Efforts by music labels to force Irish ISPs to adopt a ’three-str...

lodged summonses against UPC and British Telecom late last week, SiliconRepublic.com reported. The action follows a recent out-of-court settlement in which leading ISP Eircom agreed to the system, which could ultimately lead to disconnection of Internet access for subscribers involved in illegal file-swapping, UPC said. The recording industry then wrote to all other Irish ISPs seeking the same policy, it said. But UPC has said clearly from the outset that it won’t agree to a request that exceeds existing law, the ISP said. Irish law doesn’t require ISPs to control, access or block the Internet content its users download, it said, and the proposal gives rise to serious data privacy and consumer contract law concerns. Irish and EU laws maintain a careful balance between the rights and obligations of copyright owners, Internet users and ISPs, and the arrangement agreed to by Eircom “seriously undermines that balance,” it said. UPC takes all legally required steps to combat specific infringements brought to its attention, and will continue to work with rightsholders with appropriate court orders, it said. But if the labels start proceedings, “UPC intends to vigorously defend its position,” it said. UPC recommended that content owners convene a forum to address their concerns, but said all relevant parties - ISPs, labels, data protection and consumer watchdogs, and applicable government departments -- must be at the table. BT said it’s aware of the proceedings but hasn’t yet received the papers and isn’t in a position to comment on the grounds of the complaint.