Online rental service closes down as rental rights protection programme seizes stock

The Rental Rights Protection Programme (RRPP) has confirmed that, as part of its latest action for copyright infringement, High Court Enforcement Officers have seized stock belonging to online rental service Boxchoice.
The company has now ceased trading.
Following a hearing at the High Court in London in March 2005, the RRPP secured a Court Order against Boxchoice prohibiting the company from renting out retail product. Boxchoice was also ordered to pay nearly £14,000 in legal costs and provide detailed financial information about its business.
After Boxchoice failed to comply with the terms of the Order, High Court Enforcement Officers were sent to the company’s premises, where stock was seized. Boxchoice has now ceased to trade and is to be struck off the list of registered companies.
Commenting on the decision a spokesman for the RRPP said: “This result sends another clear message to the trade that the RRPP is willing to take whatever steps necessary to prevent infringement of its members‚ rental rights. It is unfortunate that Boxchoice did not comply with the terms of the Court Order, as it has had to pay a high price for its persistent infringement.”
The RRPP is intending to bring further actions in the UK and Ireland in the coming weeks.
The distributors participating in the initiative are Warner Bros. Entertainment UK Ltd, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Limited, Paramount Home Entertainment (UK), Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment UK and Buena Vista Home Entertainment (UK Ireland), a division of the Walt Disney Company Limited.
(GB)