Victory for iiNet - AFACT High Court copyright appeal dismissed

AFACT has called for legislative change after the High Court unanimously dismissed its appeal against the NSW Federal Court ruling that iiNet did not authorise copyright infringement when its Internet customers downloaded pirated movies.

The High Court has granted 34 film and TV sector companies special right to appeal a February decision from the Federal Court which will see the companies again take on WA based internet service provider iiNet over alleged copyright infringement.

After two unsuccessful attempts to collar Australia's second largest ISP iiNet for copyright infringement in court, the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) which represents major film companies and the Seven TV network is lodging an appeal in the High Court of Australia. AFACT is alleging that iiNet authorised copyright infringement by users of its service.

The Federal Court has set 2- 5 August 2010 to hear AFACT's appeal against the judgement brought against in its attempt to sue iiNet for breach of copyright over iiNet customers downloads of copyrighted movies.

The High Court is due to hand down its decision on the movie studios' long-running bid to nail iiNet for sanctioning breach of copyright by failing to stop its customers to download copyrighted movies over the Internet.

iiNet landed a sound victory in court today, with movie studios being ordered to pay iiNet's full costs and the ISP being exonerated of copyright infringement charges.

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) today said it would appeal the Federal Court's judgement against the group in its internet piracy case against iiNet.

The High Court of Australia has this morning granted film and television studios the right to appeal against the decision made earlier in the year in the case against Australian ISP iiNet.

On the eve of a the High Court hearing an appeal application from the movie studies that have been waging a long running legal battle with iiNet over copyright issues, iiNet has called for the industry as a whole to get together and make content legitimately available online.