Singapore High Court Orders Network Service Providers To Disclose Customers Who Illegally Download Movies
20 August 2015
The Singapore High Court has recently ordered the major network service providers to disclose details of their respective customers to Voltage Pictures, the co-producer and studio owner of the film Dallas Buyers Club, for alleged illegal movie downloads of the film.
In a report from Baker & McKenzie based on publicly-available information, it appears that Voltage Pictures intends to institute court actions against infringing end-users and has already sent demand letters to 77 individuals threatening legal action unless a settlement on damages and costs is reached. It was noted with interest that despite recent implementation of legislation which allows for the application of website block orders against websites which flagrantly infringe copyright, Voltage Pictures had chosen instead to target individual consumers. The effectiveness of such an approach remains to be seen.