Torrent-hunting firm ACS:Law shuts down

A UK law firm under increasing pressure for sending threatening letters to suspected file sharers has shut up shop - days before a key court decision.

ACS:Law has been sending so-called "speculative invoicing" letters to people suspected of illegally downloading its client's content, threatening court action if recipients don't pay up.

The firm apparently shut down on 31 January, along with its sole piracy client, pornography licensee Media CAT. Earlier in the month, ACS:Law owner Andrew Crossley said the firm was leaving the piracy litigation business, after threats to his family.

The news comes via TorrentFreak, which says it obtained a document showing the two firms had closed.

Crossley confirmed to the BBC that both firms have ceased trading, and ACS Law's phone number is now disconnected.

The move comes ahead of a judgement in the Patents County Court on Tuesday afternoon. ACS:Law had brought 27 cases to the court, but then attempted to drop them without any evidence being heard. Lawyers for the defendants want the case to continue, in order to be able to claim damages.

After attempting to drop the cases, ACS:Law said it was passing the collection of settlement funds to a third-party firm called GCB Limited, which turned out to be a dormant company used by people connected to the law firm.

Aside from Tuesday's looming decision, Crossley is also being investigated by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, after a consumer watchdog brought a complaint.

This article originally appeared at pcpro.co.uk