Both copyright lawyers and BitTorrent users have been very busy the past 12 months. According to an anonymously-compiled chart released last week, close to 100,000 peer to peer users have been sued since the start of 2010. The chart details both the total number of "John Does" charged with copyright infringement and those yet to resolve the dispute. Of the total 99,924 accused, the chart reads, 70,914 people are still in legal limbo. That's not to say the anti-piracy movement has been all flowers and rainbows.
Last month, a case involving BitTorrent users allegedly sharing the film "Far Cry" was amended, leaving just 140 defendants (of the original 4,000+). UK-based firm ACS: Law recently came under legal fire for sending out shady settlement letters, leading its proprietor, Andrew Crossley, to state that he is exiting the settlement letter business.
While piracy lawsuits have ballooned this past year, the seeming difficulty maintaining - let alone closing - such pursuits have left many wondering if legal recourse is the best tool for the job. Few believe there isn't a problem; but are specious settlement letters and overarching, often vague lawsuits the solution?
For more on the chart - including thoughts from the anonymous creator - click here. (via TorrentFreak)
