Irish ISPs Point Out They're Under No Obligation To Follow Three Strikes Policy

from the pushback-time dept

Tue, Mar 17th 2009 3:29am — Mike Masnick

Last month, we wrote about how the recording industry association in Ireland, IRMA, was sending around vaguely threatening letters to ISPs, telling them that they had to abide by the settlement terms made by the ISP Eircom, which included a three strikes policy and, according to IRMA -- but not Eircom -- an agreement not to protest should IRMA convince the gov't that certain sites, such as The Pirate Bay, should be blocked altogether. Luckily, the folks at those ISPs recognize they're under no legal obligation to do this, and as reader eoinmonty alerts us, those ISPs have now made that clear to IRMA, sending the group a letter, saying that the legal threat implied by IRMA's original letter was spurious, and the ISPs believe they're just fine under current European law.

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Filed Under: ireland, isps, three strikes

12 Comments

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Anonymous O'Coward, 17 Mar 2009 @ 5:43am

Erin Go Bragh!!
Perfect day to post this one, and glad to see some of the businesses out there won't stand for a strong-arm treatment. If I knew more Gaelic, I'd be the first to tell old Aunt IRMA to kiss my Irish Arse.
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Patty O'Patty, 17 Mar 2009 @ 6:15am

Looks like it's time for St. Patrick to return, and purge Ireland of a new breed of snakes.....
Sure and Begorra
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Some IT Guy, 17 Mar 2009 @ 6:42am

I love Ireland
Ireland is supposedly the "free-ist" country in the world. Acts like this show that it is working on a hands-off approach. Yay for Ireland.

PS Happy ST. Patty's day! (yay for green beer too!)
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OnlyGaelic I Know, 17 Mar 2009 @ 7:46am

Re: Erin Go Bragh!!
That would be 'Pogue Mahone', O'Coward
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irishgoogler, 17 Mar 2009 @ 8:09am

Re: Re: Erin Go Bragh!!
That'd be "póg mo thóin", feckin' amadán
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Mar 2009 @ 8:09am

Good to see
It is good to see business standing up to IP abuse. I noticed some US network outlets were actually daring to use the term "Superbowl" this year. I hope this is a trend.
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ehrichweiss, 17 Mar 2009 @ 8:15am

Re: I love Ireland
Green beer?!?!? In Ireland it's typically dark brown or black.
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Paddy, 17 Mar 2009 @ 8:23am

Re: Re: Erin Go Bragh!!
He he...Pogue Mahone...thats funny!

It's actually 'Póg mo thóin' but your attempt was much more humorous :-)

IRMA are seeing how far they can push the ISPs before they push back. Thankfully, it wasn't too far[yet..].

Have a great Paddy's Day!!!!!!!
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interval, 17 Mar 2009 @ 8:38am

Re: Re: I love Ireland
Yeah, green beer. No self-respecting son of Paddy would touch the stuff. While St. Patrick's Day is one of church services and family togetherness in Ireland, in America its just an excuse to get stupidly drunk, stagger down the avenue all parade-like, and dump food coloring in all the libations.
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Killer_Tofu (profile), 17 Mar 2009 @ 11:28am

Yay Ireland.
Respect gained for the Irish ISPs.
Now if only the US ISPs and Microsoft would follow their lead.
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Colm, 18 Mar 2009 @ 2:13am

Finally, some sense prevails
I wonder how long it will be before Eircom realise that they made a massive mistake in signing this faustian pact with IRMA? They have provided their competitors a huge advantage free gratis.. Well done Eircom.

Also I wonder to what extent public awareness of sites like Pirate Bay has been enhanced by IRMA?
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products, 1 Mar 2010 @ 8:53am

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