Law firm, ACS: Law and its client, MediaCat, were in court again this Monday regarding the decision to discontinue the 26 claims brought by MediaCat in respect of suspected illegal file sharing.
ACS: Law has been condemned in the press over its so-called ‘speculative invoicing’ – issuing thousands of letters to internet users who it suspects of illegal file sharing demanding cash settlements.
Judge Birss QC will rule later this week on whether ACS: Law and MediaCat can discontinue the cases without being joined by the actual copyright owners and, whether MediaCat should be banned from sending any more payment demands until its claims have been clarified. The Judge will also consider allegations of abuse of process made by the defendants’ Counsel.
The intense media and public backlash and the scrutiny under which both the claimant and the law firm representing it have been placed, will no doubt cause right holders and legal advisers alike to reflect on how they handle illegal filesharing in the future.