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Tue, 19 Aug 2008 First illegal game-sharer prosecuted in UK

Carrie-Ann Skinner PC Advisor

Woman to pay £16,000 in damages and costs

A British woman has been ordered to pay £16,000 in costs and damages after she put a computer game on a peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing network.

The woman, who has not been named, was prosecuted for uploading Topware Interactive's Dream Pinball 3D to a P2P network and allowing other web users to illegally download the program without paying copyright fees to the owners.

A UK court has ordered the woman to pay Topware Interactive £6,086.56 in damages and £10,000 in costs.

"This shows that taking direct steps against infringers is an important and effective weapon in the battle against online piracy," said David Gore, a partner at Davenport Lyons who acted for the software company.

Topware started its crusade against illegal file sharers in 2007. After forcing 18 ISPs to pass on details of suspected pirates it sent letters to those guilty of making the game available on P2P networks such as Gnutella and eMule, ordering them to pay a £300 settlement charge or face legal action. Three other suspected file sharers are also being prosecuted.

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Comments received


David Gerard said on Tue, 19 Aug 2008

The only problem is that no trace of the case’s existence can be found.

www.rocknerd.co.uk/2008/08/19/woman-fined-16000-in-apparently-nonexistent-court-case/

Eddie said on Tue, 19 Aug 2008

What sort of proof would you like?
Will this help?
www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23541177-details/%C2%A316,000+bill+for+illegally+copying+Net+pinball/article.do

sergeant bilko said on Tue, 19 Aug 2008

OUTRAGEOUS - THESE COMPANIES MAKE FAR TOO MUCH ALREADY.

Russ said on Tue, 19 Aug 2008

what a stupid arguement, does that mean if you win the Lottery I can mug you? Absurd rational

Peter said on Tue, 19 Aug 2008

I don't mean to be pedantic, but this was a civil case and not a prosecution - a significant difference and may explain the difficulty in finding a record of the case.

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