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Caught Illegally Downloading

dontloseyourheatdontloseyourheat Posts: 483
edited November 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
So today I received a notification that I have been caught illegally sharing copyrighted files. My university shut off my internet access so I had to go to IT to sign a form in order to get it restored. The form wasn't an admission of guilt but basically said I have been notified. While there, the guy couldn't give me much information but said I basically have to wait around and see if I get sued or not. Most people that are sued settle for around $3,000-$4,000. He also told me that there is no timetable, some people have been sued 2 years after getting initally caught.

If , umm, hypothetically, I was doing this, it would have been using a torrent client to download tv shows and an expensive engineering program. Also, I would have been using Peer Guardian under the belief that it drastically reduced the chance of getting caught.

I don't want this to become a debate of the morality of downloading, but I was just wondering if anyone has experienced a similar situation.
"Don't lose your inner heat...ever" - EV 5/13/06
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  • RolandTD20KdrummerRolandTD20Kdrummer Posts: 13,066
    http://phoenixlabs.org/pg2/

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  • r1versr1vers Posts: 244
    my roommate did in my first year down here at UC San Diego. his internet got shut off too...had to go to a meeting deal as well...but he never was sued or anything. he likewise had been downloading a fair share of movies/tv. forget what movie it was they nailed him on.
    "Last time I think we played that song here was like, a long time ago, and there was a bonfire in the back and people were like throwing each other into it...very exciting days but a huge fucking relief that that's not how it is tonight..." Ed Irvine Night 1 2003, after Deep
  • ZiggyStarZiggyStar Posts: 14,328
    Shit! I download shit nearly every day and don't use anything to block my IP etc. Maybe I should start? Keep us posted on what happens.

    Now I'm scared!!! :o
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  • DonJonDonJon Posts: 5,089
    ZiggyStar wrote:
    Shit! I download shit nearly every day and don't use anything to block my IP etc. Maybe I should start? Keep us posted on what happens.

    Now I'm scared!!! :o

    Ive already informed the authorities about you
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me.
  • BinGnarlyBinGnarly Posts: 508
    any good mac ip blockers?
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  • ZiggyStarZiggyStar Posts: 14,328
    DonJon wrote:
    Ive already informed the authorities about you

    I said "download shit" not "illegally download shit"..... :cool:
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  • reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    ZiggyStar wrote:
    I said "download shit" not "illegally download shit"..... :cool:

    Hey Ziggy why would you download shit?It's brown, smelly and legend has it, it tastes like Nickleback.
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
  • EquallyWorthlessEquallyWorthless Posts: 3,993
    This is why torrents suck.
    {if (work != 0) {
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  • dontloseyourheatdontloseyourheat Posts: 483
    Bump anyone else been in this situation?
    "Don't lose your inner heat...ever" - EV 5/13/06
  • zacman13245zacman13245 Posts: 294
    Comcast caught me downloading House one time, they sent me a generic letter into my parents email (they are the account holders), nothing ever came of it though.
    I'm spinning, oh, I'm spinning

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  • azwyldcatsazwyldcats Posts: 710
    dontloseyourheat wrote:
    So today I received a notification that I have been caught illegally sharing copyrighted files. My university shut off my internet access so I had to go to IT to sign a form in order to get it restored. The form wasn't an admission of guilt but basically said I have been notified. While there, the guy couldn't give me much information but said I basically have to wait around and see if I get sued or not. Most people that are sued settle for around $3,000-$4,000. He also told me that there is no timetable, some people have been sued 2 years after getting initally caught.

    If , umm, hypothetically, I was doing this, it would have been using a torrent client to download tv shows and an expensive engineering program. Also, I would have been using Peer Guardian under the belief that it drastically reduced the chance of getting caught.

    I don't want this to become a debate of the morality of downloading, but I was just wondering if anyone has experienced a similar situation.

    hypothetically, get ready to spend a few thou. call mom and dad and tell them its for books and lab fees.
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  • JennytreeJennytree Posts: 5,340
    Poor IT admin TBH - how have they not blocked file sharing on their side of things? How can they prove that someone didn't steal your u/n and p/w to download stuff?

    People - remember you can get fired if you're doing this kinda crap in workplaces!
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  • eyedclaareyedclaar Posts: 6,980
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  • gfrasergfraser Posts: 686
    lol at getting caught downloading. what is this 1999? i didnt think anyone gave a shit about that anymore.
    This post is © by gfraser
  • mca47mca47 Posts: 13,300
    I'm pretty sure they have to give you a notice first. After which point if you continue that's when the fines come.

