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Home / copyright / file sharing / Filesharer gets £16k slap

Filesharer gets £16k slap

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As noted by a couple of eagle-eyed IPKat readers, the UK Patents Court has ruled against a computer user for making a copy of a computer game available online via a filesharing network. Topware Interactive was awarded £6,000 in damages and £10,000 in costs after winning their case against Londoner Isabella Barwinska for infringing copyright in the game Dream Pinball 3D.

Right: pinball, IPKat-style; (image from Mirinda the orange cat).

More information about the case can be found from the BBC, the Register and Out-Law, among other places, although the judgment itself is not apparently yet available online.

The IPKat has some difficulty imagining how the figure for damages might have been arrived at, but he cannot see how the decision could have come out any different if Ms Barwinksa did indeed act as has been reported. Merpel wonders why she didn't just pay the £300 settlement instead, and wonders what kind of legal advice she was getting at the time.
Filesharer gets £16k slap Filesharer gets £16k slap Reviewed by David Pearce on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Rating: 5

1 comment:

  1. AnonymousWednesday, 20 August 2008 at 14:29:00 GMT+1

    More here

    http://www.money.co.uk/article/1001203-16-000-pound-fine-for-first-brit-convicted-of-illegal-file-sharing.htm

    “She was found guilty by London’s Patents County Court on July 22nd and ordered to pay £6086.56 in damages and £10,000 in costs to the developer. This makes her the first Brit ever to be penalised by the legal system for copyright infringement by illegally sharing games online.”

    This is obviously an important decision – does anyone know when/whether the decision will be published/why it hasn’t been already?

    ReplyDelete

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