View from the Lords “Copyright Trolls are villains and scammers”

Lord Lucas, the Lord who led the charge against ACS:LAW during the Digital Economy Bill debates is back, and this time with what he considers the companies who are just as bad.   Speaking in the HOuse of Lord at the Second Hearing of the Unjustified Threats Bill, He states;

“These Villains are laughing at, and abusing the system, just as ACS did”

they are

“Shaking down internet users”, their “evidence is extremely suspect, and has never tested in court”

Hard hitting stuff, but he goes on;

“These Villains are laughing at, and abusing the system, just as ACS did”

Who are these companies? Why none other than the Copyright Trolls we have been highlighting and battling on this Blog for the last few years 2.

“If anyone comes across the names Hatton & Berkeley, Goldeneye International, Mircom International, Ranger Bay, TCYK, I really urge them to put their correspondence in the bin”

Lord Lucas goes on to say

“The current scammers aren’t pursuing anyone, just threats extortion and shaking people down”

I don’t think we could have put it better ourselves, indeed in a nod to the classic vampyric films of old, he states;

“..some careless person has dropped blood on the ashes of ACS, and the same scam is alive again”

I have been saying this since the first letters from Goldeneye started being sent out, it is nice to see the view vindicated.
He raises the idea of a sue or desist letter, where if after denying the allegation, further letters continue to arrive demanding money, as it seems is happening, then the recipient could trigger an action, that would either send the company to Court, or have them back down. This is an excellent idea, and I feel would indeed help an awful lot, in the cases where as it stands, a recipient can state they have not infringed, offer what proof you possible can in that situation, only to have their reply completely ignored, and have multiple letters sent demanding money.

The fact that some people have received up to FIVE letters after they have denied the allegation, is a disgrace, and an insult to our justice system.  These Trolls should put up or shutup.  This is another thing they have in common with ACS:LAW
I was asked to give a statement, to a News Blog, which I did. I post the link as it is has a lot more about the background to this speech.
See here for the video of part of Lord Lucas speech;

I am sure for anyone who has received a letter it will be VERY heartening.