ISP Capitulates to IFPI, Agrees to Disconnect Pirates

enigmax
January 28, 2009
75
eircom,
emi,
IFPI,
Sony BMG,
Universal,
warner
Print

Up until today, the ‘Big Four’ record labels were taking legal action against Ireland’s biggest ISP, Eircom, in order to force it to employ filtering technology to stop online pirates. The case has been aborted as Eircom, at the behest of the music industry, has agreed to start disconnecting those accused of illicit file-sharing.

Last year the Big Four record labels – EMI Records Ltd, Sony BMG Music Entertainment Ltd, Universal Music Ltd and Warner Music Ltd – commenced legal proceedings against Eircom, Ireland’s largest ISP. The four labels control 90% of Ireland’s music market and decided to pick on Eircom to do something about illicit file-sharing. They demanded that Eircom introduce filtering technology to crack down on pirates, but the ISP refused, hence the court case.

Quantifying its ‘losses’ in court, the four labels claimed illegal downloading costs the Irish music industry 13.8 million Euros every year, and since Eircom has 40 per cent of the ISP market, it must be held responsible for causing the industry losses of between 4 and 5 million Euros. Further details about the case are available in our previous report.

The case, which was due to run for 4 weeks, was cut short this evening after just eight days. According to an RTE report it has ended after a fairly shocking and unexpected development. The ‘Big Four’, headed by the IFPI, have reached an “amicable” settlement with Eircom.

In an agreement believed to be a world first, EMI, Sony BMG, Universal and Warner will start tracking the IP addresses of alleged infringers and supply the details to the ISP. Eircom has agreed that it will ultimately disconnect infringers from the Internet.

Essentially, Eircom has agreed to implement a “3 Strikes” regime against its own customers. On the first allegation the customer will get a warning. On the second allegation they will be informed that if they do not stop their activities, disconnection will follow. On the third, it’s Internet blackout time.

The Chairman of EMI said he now expects other ISPs to follow suit – serious pressure will be brought down on them immediately.

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http://www.intensedebate.com/people/EZEE EZEE

A very sad day indeed, hopefully this will mean a huge exodus to the other more deserving ISPs.

"The Chairman of EMI said he now expects other ISPs to follow suit"
Good luck and expect what you want motherf****r, but personally I expect/hope someone beats the sh*t outa you in your expensive suit.

Edit:
Actually, this reminded me of something, now i know why EMI wants this as soon as possible:
http://ezee.se/articles-blog/2008/11/24/riaa-back…
these SOBs might not be around much longer!!
Bye bye dear fatcats, you will be missed about as much as the plague.

http://www.eZee.se
- AAAA
  
  I agree on all other parts, maybe leave his suit out of it :)
  
  But yes if i was with Eircom and got a letter – bye bye – i'll take my money elsewhere
  
  There are FAR better ISP's in Ireland, FAR FAR FAR better.
  
  Offering twice the service for the same price but Irish people dont bother their arse looking for it.
  - http://intensedebate.com/people/EZEE EZEE
    
    "I agree on all other parts, maybe leave his suit out of it :) "
    
    No problem mate, it would give me equal pleasure to know someone beat the crap out of these bozos and left then naked in the alley, like their brethren.. the rats in the alley.
    
    "..but Irish people dont bother their arse looking for it"
    When circumstances change… people generally change as well, I know its frustrating.. but wait for it ;)
    
    "The extinction of the EMI &c. just can't come soon enough. "
    True, pity its actually taken this long :(((
    
    Cheers!
    http://www.eZee.se
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Roze Roze

As was said before:
Although the industry may have a few hurdles to go through, like the commercial interests of the ISPs, human rights declarations, the right to privacy, &c., they will eventually get around them if they are not opposed by the populace. And for sure, they have gotten around the lot of these hurdles at least in Ireland. But still, these kinds of things can be reversed: the vote is supreme, and that is the only way to oppose them.

Perhaps it may be a good time for all of us to think about "what can we all do to oppose the IFPI?" Perhaps one of us might come up with a good idea.

