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EU Policy Internet Trials

Internet Trials

The policy debate doesn't always happen within the official policy fora such as European Commission consultations, or Parliamentary committees. Especially when it comes to the Internet and online content. Certain interest groups take it into other venues. The courts are being called on the interpret the law, and the caselaw is used by courts all around Europe in the context of their judgments. This section looks at instances of legal action against Internet providers by private interest groups, or actions by Member States who are implementing laws and initiatives. Iptegrity's concern, as ever, is the protection of the open Internet and free speech. In the courts, this will be addressed in the context of the right to freedom of expression or privacy.


If you are interested in copyright caselaw you may like my book The Closing of the Net which discusses the UK copyright blocking judgments and the Megaupload case in New Zealand.

If you are interested in copyright policy, you may like my previous books A Copyright Masquerade: How Corporate Lobbying Threatens Online Freedoms and The Copyright Enforcement Enigma - Internet Politics and the 'Telecoms Package'

Hadopi law used to order search engine de-indexing

Monica Horten
Published on 12 December 2013
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The Allostreaming case...

A lesser-known provision in the French Hadopi law has been used by a Paris court to order de-indexing of websites by search engines. The order also calls for the blocking of sites by ISPs, where the domains concerned belong to a group known as 'Allosteaming'. However, whilst the rights-holders are claiming an amazing victory, it is not quite so - due to the way the costs have been ordered.

Read more: Hadopi law used to order search engine de-indexing

Premier League web block - a strike against free speech rights?

Monica Horten
Published on 29 August 2013
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The Premier League, which comprises the UK's wealthiest football clubs, obtained a high court order last month blocking a Swedish website that streams football games. Since the block was put in place, media reports have suggested that it additionally knocked out access to websites such as the Radio Times, which were not subject to the court order. The ISPs wipe their hands of any blame. But case law from the European Court of Human Rights suggests that these instances are violations of free speech rights.

Read more: Premier League web block - a strike against free speech rights?

European Court Pirate Bay ruling - what rights are balanced?

Monica Horten
Published on 15 March 2013
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The Pirate Bay founders have lost their appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which handed down its decision on their case this week. The ECHR has upheld the Swedish judgement on the bit-torrent file-sharing site - a judgement that imposes a prison sentence and a massive damages claim, on the basis of secondary liability for copyright infringement. What's interesting is how the ECHR views the balance of copyright versus fundamental rights.

Read more: European Court Pirate Bay ruling - what rights are balanced?

More Articles...

  1. Copyright industry tactics tried against Catholic news website
  2. File-hosting liability: are German courts alone in the dark?
  3. Irish 3-strikes could land in European Court
  4. Inaudita altera parte - Pirate Bay block pre-empts ACTA
  5. United States government v Richard O'Dwyer: a political manoeuvre by Hollywood?
  6. Sabam v Scarlet: Court rules that ISPs can't be asked to filter
  7. Chilling effect risk of Kylie judgment
  8. US Officials behind the scenes on Pirate Bay indictement
  9. Hollywood v BT: the wrong kind of knowledge?
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About Iptegrity

Iptegrity.com is the website of Dr Monica Horten. I am an  independent policy advisor, with expertise in online safety, technology and human rights. I am a published author, and post-doctoral scholar. I hold a PhD from the University of Westminster, and a DipM from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. I cover the UK and EU. I'm a former tech journalist, and an experienced panelist and Chair. My media credits include the BBC, iNews, Times, Guardian and Politico.

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Iptegrity.com is made available free of charge for non-commercial use. Please link back and attribute Dr Monica Horten.  Contact me to use any of my content for commercial purposes.  

The politics of copyright

A Copyright Masquerade - How corporate lobbying threatens online freedoms

'timely and provocative' Entertainment Law Review