Law Firms Investigated over Inappropriate Copyright Demands

Two firms are under investigation by the UK Legal industry regulator over the sending of letters to individuals accused of unlawful internet file-sharing activity. The letters were sent on the behalf of copyright holders and demanded payment to avoid formal legal proceedings. ‘Which?’, a group representing the interests of consumers, claims that the law firms have used ‘excessive’ tactics to pursue those thought to be downloading films, music and games. The group said that the firms “made incorrect assertions about the nature of copyright infringement; ignored the evidence presented in defence; and increased the level of compensation claimed over the period of correspondence”. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has sent two Davenport Lyons partners to the SRA's disciplinary tribunal, and is in the early stages of investigating another firm, ACS:Law, over similar complaints.

Law Firms Investigated over Inappropriate Copyright Demands zdnet.co.uk Fri, Mar 5, 2010