Roze
<a href=”http://http://www.10ch.org“target=”_blank”><a href=”http://www.10ch.org” target=”_blank”>www.10ch.org
Jet

Sad day for Ireland…Eircom deserves to loose people over folding under pressure from cyber-thugs.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Roze Roze

As was said before:
Although the industry may have a few hurdles to go through, like the commercial interests of the ISPs, human rights declarations, the right to privacy, &c., they will eventually get around them if they are not opposed by the populace. The vote is supreme, and that is the only way to oppose them.

Roze
http://www.10ch.org
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Roze Roze

As was said before:
Although the industry may have a few hurdles to go through, like the commercial interests of the ISPs, human rights declarations, the right to privacy, &c., they will eventually get around them if they are not opposed by the populace. And for sure, they have gotten around the lot of these hurdles at least in Ireland. But still, these kinds of things can be reversed: the vote is supreme, and that is the only way to oppose them.

Roze
http://www.10ch.org“target=”_blank”>http://www.10ch.org
AAAA

If you're Irish (like myself) you'll know Eircom are the dirtiest / money hungry monopoly in Ireland.

-Over charging their customers
-Providing a TERRIBLE serivce

This news does not surprise me at all – I haven't & never will give Eircom a cent of my money.
http://intensedebate.com/people/keyman30 keyman30

I thought under EU law, this is illegal?
- http://intensedebate.com/people/everybody everybody
  
  Last time I heard, EU law was a joke that none of its member states pay attention to.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Roze Roze

As was said before:
Although the industry may have a few hurdles to go through, like the commercial interests of the ISPs, human rights declarations, the right to privacy, &c., they will eventually get around them if they are not opposed by the populace. And for sure, they have gotten around the lot of these hurdles at least in Ireland. But still, these kinds of things can be reversed: the vote is supreme, and that is the only way to oppose them.

Roze
http://www.10ch.org/“target=”_blank”>http://www.10ch.org/
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Roze Roze

As was said before:
Although the industry may have a few hurdles to go through, like the commercial interests of the ISPs, human rights declarations, the right to privacy, &c., they will eventually get around them if they are not opposed by the populace. And for sure, they have gotten around the lot of these hurdles at least in Ireland. But still, these kinds of things can be reversed: the vote is supreme, and that is the only way to oppose them.

Roze
http://www.10ch.org/"target="_blank">href=”http://http://www.10ch.org/“target=”_blank”>http://www.10ch.org/
Rob

Roughly 75% of Irish people have their Broadband with Eircom
- neimo
  
  Agreed – not 40% as the article mentions. For years Eircom was the only phone service available in Ireland until very recently.
http://intensedebate.com/people/EZEE EZEE

Since when has the MAFIAA (and esp the music industry part of it) really played by the rules or really respected the laws of any country?

Proper encrypted p2p cant really come fast enough, we need this like.. yesterday.

http://www.eZee.se
- http://intensedebate.com/people/Roze Roze
  
  You mean a popular political movement against the MAFIAA can't come soon enough. All that's needed is some support and some initial idea, but unfortunately, I can't really come up with good ideas on how to oppose the MAFIAA and IFPI. Perhaps it would be good to ask everybody about how to oppose the MAFIAA. Petitions? Contacting representatives? Perhaps at least something to symbolically declare intentions to oppose the MAFIAA, like an oath or declaration or something.
KBKarma

I am really shocked and surprised that Eircom did this.

… I kid, I kid. I said this would happen when the initial report came up, et voila! Ireland proves once again why it's not allowed to have anything important. Like nuclear missiles.

The Spire may be a big one, though.
- AAAA
  
  This happens the same day a Paedophile's life sentence gets overturned because raping two young boys and giving the man life in prison was too "harsh"
  
  Country is a JOKE!
  
  Our Minster for Health – is actually grossly over weight
  Our Ex Minister for Finance / former Prime Minister – accused of taking bribes, when found with stashes of cash his excuse was that "he didnt have a bank account"
  
  Hmmmmmmmm – and people wonder why no one takes Ireland seriously.
  
  What a pile-o-sh*te this country is
  - Finton
    
    Our Minister For Health is not just grossly over weight, she's on the booze in a serious way while also facing marital difficulties.
    
    And Bertie, dear Bertie. What a legend. How many people here think its believable that a Minister for Finance wouldn't have a bank account?
    
    As you said, AA, the place is in shit.
    
