[lir-wg] RIPE DB abuse by BSA (of all people) ?

Peter Galbavy said:
> I received this today, could be spam (even if 'genuine') but the linking of
> the IP address to me is worrying. I used to be a registered contact on the
> IP range mentioned - years ago, so someone obviously has an old RIPE (or
> ARIN etc.) DB.
[...]
> From: Copyright Europe <copyright-europe at bsa.org>

> The Business Software Alliance (BSA) has determined that the connection lis=
> ted below, which appears to be using an Internet account under your control=
> , is using a Gnutella network to offer unlicensed copies of copyrighted com=
> puter programs published by the BSA's member companies.

I would suggest that you write back and point out that an organisation
calling themselves "Copyright Europe" should stay out of Europe until they
understand the meanings of "Directive 95/46/EC" and "Directive 2000/31/EC".

[The former is the basis of the Data Protection Act, with a requirement to
keep personal data up to date. The latter is the Electronic Commerce
Directive, which absolves ISPs from *all* legal responsibility for
material where they act as a "mere conduit", which certainly applies to
Gnutella, even where they are aware of it.]

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