Digital Rights Ireland are

a body devoted to defending Civil, Human and Legal rights in a digital age.

It’s chaired by TJ McIntyre, a law lecturer from UCD. They’ve come down heavily against the four record companies who decided to sue Eircom to attempt to compel them to block music file sharing on their networks. Their statement is an absolute must read for understanding why this whole endevour is a complete load of jazz.

I was going to quote a snip, but there’s no point, the whole post is required reading. Do it now.

Previously: Four Irish record companies sue Eircom over illegal music downloads.

Four major record companies have brought a High Court action aimed at compelling Eircom to take measures to prevent its networks being used for the illegal downloading of music.

The case is the first in Ireland aimed at internet service providers, rather than individual illegal downloaders.

This is insanity of the highest degree. Eircom’s lawyers said:

the company was not on notice of specific illegal activity that infringed the rights of the companies and had no legal obligation to monitor traffic on its network.

And if they ever do have that obligation, then we’re even more fucked than ever. Don’t forget the government is already trying to stick data retention down our necks, something ISPs are completely befuddled about too, and has even garnered the attention of Google who believe it’ll damage our own internet industry. The idea that ISPs should have to bend to the will of a bunch of record companies is even more hilarious.

Case in point, the growing irrelevance of record labels: Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead Dominate Amazon MP3 Chart.

Full story @ Ireland.com.

Update: The awesome Justin Mason of taint.org has a huge post on the issue.

Here’s one for you:

1. Go to eircom.ie.
2. Click on phonebook.
3. Type eircom into the search.
4. Ring the very first result, which is: Eircom (1800)475475.
5. You will, unexpectedly, get through to the Eircom malicious calls department.

That’s right, the phone number for Eircom on Eircom’s own phone book web site appears to be wrong. Beautiful.

Oh my fucking God that was awesome. Thank you Eircom. Head on over to the Eircom Soccer page for more riviting stuff. Coming soon: Robbie Keane flossing.

Previously: Giovanni Trapattoni for next Ireland manager? (And he’s now the favourite.)