    On the matter of Eircom, I don't care. I'm in the 25%. My ISP is so new that they won't even bother paying attention to this thing. Eircom would have done better to pay damages than capitulate. Wait for them to be forced to cut people off in this new agreement and we'll see people flocking to Perlico. Which I'm not with either, who'll be the next target of MGM or whoever. Which suits me fine.
    
    Problem is, of course… You get cut off by Eircom. What stops you from signing up to another ISP? Eircom cuts your line too? Satellite. Works for me. We do need Encryption. And we do need political pressure. I just don't see the latter working very well short of the Socialists picking up the pace. Which I don't expect.
welp Ireland just turned into a shit country.
AAAA

"just turned"

not sure which part of the country you're living in mate :) it has been for a long time
http://intensedebate.com/people/mister_playboy mister_playboy

In one sense, I'm actually glad this happened. This sort of thing might finally mobilize people to do something… even if it's just to switch ISP's.

Which country ISP's will be next?
- http://intensedebate.com/people/Roze Roze
  
  Watch out for the U.K. They are also trying the same in the United States. As for New Zealand, a one-strike "guilty upon accusation" policy is about to come into effect.
mensch

might be good time to teach the ifpi a lesson, splatter their brains and blood on the walls. take em out!
- freetard
  
  "might be good time to teach the ifpi a lesson, splatter their brains and blood on the walls. take em out!"
  —————————————————–
  
  i'm pretty sure this is roze again, up to his same old multi alias spamming tricks…
http://intensedebate.com/people/Roze Roze

The extinction of the EMI &c. just can't come soon enough.
Ess

Frankly I think people in the free, democratically-thinking parts of the world need to force this issue to come to a populous vote. Keep in mind that there are two major groups that are essentially against the people: the music industry, who has been wanting something like this since the age of the cassette tape, AND the ISP's, many of whom want to find any excuse to try to throttle connections for the sake of making more money. *cough*comcast*cough*

Something needs to be done. We can't expect our governments to protect us in this. Our governments are by and large in the pockets of these industries. We have to protect ourselves, and actively try to protect ourselves. Start petitions, contact representatives, do what it takes in your place of residence to ensure that your rights are guarded. Someone has to, and you're truly the only one set to gain from it.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Shantih Shantih

Yeah, it might be good to have a campaign against the IFPI or something.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Shantih Shantih

Whatever the IFPI does, it's best not to forgive them for it. They'll just start up more shit.
http://intensedebate.com/people/everybody everybody

Maybe The Pirate Bay could be called in to help?
kill4

Simple answer is for the Irish people (and all people) to speak with their wallets, refuse to buy any music produced by big four. Hitting their bottom line will put these leeches out of existence.
- http://intensedebate.com/people/Roze Roze
  
  There is a problem with that: this would work only if everybody or at least a vast number of people are boycotting. There seems to be very few people who are boycotting the big four as of now.
  - ragbagsoc
    
    perhaps its because not everyone is a thief like you and don't mind paying for music?
    - http://intensedebate.com/people/Roze Roze
      
      It is not good argumentative form to presume certain assumptions which are not true, namely, that sharing is stealing, which is false.
- elgeebar
  
  Unfortunately, these are global scum… so it will take a global boycott to take them down… But I'm up for it… hell been doing it for years… not bought a non-independent CD since 2000… and normally only buy independent CD's at gig's so the money is straight in the artists pocket. As for downloaded music? Never paid a cent.
elgeebar

Which is why you'll find us sensible Irish in every country in the world… except Ireland… where you'll only find pope lovers and the others of our brethren stupid enough to stay!
- ragbagsoc
  
  quitter!
asd

Not quite, if it can be used to take away freedom, it's suddenly very mandatory.
http://intensedebate.com/people/EZEE EZEE

Roze, while I do agree with you that people have to take a stance and something must be done… quite honestly i dont have a **real* clue as to what.
But what I *am* doing is waiting for the pirate party to come in power (lucky I am in Sweden, even with super slut Beatrice Ask).
We are seriously outgunned here, we have the manpower to drown these scum, but not the firepower in terms of clout,money and the ears of powerful people who make laws, but dont have a clue about what they are legislating. So the best we can hope is they older fat cats slowly die away and the younger generation guys with a clue get into office/power where they can make a change.

http://www.eZee.se
- you mean like hippies that never took over
http://intensedebate.com/people/mister_playboy mister_playboy

Maybe people shouldn't switch ISPs right away. Maybe they should let themselves get disconnected. If that happens to enough people, then Eircom will be forced to change its tune due to loss of revenue.

