14 DAY TRIAL // Michael Coyle, owner of Lawdit Solicitors, a company that offers legal advice in matters of intellectual property and copyright infringement, has decided to lend a helping hand to those who illegally share copyrighted files. The lawyer announced his intention to fight back at Davenport Lyons, a law firm that was assigned the task of suing and getting legal damages from all the people who are reported to have infringed copyrights in the UK.
Moreover, Coyle is going to hold a brief for everyone interested, because, as he says, he fails to understand why P2P file sharing is considered to infringe copyrights. "If there are persistent infringers then surely the infringers must be ceased. However are the defendants infringing the copyright of the rights holder? According to the laws of copyright, copyright in a work is infringed by a person who without the licence of the copyright owner does, or authorises another to do, any of the acts restricted by the copyright." he said.
The British attorney also offered the example of Isabella Barwinska, in an obvious attempt to strike a cord with his audience, reminding them that a single mother had to pay over ?16,000 for sharing Dream Pinball 3D on a P2P network. Moreover, Coyle even expressed his doubts that Barwinska had a fair trial to begin with. "Rather the award was made after Ms Barwinska failed to make an appearance or even enter a defence. This is what the Lawyers may indeed be hoping for. A trial will ensure legal arguments will be heard and one party will not be railroaded."
According to Davenport Lyons, in the near future, at least 7,000 more people will receive letters asking them to pay for what they have illegally used. In case they refuse to pay up, file sharers may experience the fate of the woman who was eventually coerced by law into paying a large amount of money. "My advice if you have received a letter is to fight it. I will defend your case for free." the lawyer assures.