'Three-strikes' system may no longer be used in Ireland

The Irish Data Protection Commission has decided that the 'three-strikes' system performed by Irish ISP Eircom, should be brought to a halt. Eircom introduced the 'three-strikes' system to deal with  subscribers who frequently infringe copyrights through illegal file sharing. As an ultimate remedy, a persisting subscribers may be completely disconnected from internet access (after the 'third strike').

The Commission has now decided that the 'three-strikes' system violates subsribers’ privacy and may therefore no longer be used. The Data Protection Commission interfered when Eircom made a mistake by sending three hundred warnings (first strikes) to wrong IP addresses.

Although Eircom may no longer use the ‘three-strikes’ system, the Irish government has indicated to be on the lookout for an alternative solution for rights holders to protect their copyright against infringement in the online environment. One possibility seems to be blocking illegal file sharing sites through ISPs at the request of rights holders. A proposal to block illegal file sharing sites will probably be submitted at the beginning of 2012.

Read more about ‘three-strikes’ measures on FutureofCopyright.com:

• ACTA does not entail obligatory implementation of “Three Strikes”
• New Zealand ISPs receive first notices to enforce 'three strike' law
• 'Three strikes' policy in France is paying off

Reference: TorrentFreak

By: Karen Groen