One in three people in Ireland have downloaded something illegally from the internet while over half of all internet users are unaware of the potential penalties of doing so, according to new research.

Six major film and TV studios have brought a legal action here aimed at stopping allegedly “massive” illegal downloading of their films and other products.

Internet service providers (ISPs) have lost an Australian court battle to keep secret the names of users suspected of illegally downloading Hollywood film Dallas Buyers Club over file-sharing networks.