Judgment of an appeal by the film industry to get Australian ISP iiNet to act on its users downloading unauthorised files will be heard in the federal court at 2.15pm this afternoon.



The decision of the appeal has the potential to impact internet users and the internet industry profoundly as it sets a legal precedent surrounding how much ISPs are required to do to prevent customers from downloading movies and other content illegally.



Representatives for iiNet, a Perth company, are racing from across the country to Sydney to hear the judgment, having only been alerted to the handing down of a decision at about 4pm yesterday afternoon.



The government and regulatory chief with iiNet, Steve Dalby, is organising a flight from Melbourne to Sydney to hear it. CEO, Michael Malone, is also expected to be present.

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft, which is representing the film industry in the case, is appealing Justice Dennis Cowdroy’s decision handed down on February 4 last year, which found that iiNet was not liable for the downloading habits of its customers.

In a summary of his 200-page judgment, Justice Cowdroy said that the evidence established that iiNet had done no more than to provide an internet service to its users.



- With Asher Moses

This reporter is on Twitter: @bengrubb