"Internet file-swapping was dealt a fresh blow today after an Australian court ordered the world's largest file-sharing service to filter out copyrighted material from its network," reports Guardian Unlimited.
The ruling, by Australia's federal court, found file-sharing copyrighted material over the network was illegal. "Both the user who makes the file available and the user who downloads a copy infringes the owner's copyright," the ruling stated.
The judgment against Sharman Networks, Kazaa's Sydney-based owners, is a further blow to internet file-swapping and follows a series of adverse rulings in recent months.
Although Australian courts do not have jurisdiction overseas, their rulings customarily influence the development of law in other commonwealth countries, including Britain.
