CHATHAM, ON – TekSavvy Solutions has been ordered to identify approximately 2,000 subscribers who are alleged to have illegally downloaded movies online.
Late last week, the Federal Court released its decision in a lawsuit filed in 2012 by American production company Voltage Pictures who claimed that some of TekSavvy’s customers had infringed its copyright. But while the court granted Voltage’s request to go after the copyright violators, it also introduced strict conditions designed to protect Canadian subscribers' privacy and discourage copyright trolling lawsuits in Canada.
Specifically, the ruling limits Voltage's request to name and address information only, and maintains strong court oversight on how this information is used and when it is disclosed.
TekSavvy said the safeguards create “a protective framework for this and future mass requests of consumer information”.
"We are pleased with these new safeguards and are proud to have played a role in increasing the protection of consumers," said CEO Marc Gaudrault, in a statement. "Until the conditions of the order are fully met we will not release customer information. TekSavvy will maintain a role in the court process moving forward to ensure that our customers' rights continue to be at the forefront of these proceedings."
TekSavvy added that it will advise its customers of the order and the specific outcomes of the ruling, but that it will not provide any customer information to Voltage “unless and until all conditions of the court order are met”.
