Electronic Frontier Foundation lends alleged file-sharers a hand

We have previously discussed the actions of some law firms in the UK and the US that have built a business case out of suing alleged file-sharers. Digital rights organisation Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), that sees these legal actions as problematic as they infringe on the liberties of internet users and fail to observe legal safeguards for protecting individuals’ rights, has created an online knowledge database to assist the targets of such subpoenas.

The knowledge bank, that the EFF has called ‘USCG v. The People’, is a response to the actions of one firm in particular, the U.S. Copyright Group, that started legal action against 14.000 alleged file sharers earlier this year. USGC offers alleged file-sharers a choice: settle now for 1500 or 2500 dollar, or be sued for 150.000 dollar per downloaded movie, the maximum damages that may legally be sought.

The EFF knowledge bank provides the accused with information about the claims that are made, about possible defence strategies and provides help in finding suitable legal counsel.

The EFF had previously already taken this issue to heart by filing an amicus brief to the court detailing it’s objections to the procedure that the law firms use.