Whilst Lightspeed et al boast about new business models sending threatening letters to people who pay the bill for an IP address, here in the UK, things aren't looking quite so rosy.
Us Brits pioneered this idea of sending blackmail letters to people who pay for an IP address that may or may not have infringed copyright. Davenport Lyons did it years ago. And the two people behind it went to the recently famous ACS Law. And now they are in a shit load of trouble.
Finally, someone has realised this is pretty sketchy behaviour. The regulatory body for lawyers thinks it's a bit shit to send threatening letters who have the intention of extracting money and not going to court. And they aren't too happy about the whole total lack of evidence thing.
"The pair are also accused of acting in the interests of Davenport Lyons, rather than those of their copyright-holding clients. They sent 6,113 demands for money and were "regarding the scheme which they were operating as a revenue-generating scheme", according to the SRA."
So they will face a hearing in March. Hopefully it will stop people thinking it is reasonable to pretend to try and sue an IP address.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11...ort_lyons_sra/