The apparently dissolved London law firm appears to be back and targeting Greek web users that it accuses of illegally downloading films and music
The solicitors' regulator is poised to investigate claims that the apparently-dissolved London law firm behind a huge row over internet piracy has resurfaced to target Greek web users.
ACS:Law ceased trading in January after 27 people it accused of illegal filesharing demanded damages. Andrew Crossley, the lone-solicitor behind ACS Law, declared his bankruptcy and dissolved his firm days before a London court was due to rule on the payments.
However, the firm apparently resurfaced in June to demand thousands of pounds from Greek web users it accuses of illegally downloading films and music.
In one letter seen by the Guardian (and embedded below), ACS:Law demands immediate payment of £1,665 which it says is to "avoid legal action".
Michael Forrester, a solicitor representing some British net users accused by ACS:Law, said the recipients did not know how their email addresses had been obtained and deny infringing copyright.
"Normally an internet service provider would not release their customers' contact details without a court order. We have no information about a relevant court order in these cases," he said.
"It is also unclear how the firm ACS:Law is continuing to operate, despite purporting to close earlier this year and the sole principal recently being made bankrupt. We have advised clients that we may be dealing with an imposter."
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the legal watchdog investigating ACS:Law after hundreds of those accused claimed to have been wrongly identified, said on Thursday it had informed its risk assessment division, which will decide whether to investigate the letters.
A spokesman for the SRA said: "According to our records, ACS:Law ceased on 3 February 2011. Andrew Crossley is due to face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, which is likely to be later this year.
"Mr Crossley is not recorded as practising anywhere at present."
It is thought unlikely that Crossley is behind the new claims. The solicitor claimed he was quitting suits against illegal filesharers in February because death threats had caused an "immense hassle" to his family".
ACS:Law was accused by a senior judge in April of breaching the solicitors' code of conduct with its method of accusing tens of thousands of people of illegal filesharing.
The firm apparently recouped hundreds of thousands of pounds from "speculatively invoicing" British internet users, accusing them of unlawfully downloading porn, films and music.
Crossley abandoned the London court trial in February before he was due to bring evidence of illegal downloading.
Crossley and ACS:Law could not be reached for comment at time of publication.
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/jul/21/acs-law-filesharing-greece
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