Jari Ketola
31 Jan 2003 3:47
Internet access provider Verizon Communications has asked the appeals court to block a previous court ruling that forces Verizon to disclose the identity of a P2P user to RIAA.
"Verizon will use every legal means to protect its subscribers' privacy," said John Thorne, a senior vice president for Verizon. "If this ruling stands, consumers will be caught in a digital dragnet, not only from record companies alleging infringement of their copyright monopolies, but from anyone who can fill out a simple form."
Verizon does not oppose disclosing the identity of the customer, but the legal methods used by RIAA to request it. RIAA is trying to use fast legal procedures provided by the DMCA to get the name of the pirate. Verizon sees that it violates the privacy of their customers and insists that RIAA must file a lawsuit before getting anything.
If RIAA has its way, they could obtain the identities of thousands of users at a whim.
Source:
News.com