Uhh..Fuck?

[Zomboid]

While at work today, I got a call from a friend who's internet I was leeching saying that he got an email saying his account was used for copyright infringement or something. He said it doesn't sound too serious but I'm not sure. COULD I GO TO JAIL FOR DOWNLOADING LEGO STAR WARS 2?

Edit: I just got off the phone with him. He read the email from the ISP and it said that no information was given to whoever emailed them about the file being downloaded and that they don't do that unless legal action is taken, which hasn't been. Then it gave a list of possible reasons for the file being downloaded without his knowledge. Seems like just a warning but I think I'm gonna stay off bit torrent for a bit...or at least be more careful about what I download :O. Is it even possible to get in shit for downloading that stuff in Canada? I didn't think they ever did anything about it here.

[executioneer]

i doubt it

[WhiteRat]

This happened two years with my roommate who had downloaded Alien Vs. Predator. Basically the ISP outlined the details of the infringement such as the time it was dled, the size of the file, the exact name of the file, etc. They told him to delete all illegal movies and whatnot and to go to their website to digitally sign some form stating that he was a good little boy who did what he was told.

You should be okay.

[eggyolk]

what did you download it with?? and yes.

[Sethomas]

I can't help but think of Sports when I hear of Alien versus Predator.

[Zomboid]

This happened two years with my roommate who had downloaded Alien Vs. Predator. Basically the ISP outlined the details of the infringement such as the time it was dled, the size of the file, the exact name of the file, etc. They told him to delete all illegal movies and whatnot and to go to their website to digitally sign some form stating that he was a good little boy who did what he was told.

You should be okay.

Yeah, they gave all the details too. I really doubt they'll do anything about it but it still kinda got me freaked out for a bit.

yolk: downloaded it with bittorent and that's what it said in the email :O

[WhiteRat]

Yup, my roommate also used bittorrent. He panicked for about 20 minutes, deleted all of his movies (the guy had even downloaded a bootlegged Passion of the Christ!), signed the form on the site, and then we never heard about it ever again.

Relax, i'm sure it will be fine.

[executioneer]

i got in trouble with my internet folks for downloading harry potter audiobook mp3s on kazaa :lol they shut me off for a week, i promised to stop filesharing, and promptly switched to bittorrents

[Chojin]

I started using Peerguardian ever since the RIAA/MPAA started doing this shit and suing college students.

http://phoenixlabs.org/pg2/

It updates itself regularly and is basically a second firewall that only blocks the IPs of known copyright nazis and their affiliates. It also tends to block certain MMO servers, so I have to turn it off when I play COV ;<

[FartinMowler]

Downloading huge files suck and If some company gives you shit send them an email back saying "Oh Ya, well I might have actually bought your game and the next game if you weren't a prick about this" but that's me and I'm a 40 year old man in a 18 year old sexually agressive young man's body :)

[Mike]

WTF martin. WTF

[Juttin]

I started using Peerguardian ever since the RIAA/MPAA started doing this shit and suing college students.

http://phoenixlabs.org/pg2/

It updates itself regularly and is basically a second firewall that only blocks the IPs of known copyright nazis and their affiliates. It also tends to block certain MMO servers, so I have to turn it off when I play COV ;<

Is it like, an add-on? Or is it another BT Program?

[Alive]

So far i have been pretty lucky, though now that i think about what all i have downloaded over several isp's in the last few years, wi-fi hotspots included -via homemade parabolic dish's (little hobby of mine) and "war driving" (witch equates to a bunch of hotel parking lots and various business districts in the middle of the night) i dunno, maybe i would handle it as my friend did and ignore it (crazy maybe) he just threw the letter away and didnt sign anything and they havent said anything more about it.

[Juttin]

Actually...Stratch that.

Very useful, Chojin.

Also, it doesn't even cut my connection rate.
525kbps on a 1 Gig. File

[Darryl]

My sister got one of those emails from Comcast and she freaked out. She was using Bit Torrent and downloaded some movie. This was a few weeks ago, and she's heard nothing since.....

[kahljorn]

Wow. I've never gotten a message for anything like this before. I'll have to try that thing chojin reccomended.

[Jeff The Ninja]

Thanks a Million Chojin. I never got an E-Mail like that before but Yeah, I download a lot of games (Current collection totals in at over 200 and counting!).

