Music companies fight bar on pirate punishment

Four music companies are challenging the Data Protection Commissioner’s order to stop them unwinding their “three strikes and you’re out” agreement with Eircom aimed at combating the illegal downloading of music.

The companies have challenged the commissioner’s notice of Dec 5 directing Eircom to stop implementing the three strikes, arising from his view that the agreement breached data protection and privacy laws.

The companies claim the notice is an unlawful and irrational attempt by the commissioner to re-open data protection issues already determined in their favour by the High Court.