hydra3333
4th February 2010, 08:45
The Federal Court of Australia has dismissed the film industry's case against iiNet, finding that Australia's No.3 internet provider did not authorise copyright infringement on its network.
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft representing the film industry, has been ordered to pay iiNet's costs. iiNet chief executive Michael Malone estimated that these costs add up to around $4 million.
"I find that iiNet simply can't be seen as approving infringement," said Justice Cowdroy.
Summarising a 200 page judgement, Justice Cowdroy found iiNet users had infringed copyright by downloading films on BitTorrent, but he found that the number of infringers was far less than alleged by AFACT.
More importantly, Justice Cowdroy said that the "mere provision of access to internet is not the means to infringement".
"Copyright infringement occured as result of use of BitTorrent, not the Internet," he said. "iiNet has no control over BitTorrent system and not responsible for BitTorrent system."
Read more:
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/166348,iinet-wins-film-industrys-case-torn-to-shreds.aspx
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/iinet-slays-hollywood-in-landmark-piracy-case-20100204-ndwr.html
http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/335042/iinet_wins_case_against_afact
http://delimiter.com.au/2010/02/04/iinet-wins-video-piracy-trial/
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft representing the film industry, has been ordered to pay iiNet's costs. iiNet chief executive Michael Malone estimated that these costs add up to around $4 million.
"I find that iiNet simply can't be seen as approving infringement," said Justice Cowdroy.
Summarising a 200 page judgement, Justice Cowdroy found iiNet users had infringed copyright by downloading films on BitTorrent, but he found that the number of infringers was far less than alleged by AFACT.
More importantly, Justice Cowdroy said that the "mere provision of access to internet is not the means to infringement".
"Copyright infringement occured as result of use of BitTorrent, not the Internet," he said. "iiNet has no control over BitTorrent system and not responsible for BitTorrent system."
Read more:
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/166348,iinet-wins-film-industrys-case-torn-to-shreds.aspx
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/iinet-slays-hollywood-in-landmark-piracy-case-20100204-ndwr.html
http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/335042/iinet_wins_case_against_afact
http://delimiter.com.au/2010/02/04/iinet-wins-video-piracy-trial/