Last week we noted how the copyright troll efforts of Voltage Pictures have made their way north of the border, the studio's legal team demanding the names and addresses of more than 2,000 TekSavvy users as part of a mass shakedown effort. As in the States, Voltage is one of several copyright trolls tracking BitTorrent activity then sending legal threats to users and ISPs.

The hope is that these users settle without going to court, since several Judges have found the tactic of mass suits using unreliable IP address evidence to be legally tenuous at best.

TekSevvy has taken the somewhat refreshing approach of being very transparent with users about the process, even if that transparency shows that there's little the ISP can do. In a post to our forums this week, the ISP explains why they didn't oppose a motion by Voltage to obtain the names and addresses of users, noting that they can't really say much about the case.

"Everybody should know though that we have looked into all angles to determine what our position should be in this situation and after spending a significant amount of time and soliciting a considerable amount of advice from numerous respected sources, we found that we simply could not comment on the merits of the case," said the company.

"Our place is to ensure that we provide adequate notice and also to make known to others that these requests have occurred and that the best way to make sure to avoid being involved is to simply not engage in such activities."

In other words, the company is telling users that aside from giving them a heads up that they will have their personal data released to a copyright troll and proven shakedown artist with a history of skirting the law, there's not much they're able to do. A Judge this week did extend the timeline slightly, giving TekSavvy some additional time to warn impacted users. A new court date has been set for January 14. Locals tell us CIPPIC has gotten involved (think the Canadian version of the EFF), which could complicate Voltage's efforts.

As mentioned previously, The Law Society of Upper Canada provides a free lawyer referral service, allowing users without the funds for a lawyer to at least obtain a thirty minute free consultation advising them on their potential options. Consumers who don't want to reward this kind of behavior by a studio may also want to familiarize themselves with movies by the studio they may not want to watch.