I am going from the fact that the ICO and the Courts accepted that the IP addresses were linked to the name of the account holder (probably after a bit of hassel) – but clearly it was personal data in the hands of the ISP.

C

Only had a quick scan but wouldn’t the issue of whether the IP address was static or dynamic play a part?

I have not been a techie for a long time, but a dynamic IP could be reallocated to anyone when the user using it logs off, so it can’t be personal, except in a transitory sense. Even a static address has issues. My broadband has anywhere from 3 to 5 users on it. To whom is it therefore personal? Bill payer I assume?

Interesting topic….

Simon.

If IP addresses ARE “personal data” for a copyright purpose, aren’t they personal data for ALL purposes?

Just published on http://amberhawk.typepad.com/

Let’s revisit that old chestnut: “is an IP address you use in an internet session personal data about you?”. The reason: I have just come across two legal references which relate to copyright infringement, where the argument that an IP address is personal data was accepted. (An IP address is the number linked to your connection to the internet so that communications can occur; for instance 68.74.255.92).

The Article goes onto discuss this position and how it can be distinguished from the release of anonymous stats (e.g. the Abortion Case: R (DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH)-v-IC [2011] EWHC April 2011)

If interested follow the link

Chris

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