authority ruled that ACS:Law had "a case to answer" regarding its campaign against file sharers, and set up a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. It is the third disciplinary tribunal for Andrew Crossley, the head solicitor at the firm. It is expected that the tribunal will make its judgement by the end of 2011. The tribunal has the power to fine, reprimand or strike off solicitors.

 

Then of course there's the ICO investigation & to date there are at least three infringements which carry a fine of £500K each.

 

 

Happy days are here again.

[pookeymonkey]

How the mighty have fallen!!!!

 

Not long ago Andy was wondering whether to buy a Ferrari or a Lamborghini on the profits from others misery, apparently he settled for a Jeep (cheapskate), never mind I've got a pair of roller skates he could borrow once he's been struck off and the company bankrupted by the ICO's fine.

 

Pookey

[cerberusalert]

Another thing, during the SRA investigations certain documentation was requested.... obviously any documents which could have been detrimental would have been witheld.... so now the SRA will be able to see the full picture.

[acslaw-no-pay]

I will also need to check if i am on this spreadsheet. I know the company are potentially being sued, but if our names and information are on these emails/spreadsheets then do we have the right to claim compensation as individuals? If so what is the best place to start?

[ACS-won't pay]

Just a quick question to anyone in the know.

I am a Sky customer and am worried that my information may be among the leak.

 

What is the implication of downloading the torrent file to check if my details have been exposed (how else would I know?)

 

We know ACS:Law monitor certain torrent files, could they be monitoring who downloads the torrent, capture the IP address and do the usual trick of applying for an NPO to track who downloaded the file?

 

The information was made available by them to download from their site, no hacking took place as such.

[mmmmmm]

In light of this [problem] 'coming out'

 

Would it be prudent to start making posts on the numerous websites carrying the story that ACS are not the only firm taking part in this nefarious practise.

G a l l a n t M a c m i l l a n are also following exactly the same principles?

[the_shadow]

Hmm BBC have just announced a futher list of 8000 more names leaked.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11425789

 

S.

[andydd]

Just a quick question to anyone in the know.

I am a Sky customer and am worried that my information may be among the leak.

 

What is the implication of downloading the torrent file to check if my details have been exposed (how else would I know?)

 

We know ACS:Law monitor certain torrent files, could they be monitoring who downloads the torrent, capture the IP address and do the usual trick of applying for an NPO to track who downloaded the file?

 

The information was made available by them to download from their site, no hacking took place as such.

 

Good question, its unclear thoughht whther downloading this torrent would be considered breach of copyright, ACS themselves are not the copyright holders of the film/music that is downloaded they are merely acting on behalf of the clients, it would be a bit strange if ACS suddenly became the client, anyway, I very very much doubt whether they are bothered to try and trace people who have downloaded this torrent, it would be hard to prove it had a monetary value anyway and I'm sure you could argue that you downloaded it as you believed it contained personal information about yourself.

 

Plus I'm sure at this moment they are running around like headless chickens worrying what to do !

 

Actually a proper 'legal' way to check would be simply to ask ACS or send a SAR request if needs be to find out if your name is on the leaked list(s).

 

Andy

[Mattyhatty]

Is any one else excited by the success of the vigilantes and 'internet police' like 4chan!

 

 

''The UK's Information Commissioner said ACS:Law could be fined up to half a million pounds for the breaches.''

 

I spat coffee over my keyboard and laughed.

 

I wonder if ACS:POOR will send a template letter of denial

[andydd]

Out of the 6000 odd emails I quite by chance happened to come across the original Sky lists, I wonder where the 8000 list is ?

 

It has been reported that it also contains detials and notes about whether the 'infringer' (ACS's prefered terminilogy !) has paid and how much.

 

Andy

[andydd]

I will also need to check if i am on this spreadsheet. I know the company are potentially being sued, but if our names and information are on these emails/spreadsheets then do we have the right to claim compensation as individuals? If so what is the best place to start?

 

 

With a solicitor ?..But a better one than Mr Crossley . Actually a request/SAR to ACS is prob the best start.

 

Being Threatened site has said "Should anyone be considering taking action in relation to the release of their sensitive private data, we'd recommend seeking formal legal advice before doing so. However, in our opinion there is a reasonably strong prima facie case for doing so. "

 

Andy

Edited September 28, 2010 by andydd

[the_shadow]

Out of the 6000 odd emails I quite by chance happened to come across the original Sky lists, I wonder where the 8000 list is ?

 

It has been reported that it also contains detials and notes about whether the 'infringer' (ACS's prefered terminilogy !) has paid and how much.

 

Andy

 

According to the beeb, that list (and I presume the email it came from) has only just been released today so its almost as if someone has tried to stagger the bad news for ACS:Law.

 

S.

[andydd]

According to the beeb, that list (and I presume the email it came from) has only just been released today so its almost as if someone has tried to stagger the bad news for ACS:Law.

 

S.

 

I think all information comes from the original email leak, its prob just that someone has only just found it.

 

Andy

[cerberusalert]

Apparently crucifixion is a long slow excruciating way to go.

[pookeymonkey]

According to the beeb, that list (and I presume the email it came from) has only just been released today so its almost as if someone has tried to stagger the bad news for ACS:Law.

 

S.

 

I hope so, they should keep the story in the headlines as long as possible so that the maximum amount of people get to hear about ACS.

[ACS-won't pay]

Just out of interest, if anyone has the spreadsheet(s) in question can they put them on Wikileaks?

[cerberusalert]

His Heath Robinson business model has crunched to a halt whilst his box of tricks has duly exploded in his face. Oh dear never mind, what a shame. If I see him in London/Liverpool I might buy the 'Big Issue' from him.

[acslaw-no-pay]

It would be good if it made it on to wiki leaks

[Caimbeul]

Article on the front page of todays Metro

 

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/842271-internet-porn-users-personal-details-leaked-online

 

I have Plusnet plus Virginmedia but I haven't had any letters to date.

 

I hate free papers and the waste of time content in them as well as the huge environmental impact hey have. This rubbish paper slurs users with attention grabbing title. Admitadely the article uses the word "Alledgedly" twice but it still implies by the headline that all on the list are users of porn. I think that it is a bad article which does not go into any of the relevent detail behind the leak.

[STC12]

For those that missed bbc breakfast tv, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11425789

and run the video.

[sillygirl1]

The Metro is a 'sister' of the Daily Mail and Evening Standard in journalistic terms, more a 'Sleaze' paper than a newspaper, and the more the 'sleaze' is middle class then the better.

 

I am now wondering whether to check the lists to see if they have just got lists of the ENTIRE user base at a given time, which has long been my suspicion, and, based on the law of averages have picked people at random, knowing that a lot of their victims won have dealt with the 'solicitors for rent' side of the legal world...

[WhatToDo1]

The story from the bbc on the TV this morning was repeated at lunch too, cos my mum shouted me when she saw it, so i'm guessing its also going to be on the 6 o'clock news too

[STC12]

So - where can we Sky customers check if our details have been leaked ?