The Danish Anti Piracy Group (APG) has sent invoices to 150
users of file swapping services, demanding compensation for alleged
illegal downloading of copyrighted materials, according to a report
by Reuters.
The APG developed software that traced the IP addresses of the
150 individuals, all based in Denmark, who used P2P systems KaZaA
and eDonkey. The APG went to a court with its evidence of allegedly
unlawful downloading – apparently just a list of filenames – and
obtained an order that forced the individuals' ISPs to disclose the
users' names and addresses.
The users only realised they were investigated when they started
receiving the invoices by post last week. The APG apparently
demands that the alleged pirates pay 20 Danish Crowns (about £1.70)
per single music file downloaded. The charges are higher for movies
and computer games. Some individuals face a bill of 100,000 Crowns
(about £8,500).
The file-swappers are being warned that they must pay before 1st
December or they will be sued by APG.
According to Reuters citing the Danish Consumer Council, APG's
investigation did not violate local data protection laws.
