The High Court (Mr Justice Miles) yesterday decided that the operators and users of two of the world’s biggest “streamripping” websites and a major “cyberlocker” website infringe sound recording copyrights. The High Court ordered ISPs to block access to the sites under s. 97A of the CDPA 1988.
Streamripping sites encourage and assist users to “convert” streamed material on YouTube into permanent downloads (including by providing users with an app).
Cyberlockers encourage and reward users for uploading infringing material and unlawfully sharing links to it.
In the Streamripper case, Young Turks Recordings Ltd and others v British Telecommunications Ltd and others [2021] EWHC 410(Ch), Gwilym Harbottle of Hogarth was led by Edmund Cullen QC of Maitland Chambers. They were instructed by Kiaron Whitehead, BPI General Counsel and Dominic Bray of Lee & Thompson LLP.
In the Cyberlocker case, Capitol Records and others v BT and others [2021] EWHC 409(Ch), Gwilym Harbottle was also led by Edmund Cullen QC of Maitland Chambers. They were instructed by Kiaron Whitehead, BPI General Counsel and Ruth Hoy of DLA Piper UK LLP.