Business seem to understand only the language of profit, as they cannot AFFORD to be ethical.
- ragbagsoc
  
  Apart from cable and wireless/satellite broadband, all irish ISPs pay Eircom for use of their exchanges and phone lines. Cable is available in only a few small parts of a few large cities, and even then is very poor. Satellite and wireless broadband are completely useless for most broadband applications – gaming, voip, etc.. Therefore if you want decent broadband in Ireland you go through Eircom whether you want to or not, and Eircom get a cut of your money.
sharky, shannon

im fuckin ashamed to be irish, but what eircom seem to forget is that if you google 'eircom:torrent' you get a wep key generated from the broadcast ssid, allowin axx to an eircom customers router/line/network.
i personally have been goin nuts dl'in everything from everyones lines not givin a fuck.
AND NOW……HAHAHAHAHAHA JUST YOU WAIT EIRCOM.
I KNOW THAT I PERSONALLY WILL DISCONNECT ABOUT 9 CUSTOMERS OF THEIRS, MINIMUM.
ON PURPOSE.
my friends laptops are all equipped, anyone in Eire with the knowledge of this has the jar file on their phone for a java app.
i will tell all my mates and anyone who'll listen to do it.
im not worried about security dont make me laugh.
the gardai wont have a fuckin clue.
+ i may forge mac addrress, obtain them store them USE THEM.
this is fuckin ridiculous, what an embarassment for us all.
as stated thats 36% of my entire fuckin country can be insta-hacked by any shmuck like myself, with a pre made programme, thats all over the fuckin web.
THEYLL RUE THE DAY.HAHAHAHA.
NOW I KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS, IT MAKES ME SMILE.
OF ALL THE UNDER-TABLE CORPORATE AGENDAS AND QUANGOS, THIS ONE, ALTHOUGH EQUALLY OUTRAGEOUS, IS NOT HOPELESS.
sharky, shannon

in fact Torrentfreak, i would like if you made the availability of this knowledge widespread.
no worries about legal issues, its white-hat, proof of concept if you will.

ONLINE WEP GEN: http://s4dd.yore.ma/eircom/
DO SOME RESEARCH TO FIND THE METHOD, IT MAKES A GOOD STORY + ITS INFORMATIVE……
sharky, shannon

the pirate bay has already helped hosting the wepgen here:http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/3831026/Eircom_Ne…

if you need a carrier i can ul to RS….
jos

dosen't ireland have privicy rights which prevent irma and eircom from monitoring internet activity .
I use UPC bb and bt at home no eircom. never will use eircom now
sharky, shannon

yeah im on upc now to ,20mbit ftw
fuckin eircom shite.
hey man you know the way eircom are changing ppls lines for free?
use the wepgen to get their serial from the bottom of a 'hacked' router (tis intrinsic to how it works) ring eircom say the address and the serial number they change the line from 1 or 3 mbit to 7, all for free n their end. the 'victim' gets faster lines.
faster means you can obtain more torrents off public trackers and shit, BEFORE EIRCOM ARE FORCED TO DISCONNECT THE CUSTOMERS LOL
FUNNY THING IS I DONT EVEN KNOW THE NAME OF OUR MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS.
I MEAN, WHAT IS THE FUCKIN POINT?
/ME SIGHS….
Captain

Awaiting the Digital Britain review to see whether the UK is terminally fucked. The 3 strikes rule doesn't look likely but "Legislation Labour" will probably be up to their usual Orwellian recipies.
- http://neuron2neuron.blogspot.com Ben Jones
  
  Yes, we’re all waiting. I’ve not seen 6am in a long time, yet here I am.
mark

If they start disconnecting poeple. I can’t imagine how that’s not vigilantism. And that as far as i know is forbidden in every democratic country.
Antirip

I wouldn't worry about it too much sharky, there are plenty of ways to download. Stay away from the likes of Limewire and stick to hosting sites, usenext etc. This will not work, FACT
- sharky
  
  but im on a kickass tracker :(and im no scener
18 M/y ? lol thats peanuts for a country budged
fooe

with so many false accusations of piracy against people already, i dont understand how they could disconnect people without taking them to court first. Surely Eircom is going to get sued when they disconnect an innocent IP?.
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Chickenuts

