Andre Yoskowitz
7 Mar 2010 15:59
Davenport Lyons, the notorious law firm known for going after alleged file-sharers on behalf of large game publishers such as Atari, is now under investigation for harassment and bullying by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, an industry watchdog, says GI.biz.
The consumer group Which? has been complaining about the firm since 2008, when the law firm first began sending out letters accusing citizens of unauthorized file sharing.
Each letter demanded a payment of £300 or the case would be taken to court. Which? calls the letters as "excessive" and even "bullying" and says "that Davenport Lyons was making incorrect assertions about the nature of copyright infringement and ignoring evidence presented in defence. It added that the letters incorrectly claimed their recipients were legally responsible for ensuring their internet connections were properly secured."
Adds Deborah Prince, head of legal affairs at Which?: "We're pleased to see some action at last from the SRA and hope the tide is finally turning in favour of consumers. We now want to see some decisive action to stop these bully-boy tactics."