Just one question, for those who used Bittorrent and got that letter, are you using the actual bittorrent client or some secondary one like Bitcomet or Bittornado? It might have to do with Bittorrent teaming up with the MPAA.

[kahljorn]

I don't use bit torrent that probably explains why :( still, that program sounds good.

[Archduke Tips]

I don't file share. It is stealing, and it is wrong. If you want to play a game or watch a movie, then you should be willing to pay for the game or rent/buy/go to the movies.

It's not like you can't live without electronic media.

[Fathom Zero]

I use torrents so it doesn't suck the bandwidth from a site. It's a cheap way to get your crap out there and not have to put it on a server. I lurv it.

And by the way, Russo, what about music? You negelected to mention music.

[AChimp]

The only reason you're getting these letters is because you ended up downloading some small part of some file from one of the servers that the MPAA/RIAA sets up to share files. These servers act like any other torrent seed, but track all of the IPs that connect to it.

It has nothing to do with which BitTorrent client you're using (althought, theoretically, you could make a client that reports what files you download, but that wouldn't prove the actual contents of the file, only the filename). There's no such thing as an "official" BitTorrent client... BitTorrent is a protocol, not a specific program.

Use the thing that Chojin linked to, and this will stop you from connecting to the known spy servers.

If you start freaking out and delete all your stuff, that's what the MPAA/RIAA wants. They know they can't prosecute everyone, so they'll just trace your IP, tell your ISP to warn you with some legal cuntery and then forget about you. All of the students that got sued were dumb enough to be hosting 16,000 files off of the computer networks of public institutions where your IP can be traced down to the dormitory room you're in.

[Zomboid]

I don't file share. It is stealing, and it is wrong. If you want to play a game or watch a movie, then you should be willing to pay for the game or rent/buy/go to the movies.

It's not like you can't live without electronic media.


:lol

[executioneer]

i agree :lol

[Archduke Tips]

I use torrents so it doesn't suck the bandwidth from a site. It's a cheap way to get your crap out there and not have to put it on a server. I lurv it.

And by the way, Russo, what about music? You negelected to mention music.

I don't download music either. I record it when it plays on the radio. I guess that is slightly more moral. :lol

Okay you got me there. But I do see a difference between that and file sharing. Nobody can track when I record a song from the radio.

[Fathom Zero]

So, it's only MORALLY wrong if someone sees you?

[Grislygus]

So, it's only MORALLY wrong if someone sees you?

No, it's only morally wrong if you get caught. Then it's an outright sin.

[Archduke Tips]

I see nothing wrong with recording songs from the radio. I still see file sharing as morally wrong.

One thing that really pisses me off about file sharing is when roommates take up all the internet bandwidth, so I can't even check my email or post on I-mockery because of them.

[Grislygus]

How is file sharing different from taping it from the radio? Both are free, and in no way prevent other people from buying the song or cd.

[Juttin]

I'm a terrible criminal athiest, though :(

[Zomboid]

I see nothing wrong with recording songs from the radio. I still see file sharing as morally wrong.

One thing that really pisses me off about file sharing is when roommates take up all the internet bandwidth, so I can't even check my email or post on I-mockery because of them.

When did you turn into such a little pussy?

[kahljorn]

the word moral means custom usage or conduct while ethics means habit so you guys have bad habits of theft from stealing online so you're immoral it doesn't matter if someone sees you geez

[Archduke Tips]

When did you turn into such a little pussy?

I guess what happened is that I started making money, so I no longer felt the need to steal electronic media.

[Fathom Zero]

I'm a "Try before you buy" kind of dude, and I DO buy... if it's worth my money.

[WhiteRat]

Fathom, stop trying to be such a model citizen. Just steal the shit for Zeus' sake.

[Archduke Tips]

How do you differentiate yourself from the rest of the scum in the cesspool that is humanity unless you hold some sort of morals and standards for behaviour?

[Archduke Tips]

Whoops, double post.

[Zomboid]

And they both suck. Also, I'm pretty sure me downloading a video game isn't the same as a thug stealing an old lady's purse...and if it is, oh well. I don't feel any guilt over it :D

[Fathom Zero]

Some stuff I keep, others I will buy because it's just so awesome and I'm a collector. The bad part is that I'm a collector and broke most of the time.

Oh, and I have stolen things before. Pah. I don't care for it much. I feel better behind my monitor and the false comfort of anonymity that it gives me.