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Odex Plans More Legal Action Against Downloaders

As previously reported Singaporean District Judge Ernest Lau recently blocked anime distributor Odex's attempts to force Internet service provider Pacific Internet (PacNet) to release the names of up to 1,000 users that Odex says illegally downloaded anime. Lau based his decision on the fact that Odex was a sublicensee and did not hold either copyright or exclusive license to distribute all the anime series it claimed the users were downloading.

Today, Odex held a press conference announcing that it has the support of the copyright holders and plans to appeal Judge Lau's decision. Odex claims it has been appointed to act on behalf of various Japanese anime copyright holders. The company claims that it obtained written permission prior to launching its legal actions.

Representatives of GDH (Gonzo Digimation) and Toei have confirmed that they permit and support Odex's actions.

Odex has already received the names of numerous downloaders from one Singaporean ISP, and claims that 105 downloaders have contacted the company to negotiate settlements. According to Odex director Stephen Sing, the company has already received settlement payments from some of the downloaders. Sing states that Odex is only going after regular, high volume downloaders and that the company would release information on all sums that it collects through these actions.

Source: ZDNet Asia