I got a ISP notice of copyright violation

mbstuff

mbstuff

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So... I thought I was pretty good about avoiding the record and movie industries. I haven't downloaded music off p2p programs since Napster first got shut down by the courts. I've never downloaded any studio movies off the internet, save for one (cowboy bebop the movie, and it was before this bruhaha over the industries suing users, plus I own the dvd). I don't pirate software.

I still sometimes use a p2p program. Probably 33% of internet-using males do, and the other 67% probably would if they knew how to use a p2p program.

Well, I get a notice from Adelphia today, saying I've violated one of Dreamworks's copyrighted property. Adelphia is forwarding me a Dreamworks complaint, and adding 5 pages of their own procedures/protocols/warnings/explanations on top of the complaint. According to the complaint, Dreamworks has many movie and television properties, including but not limited to The Ring 2, Madagascar, Red Eye, and the Island. Some property or properties of which I illegally allegedly distributed.

Here's the bullshit part. I've never downloaded a file with a name that clearly identifies itself to me as trouble, including movies protected by the motion picture association (whatever it's called). After thinking for an hour how they could send me this notice when I've never downloaded a movie, I started remembering that I once downloaded a file that was labeled incorrectly, and it turned out to be The Island. I don't remember if I even ran it through the media player, or if it got deleted when I saw the completed file. Either way, I either watched it for 5 secs until the Dreamworks logo and the title came on and deleted it, or I deleted it without doing even that.

So I wondered how they can track me down for a file that didn't label itself as The Island? Well, I did some googling. Apparently, the bastards have automated software that downloads suspect material off the p2p network they suspect, run it to see if it is indeed their copyrighted material, and then track whoever downloads that file. Obviously it doesn't mean crap to them that something is mislabeled or that a user downloads something mistakenly.

The more I think about this, the more I feel violated.
shaqfu.gif
ers made me lose an hour reading legalese and worrying about what I might have done. I always thought that they went after the "significant" contributors to piracy. You know, the ones with a thousand songs and a hundred movies shared. But they
shaqfu.gif
ing send me a letter for downloading something mislabeled.

A part of me wishes they would sue me. I sure as hell wouldn't be one of the people who settled, even if I had to reveal my downloading habits in court.

shaqfu.gif
ing pieces of shit. Ruined my perfectly good night.


Edit: Oops. I read over the complaint again, and apparently I downloaded a file named Match point spanish mp3 dvd rip.avi. It's a file name for Match Point, a Woody Allen movie. Ironic, since i've never seen an entire Woody Allen movie. This event was so peripheral to my life that I didn't even know what Match Point was until I just googled and read about it on IMDB, and I remembered it wrongly as having been a movie named The Island. I would have sworn a mislabeled file, but if it was labeled Match Point spanish mp3 dvd rip.avi, I have no reason to have downloaded it. I mean, why the hell would I have downloaded a movie in Spanish when I've forgotten all the Spanish I learned in high school? The only downloading where the language doesn't matter is where all the characters are naked. This was obviously an X-rated download gone terribly wrong.
 
Wow, that sucks.

What'd they say? You need to stop or these companies will force us to take action?

I think that usually your ISP protects you and gives you a warning, first.
 
[quote name='WinnieThePujols']Wow, that sucks.

What'd they say? You need to stop or these companies will force us to take action?

I think that usually your ISP protects you and gives you a warning, first.[/QUOTE]


Well the Dreamworks complaint was to Adelphia and basically said that Adelphia, as the ISP, need to take action to stop the copyright violation.

Adelphia, to me, said stop the copyright violation if it's occuring and also that if Dreamworks pursues legal action, Adelphia may need to give me up (give them my info, as opposed to Dreamworks simply knowing my IP address).

[quote name='JimmieMac']Here's what you do, jerk off, go to bed and forget about it tomorrow because it's just an idle threat.[/Quote]

I'm not worried about it as a threat, I'm pissed that they're using such a broad tool to identify their targets. To keep with your suggestion, it feels like someone's watching me through a peep hole pleasuring myself.
 
I live in the ghetto, bootlegging is a common practice hell one on of the main streets here in Dayton people sit outside of their car with a table full of cds and dvds. Next to them is the guy selling BBQ ribs. My point is that its just saying stop doing what your doing.

I knew this guy I went to school with he asked me about a P2P program I told him of one and then about a month later he said the feds came to his house and took his pc. I had another friend get a notice like OP and then their was a bootlegger in my shop class when I was in high school he supplied the whole school with bootlegs I talked to him a few times he had one pc running kazza and one running limewire constantly downloading stuff he never got caught.
 
That sucks. This is why I don't download movies or use P2P programs.

The Island was a massive failure though, maybe they need to do things like this to get money back? Just kidding. Now would be a good time to delete that P2P program.
 
Here's basically what's possible: I could download a pirate version of the new King Kong movie, relabel it as some shareware application and put it out on a P2P network. If the MPAA had flagged that original file, anybody who downloads the supposed shareware application will be thought of by the MPAA as someone who needs to be notified to stop. Even though the file name had changed and the downloader thought he/she was downloading something completely legitimate.

