Many copyright owners were unhappy with a decision by the European Court of Justice this week which held that music and film companies could not demand the names of alleged file swappers and downloaders from the internet service providers (ISPs) and instead countries in Europe had to balance their laws between protecting copyright owners and protecting individuals privacy.

Many copyright owners were unhappy with a decision by the European Court of Justice this week which held that music and film companies could not demand the names of alleged file swappers and downloaders from the internet service providers (ISPs) and instead countries in Europe had to balance their laws between protecting copyright owners and protecting individuals privacy.

In fact, the Financial Times headlined with Court deals blow to copyright owners." In contrast, the increasingly over optimistic IFPI representing the recording industry, welcomed the judgment saying that "the recording industry will continue its enforcement campaign against Internet piracy, following today’s judgment of the European Court of Justice concerning the protection of intellectual property rights. The ruling in the Promusicae v.Telefonica case confirms that Member States can continue to require disclosure of data in civil proceedings" and that the decision by the European Court "sends clear signal that Member States have to strike right balance between privacy and enforcement of intellectual property rights."