SEOUL, Korea—Pornography producers are suing thousands of South Korean Internet users for breach of copyright, charging them with uploading stolen content.
A so-far unamed Seoul law firm representing a group of 50 American and Japanese porn producers has filed complaints against some 10,000 uploaders, claiming they earn 30 million won ($24,170) a month from click-throughs on websites.
About 80 South Korean ISPs also are named in the lawsuit, which seeks financial damages in addition to criminal prosecution. Copyright infringement in Korea can land an abuser in jail.
"Police will look into the case to see whether there was any breach of the law before deciding whether to initiate criminal probes against them," a South Korean police spokesman told new service AFP.
The lawsuit was filed simultaneously through 10 police stations in Seoul and the adjoining Gyeonggi province, according to the National Police Agency Thursday.
"Police will look into the case to see whether there was any breach of the law before deciding whether to initiate criminal probes against them," the law enforcement spokesperson said.
South Korea’s Munhwa newspaper called the rampant distribution of pornography "very harmful to juveniles," and called for speedy legal action in the case.
"We selected about 10,000 user IDs that earned financial benefits from habitually uploading pornography on websites," an official of the law firm told media, adding that clients would seek large financial damages in addition to other legal remedies to stop illegal uploading.
