Dallas Buyers Club piracy case: judge dismisses bid to access private details

US studio attempt to get details of thousands of Australians accused of illegal downloading is terminated over 'unrealistic' proposal for claiming payment

A landmark bid by a US studio to access the private details of thousands of Australians accused of illegally downloading the film Dallas Buyers Club has been dismissed by the federal court.

Justice Nye Perram on Wednesday made an order to terminate the proceedings on 11 February after rejecting the latest proposed method by Voltage Pictures to deal with the more than 4,700 internet users it claimed had pirated the 2013 film. The studio can appeal the decision before then.