    I'd just stop, or beef up your security and IP re-routers.
  • SVRDhand13SVRDhand13 Posts: 26,442
    gfraser wrote:
    lol at getting caught downloading. what is this 1999? i didnt think anyone gave a shit about that anymore.
    Haha, that's funny but people still definitely get caught. I worry about it every once in a while.
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  • gfrasergfraser Posts: 686
    really? i honestly NEVER think about getting caught. i dont think about it as something to even get caught doing you know? its just become so much the norm for me. there are so many great television programs from around the world that you cant access without downloading. i use to anticipate the retail release of cd's or dvd's but now i anticipate the newest uploads, sometimes the wait for these seems too long :lol:

    has there really been people charged for d/l recently? maybe its a america thing?
    This post is © by gfraser
  • sourdoughsourdough Posts: 579
    It is much more of an American thing. I don't know of anyone north of the border getting busted but a bunch of my friends who are in school in the US say it's a big no-no. I think it is partly b/c we pay a small extra fee when we buy blank dvds and cds. I have a feeling the good times will end soon enough though.
  • unifiedsceneunifiedscene Posts: 462
    dontloseyourheat wrote:
    So today I received a notification that I have been caught illegally sharing copyrighted files. My university shut off my internet access so I had to go to IT to sign a form in order to get it restored. The form wasn't an admission of guilt but basically said I have been notified. While there, the guy couldn't give me much information but said I basically have to wait around and see if I get sued or not. Most people that are sued settle for around $3,000-$4,000. He also told me that there is no timetable, some people have been sued 2 years after getting initally caught.

    If , umm, hypothetically, I was doing this, it would have been using a torrent client to download tv shows and an expensive engineering program. Also, I would have been using Peer Guardian under the belief that it drastically reduced the chance of getting caught.

    I don't want this to become a debate of the morality of downloading, but I was just wondering if anyone has experienced a similar situation.

    You might want to get a lawyer. They don't fuck around with this stuff anymore. Also, not to freak you out, but downloading an engineering program might be worse than downloading music. Music gets the RIAA coming after you for money. But the FBI sometimes looks into software piracy. I know, I was just speaking to an agent about it last week.

    Though it's possible the university is just trying to spook you and make you stop. I'd get that shit off your computer and don't mess with it again. And hope you're too small a fish for them to bother.
    she was underwhelmed, if that's a word
  • gfrasergfraser Posts: 686
    sourdough wrote:
    It is much more of an American thing. I don't know of anyone north of the border getting busted but a bunch of my friends who are in school in the US say it's a big no-no. I think it is partly b/c we pay a small extra fee when we buy blank dvds and cds. I have a feeling the good times will end soon enough though.

    hmmm, if you can believe what you read on wiki, there are huge differences between us and them. i just breezed over this article, but it looks like we are technically allowed to copy music so long as its copied to a medium. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_sharing_in_Canada
    This post is © by gfraser
  • timrothtimroth Posts: 215
    In Canada I dont the internet providers are allowed to give your info to the authorities unless they think your doing really bad stuff...kiddie porn, terrorists etc. I could be wrong but that is my understanding.
  • timrothtimroth Posts: 215
    EquallyWorthless wrote:
    This is why torrents suck.

    how do you download if you dont use torrents?
  • mca47mca47 Posts: 13,300
    timroth wrote:
    how do you download if you dont use torrents?

    Yeah, I don't get that either.

    Download sites only last so long before they are shut down. It's a lot harder going after torrent sites as they re-direct their IPs in 1000 different directions.

    Maybe they just use straight-up peer to peer. If that's the case, then that's dumb.
  • FahkaFahka Posts: 3,187
    wow.. i can't believe they are still nabbing people with this! So insane.. its like trying to nab people for pot (everyone is just fucking doing it!)

    But yeah.. thats messed up.. you should say no to torrents and use a news leeching service like Newzbin.. (it's twenty bucks a month but WELL worth what you get for it and you can't get nabbed)
  • riffrandallriffrandall Posts: 685
    Good. You should get caught. If you know it's illegal, yet continue to do it anyway, you should pay the price of being a pirate.
    Would be nice to see someone made an example out of once in a while.

    You don't take money out of the artist's pocket- you take money out of the pockets of people who work in the industry, people you don't even know, who help put that together.

    Next time pay for it like the rest of us, don't be a cheap ass.
    "If you're looking for someone to pull you out of that ditch, you're out of luck."
  • eyedclaareyedclaar Posts: 6,980
    riffrandall wrote:
    you should pay the price of being a pirate.


    What, the scurvy and puffy shirts aren't price enough? You're cruel. Stay away from my vessel.
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  • TheDecline13TheDecline13 Posts: 990
    riffrandall wrote:
    Good. You should get caught. If you know it's illegal, yet continue to do it anyway, you should pay the price of being a pirate.
    Would be nice to see someone made an example out of once in a while.

    You don't take money out of the artist's pocket- you take money out of the pockets of people who work in the industry, people you don't even know, who help put that together.

    Next time pay for it like the rest of us, don't be a cheap ass.

    I consider most bands/performers out there now a days to be thieves them selfs. Putting out full cds worth of shit asking 15$. I say download it if you listen to it more then 3 times then go out and support them!
    Tour with fucking NOFX
  • mickeyratmickeyrat Posts: 40,484
    OOOHHH now we're getting into TMT terratory. Such a fun, happy place that.
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  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    riffrandall wrote:
    Next time pay for it like the rest of us, don't be a cheap ass.

    Uh... I think you're not as much in the majority as you think.
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  • DanimalDanimal Posts: 2,000
    I know a dude who did 3 years for this...
    "I don't believe in PJ fans but I believe there is something, not too sure what." - Thoughts_Arrive


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