Film, Television Industry Group Sues ISP
03 December 2012
A group of film and television companies is suing iiNet for infringing copyright, alleging that Australia’s third largest internet service provider allowed its customers to download pirated films and television programs.
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) claims that iiNet failed to take reasonable steps to prevent its customers from downloading pirated works. The proceedings may be a test case in Australia to determine the scope of an internet service provider’s liability for copyright infringement by its users, say lawyers at Blake Dawson.
Members of the industry consortium include Village Roadshow, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Disney Enterprises Inc and the Seven Network, the Australian licensee of some of the infringed works.
iiNet denied any wrongdoing, saying complaints of copyright infringement by its customers were forwarded to law enforcement agencies. Michael Malone, iiNet managing director, said it was not possible to disconnect a customer based on an allegation and that such matters were for the police and courts to deal with.
