File-sharing "bullies" reported to legal watchdog

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 10 Dec 2008 at 12:53

Which? has reported a London law firm to the legal authorities for "bullying letters sent to hundreds of customers".

We reported earlier this year how law firm Davenport Lyons was demanding compensation of £600 from people it accused of illegally downloading games from file-sharing sites.

The PC Pro reader who was being targeted by the lawyers claimed to have no knowledge of the games he was accused of downloading, but was threatened with escalating charges if he refused to settle.

Which? today claims that a Scottish couple aged 54 and 66 were falsely accused of infringing copyright on the game Race 07.

The consumer watchdog claims it has evidence that other people have "been scared into paying compensation for something they didn't do". Consequently, it's reported Davenport Lyons to the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) for its "bullying" and "excessive" tactics.

"We think the SRA needs to take urgent action against Davenport Lyons," says Deborah Prince, head of legal affairs at Which?.

"In the current financial climate, we expect an increase in the action that companies may want to take against individuals. The SRA must investigate all such allegations and take decisive action where necessary."

A spokesperson for Davenport Lyons says the firm is yet to see the content of Which's letter to the RSA.

Davenport Lyons denies it has behaved improperly. "We are surprised by Which?'s actions in writing to the SRA and putting out a press release," a statement from the law firm reads.

"We do not know the content of the SRA letter as Which? has not provided it to us but we do know that a number of statements it makes in its press release are incorrect.

"We will fully co-operate with any SRA investigation but think it is a shame that a consumer group should be so keen to pour scorn on a scheme trying to crack down on large scale copyright theft which costs the consumer significant sums."