Letters from Ministry Of Sound - Who had had one?

OpenToSuggestions · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:26

On Friday someone at work asked me about a letter he had from ministry of sound about some music he supposedly downloaded.
They are demanding £380 ish from him and say if he doesn't pay up then it will go to court.

Source:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/multi...inistry-of-Sound-Gets-Legal-on-Downloaders/p1

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/jul/17/file-sharers-legal-action-music-downloads

So, OCUK, who has had a letter, accusing you of downloading music/films/porn/games/apps?

QuagmireUK · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:28

I dont listen to dance music.

QlimaxUK · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:30

just refuse to pay and don't turn up at court the case will get thrown out (just tell him to say he had to work that day) that'll sort it (i think)

jackthezipper · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:33

'believes' and 'suspected'. They're fishing.

kmufc77 · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:37

This seems to be happening a lot more lately and i would imagine its quite worrying if you do receive a letter demanding money.

Its all very well people saying to ignore the letter and not go to court,but it will be completely different if you find yourself in this situation .

I personally would get legal advice as the first 30 mins are free i believe

OpenToSuggestions · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:38

I would be interested to see how it could be proven that an individual has downloaded something. The letter is accusing him of downloading a ministry of sound album a YEAR ago! Most adults, myself included struggle to tell people what I watched on TV last week.

kmufc77 · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:40

mglover070588 said:
I would be interested to see how it could be proven that an individual has downloaded something. The letter is accusing him of downloading a ministry of sound album a YEAR ago! Most adults, myself included struggle to tell people what I watched on TV last week.

That would be easy im guessing if the ISP gets forced to exchanged ip addresses and the person in question internet history or what they have downloaded.

Not sure where legally the ISP sits on this

OpenToSuggestions · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:43

kmufc77 said:
That would be easy im guessing if the ISP gets forced to exchanged ip addresses and the person in question internet history or what they have downloaded.

Not sure where legally the ISP sits on this

So much for privacy hey

.
I am thinking what would happen to the average person if they received a letter, as I bet well over 50% of households have used p2p for music at some point (no source on this, just an assumption).

May as well send me a letter saying on 2nd Feb 2009 - Was I speeding on a road XYZ tbh.

D1ngd0ng · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:44

Not sure where legally the ISP sits on this

ISP is just a courier of infomation and not the internet police I think (unless you use virgin who seem happy to cosy up to the recording industry)

kmufc77 · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:45

mglover070588 said:
So much for privacy hey.
I am thinking what would happen to the average person if they received a letter, as I bet well over 50% of households have used p2p for music at some point (no source on this, just an assumption).

May as well send me a letter saying on 2nd Feb 2009 - Was I speeding on a road XYZ tbh.

yeah i firmly belive that in the future we will be seeing this letters in ridiculous amounts as the internet will be getting tighter for downloading.

jp_bl_68 · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:45

jackthezipper said:
They're fishing.

That's what I'm thinking.

They're either hoping that some will pay up and those that don't will be scared into not downloading anymore (assuming they ever did).

Surely they'd have to prove that you specifically have broken the law. Knowing that your internet connection may have been used to download their content doesn't do that. If you're really worried wipe your drives but don't pay.

OpenToSuggestions · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:49

jp_bl_68 said:
If you're really worried wipe your drives but don't pay.

Even if you have said mp3 on your hard drive, this doesn't, mean it came from the specified torrent site.

eatcustard · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:49

Will they need to prove, that YOU downloaded the files?

If your conection was open, anyone could jump on and use it

cm1179 · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:49

it's a scam - bin it, i mean recycle it!

"andy" · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:51

eatcustard said:
Will they need to prove, that YOU downloaded the files?

If your conection was open, anyone could jump on and use it

you are responsible for your connection though. and that will be in your ISP T&Cs

sucks that he got caught

OpenToSuggestions · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:51

What I don't understand is how he has been billed £380 for a cd.

Unless he uploaded a £10 album 38 times of course.

Or is this a case of a £10 cd with £370 lawyers fees? So it has nothing to do with the music company and everything to do with a lawyer making money?

Azza · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:52

Was it delivered by recorded delivery? If not then...what letter?

Guessing the law company representing them is ACS Law...

toon_mad · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:54

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18152619

Rainmaker · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:54

"andy" said:
you are responsible for your connection though. and that will be in your ISP T&Cs

But the dispute isn't between him and the ISP, it's between him and a music label. The ISP's terms aren't law, and aren't really relevant to the case. I'm pretty sure I read about someone mounting a 'common carrier' defence to one of these claims last year, as they'd inadvertently left their wifi unsecured (thus becoming, it was argued, a common carrier under EU legislation). I'll have to dig that out again, I'm wondering how it turned out.