The Wall Street Journal-20080130-EU Ruling Covers Telecom-Firm Data

Return to: The_Wall_Street_Journal-20080130

EU Ruling Covers Telecom-Firm Data

Full Text (125  words)

European Union countries don't have to compel telecommunications firms to turn over the names of customers alleged to have downloaded music recordings illegally, Europe's highest court said.

The European Court of Justice ruled on a dispute between Spanish music industry association Promusicae and Spain-based Telefonica SA. Telefonica argued it had to disclose such information only for the purpose of criminal prosecutions, not for civil lawsuits.

"Community law does not require the member states, in order to ensure the effective protection of copyright, to lay down an obligation to disclose personal data in the context of civil proceedings," the European Court of Justice said. Promusicae had asked Telefonica to turn over the identities of certain customers to take legal action against them in the civil courts.