You're totally right Sharky I know at least 6 people who download through hacking their neighbours modems. Whats Eircom going to do when they cut someone off for p2p downloading and it turns out that it wasn't them at all and their modem was hacked by some random person? I don't think they'll be able to cut anybody off.
brim4brim

Everyone opposed to this, please email comreg (communications regulator) consumerline@comreg.ie

You don't have to be Irish to email them but it helps if you are I guess :shrugs:

Should mail bomb them with privacy concerns. They don't do anything about us having the second highest line rental in the world or the fact that eircom have a complete monopoly in most of the country or the thousands of problems with 3 mobile BB users (who got fucking awarded 90 million by the state the other day to roll out a new network so everyone can get their shit service).

Send the same mail to the Minister for communications on the issue (contact details on below page) who will also do nothing and who lies all the time about the state of infrastructure because most people are too stupid to know any better.

http://www.eamonryan.ie/contact/“target=”_blank”>http://http://www.eamonryan.ie/contact/
Then email the last word with Matt Cooper who highlights these on radio at a time when everyone is stuck in traffic on the way home. One of the most popular radio shows in the country.

http://www.todayfm.com/Contact-Us.aspx“target=”_blank”>http://http://www.todayfm.com/Contact-Us.aspx

Let them know you contacted each of them on the issue. Doesn't matter what you say as long as you voice opposition to this.
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http://tv-links.ws Totz

This has got fail written all over it, the Irish people won't take kindly to threats by the big 4. If anything, people will download more and just leave eircon
goatster

then i guess you will lose your customers. what a shame….
http://intensedebate.com/people/Binsy Binsy

This is an absolute disgrace. The irish should be ashamed for letting this happen. I'd leave Eircom immediately and sign-up with another ISP, let them know your feelings by leaving in big numbers.
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Finton

I doubt people will leave Eircom. I just figure the Eircom users will ignore their letters, let themselves get cut off eventually at which point they'll then move to another ISP. Do that until you find one that won't risk losing customers.

I'm not on Eircom. I don't know if I'd move, myself. Preempt them with a giant F*** you! or just wait it out. Meh. Suffice to say, this little cop out will have no real effect, except to screw Eircom up a little more. Never a bad proposition.
Faquarl

Well personally yeah i dl lots and lots of music and they may not think that is right so there going to start tracking for peer to peer but i mean its only music right? I mean it just seems to me that instead of wasting the time and effort on trying to catch out usually law abiding people on dl music that they should try sort out people who dl things like kiddy porn and stuff, isn't that a bigger, more serious issue than people getting a few free tracks? priorities seem to be quite lacking sense here….
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Anonymous

You bunch of thieves
The laughing Poster

Although the industry may have a few hurdles to go through, like the commercial interests of the ISPs, human rights declarations, the right to privacy, &c., they will eventually get around them if they are not opposed by the populace. And for sure, they have gotten around the lot of these hurdles at least in Ireland. But still, these kinds of things can be reversed: the vote is supreme, and that is the only way to oppose them.

Roze you can keep printing your bullshite all you want, but please enlighten us on exactly WHAT does this “human rights declarations, the right to privacy” have to do with anything? I have checked the laws in The Emerald Isle and the EU as well and NOWHERE does it say that having an internet account is a human right. Also Roze, NOWHERE in Ireland NOR the EU does anything give it’s citizens the “right to privacy” I am very sorry Roze and this is going to be hard for you in Europe to deal with considering that you constantly try to imply that it is some kind of paradise just because you pay 70% of your pay in taxes and then claim you get “free” stuff that your taxes actually pay for (an oxymoronic statement if I have ever heard one)
But now you have to understand that you can be shut off from the net a any time. So you go on and continue to post your bullshite if it makes you fell better, me? I am going back to doing what I have always done because I was seemingly smarter then the whole pack of posters as I got my internet account via the people in the US midwest who actually RUN and OWN the internet according to the World Court in the Hauge and the UN. And they have old the record and movie companies to shut up and leave them alone or they would turn THEM off form the net. So unless xxxnet changes their mind, I am really the only safe person on this thread!
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ISP Capitulates to IFPI, Agrees to Disconnect Pirates

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