PluseNet sells thousands of customers details for cash

[#1]

Quote from: torbayguy

I agree Geoff. But I can imagine plusnet getting thousands of these requests, after all we all download copyright things we shouldnt from time to time, so the logistics would be a nightmare, however, that isnt an excuse of course, and yes I would expect to be notified if I was being 'watched'.

Well isn't that the aim of the new 3 strike system the government are trying to put in place with this Digital Bill?
The gist I got was you'd get 2 letters, 2 strikes saying "you've been caught doing this..stop it" and on the 3rd letter they say "if you don't stop right now we'll be passing on your details".
A lot of the outrage has come from the fact the current system is court orders are attained but instead of taking things through the court companies like ACS Law theaten people into paying £400-600 out of court, its nothing short of intimidation and of course once you pay them you effectively admit guilt, and they chase you for even more, it's just terribly unregulated.
I also feel its important to remember that file sharing is done by a huge amount of the population of the western world, I'm not saying it's right...but if we start chasing everyone whos downloaded or uploaded a song thats a hell of a lot of criminals so perhaps in this case a more sftly softly approach is needed, this isn't kiddy pics or grooming or mass fraud and as far as I can tell nobodies died because of firesharing and crap muscians like Bob Geldof are still making millions from royalties, what we're dealing with is unfortunately a social norm and I think warnings are what are needed. ACS Law's approach is not far from criminal in its self if you ask me and I think that's where some ISPs have drawn a line and to be honest hats off to them for showing some backbone.

[#2]

MTNW i agree with you completely, and yes I have used a fileshare now and then, as Im sure most people have.
When it comes to these 'companies' chasing people for money, well tell them to bugger of, simples 
The problem is, people pay.
The more people pay, the bigger the company gets, the more powerful it gets and so on...

[#3]

If I have the copyright to something valuable - such as this forum post,
could I get ACS to obtain a few thousand ip addresses from the Plusnet ip range?
I could then send out my letters to put the frighteners on all these people - but agreeing to accept a few hundred quid to license these people to use my copyright.
At heart, it's basically just a semi-legal scam.

[#4]

Quote from: Fletch

For absolute clarity on this issue:  at no point have Plusnet (or will do in the future) received any money for providing ACS Law with the detail which where requested via the court order. Fletch

For the avoidance of doubt, does this mean that Plusnet did not receive costs (including their solicitors costs) and the reasonable costs of complying with the order in respect of disclosures realting to  Reality Pump - Two Worlds (Nov 2008), and the same in respect of disclosures regarding Topware Interactive - Dream Pinball (Nov 2008)?

[#5]

As per Fletch's response, we don't receive any moneys for providing the details requested following a court order.

[#6]

Really? The following is in the court orders on the page linked by mrmarkus1981:

Quote

3. The reasonable costs of complying with this Order shall be paid by the Applicant to the Respondants in any event

Plusnet is one of the listed Respondants.

[#7]

I wasn't aware of that and we'll try and get a definitive answer for you.

[#8]

so... lets say they send you a nasty letter... what happens if you dont pay?

[#9]

Quote from: severedsolo

so... lets say they send you a nasty letter... what happens if you dont pay?

That would depend on whether or not you believe you had actually done what you are accused of.
The best source of information and advice I have found is http://beingthreatened.yolasite.com/
As with most things in life though, the best course of action is not to just ignore it and hope it will go away.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/ has been covering the ins and outs of this issue for a while now, search their site for the term mandybill for the full chapter and verse.

[#10]

pfft... im not really worried about if/when anyone decides to send me one of these letters, even if i was downloading/uploading illegal content, they still have to prove it. and if they could do that, they would just sue me rather than trying to blackmail....

[#11]

http://www.acs-law.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78:digital-economy-bill-succe...

Quote

The swift and decisive action taken today will ensure that rights owners may now invest with confidence to deliver high quality media to the masses.

why not invest years ago and give a better exprince than what getting a pirated copy was to stop it in its tracks rather than bullying those who you want as customers.
500-600 pounds they ask for seems a figrue they plucked out the air, i know if i was to get one of those letters i would take it to court.
i would rather have a million pound court order on my head rather than just lay down and let these big cheeses rule the world

[#12]

It's a scam as far as I'm concerned. They can only get away with it because they hide behind the facade of being lawyers. Anyone else sending out thousands of letters to people demanding money with threats of court action would be guilty of extortion!
Shame the ISPs don't all band together and tell them where to stick it.

[#13]

well the post office dont know how to bill this broaband account, so i think there customers are safe anyway, there is fat chance of them getting a massavie list togther and posting it to this law firm intime for the court date

[#14]

Quote from: jelv

Really? The following is in the court orders on the page linked by mrmarkus1981: Quote 3. The reasonable costs of complying with this Order shall be paid by the Applicant to the Respondants in any event Plusnet is one of the listed Respondants.

We haven't received *any* money for disclosing customer information, be that for costs or anything else.

[#15]

So we have been subsidising the costs of the extra work Plusnet has had to perform out of our subscriptions!