How is that acceptable? I downloaded a file that was labeled as something that would not give me trouble (but it wasn't a shareware file :roll: ). It was fucking mislabeled. If they can do this, theoretically they can put a 700 meg file on some server, call it "naked pics of Paris Hilton" when in fact it's a copy of The Island, and then record everyone's IP address as they download it, and put the IP addresses in their databases for possible court action.

You know what? When we google or download something, sometimes we all miss the target and end up with something completely off the mark. If they can sue people for this, I might as well get myself off the internet.


Edit (also added to OP): Oops. I read over the complaint again, and apparently I downloaded a file named Match point spanish mp3 dvd rip.avi. It's a file name for Match Point, a Woody Allen movie. Ironic, since i've never seen an entire Woody Allen movie. This event was so peripheral to my life that I didn't even know what Match Point was until I just googled and read about it on IMDB, and I remembered it wrongly as having been a movie named The Island. I would have sworn a mislabeled file, but if it was labeled Match Point spanish mp3 dvd rip.avi, I have no reason to have downloaded it. I mean, why the hell would I have downloaded a movie in Spanish when I've forgotten all the Spanish I learned in high school? The only downloading where the language doesn't matter is where all the characters are naked. This was obviously an X-rated download gone terribly wrong.
 
Just download through a proxy. It masks your IP and they will have a tougher time tracking you. Just make sure your proxy is in some other country. Downloads will be slower, but it could save you the trouble.
 
I think it depends on the ISP. My fiance's brother got caught only a couple of months afteir they got ther broadband internet with Cox communications., he got the letter and the service was temporarily suspended. On the other hand, i have a friend, who pirates almost everyday on Comcast and has never gotten a word from them and is still pirating strong using bittorrent which is the least secure method of pirating.
 
[quote name='allout1986']Just download through a proxy. It masks your IP and they will have a tougher time tracking you. Just make sure your proxy is in some other country. Downloads will be slower, but it could save you the trouble.[/QUOTE]

Like Tor? That kills the system for the rest of us. Lame.
 
[quote name='62t']learn to use irc and newsgroup. Problem solve.[/QUOTE]
Truth. ;)


Anyway, it sounds like you aren't totally avoiding downloading stuff, OP. What do you use that P2P app for? What is it you're downloading that could be big enough to actually be those studio movies, just mislabled?

Porn, right? By the way, "studio" porn is copyrighted, too.


The thing is, that business about taking King Kong and relabling it as a shareware app...see, the thing is, there aren't too many shareware apps that are hundreds of megs in size, and if someone is stupid enough to not know the difference, that's their problem. Seriously, wouldn't it seem a bit odd to you to see, oh, say, "Animagic_Gif_Creator.exe" clocking in at 700 megs?
 
Downloading pirated games, music, and movies is like crap shooting on the internet, sometimes you roll snake eyes and get caught. Other times you roll sevens and never hear a thing, switch your ISP and problem solved.
 
[quote name='ZeroSupporT']...switch your ISP and problem solved.[/QUOTE]

o_O

Switching ISPs does not get rid of their logs. They keep them. For years.
 
[quote name='WebScud']o_O

Switching ISPs does not get rid of their logs. They keep them. For years.[/QUOTE]
Yea, but at least you don't have to worry about future problems because your ISP is full of weasels.
 
[quote name='capitalist_mao']Yea, but at least you don't have to worry about future problems because your ISP is full of weasels.[/QUOTE]

Until someting like that is outlawed as an invasion of privacy you ISP, no matter who the are, will give you up in the end. Verizon (I think it was them) stood by their customers initally until the RIAA sued them for not giving them their logs. Verizon changed their tune. Like every other company would. The only resaon the change ISPs is bandwitdth caps, port blocking, poor customer service, or just general bad service. There's no bulletproof company.
 
I never felt the need to worry about security when downloading, because I never download movies or record label music or commercial software. I never figured I'd have to be so careful to check the name of the file I'm downloading.

They can identify you even before your download on a p2p network is complete. You know how you can start uploading parts of a file before your download is complete? They start identifying you from this even before your download is complete. How the hell do I prevent downloading something mistakenly if they target me even before my download is complete and I can check my file?

As for what's more trouble, apparently downloading music gets you no warnings. If they identify you, you're getting served court papers. The movie industry hasn't sued many if at all, but they've been giving ISP notices whenever they identify someone.
 
Regarding movies, i've read that they aren't going after downloaders, they know that's a losing battle, they just go after the people who upload it to the net in the first place.
 
[quote name='mbstuff']As for what's more trouble, apparently downloading music gets you no warnings. If they identify you, you're getting served court papers. The movie industry hasn't sued many if at all, but they've been giving ISP notices whenever they identify someone.[/QUOTE]

The RIAA is not the MPAA.

As someone stated before, mislabeled files happen. P2P networks are a crapshoot. You just have to be really careful.

Why are you still using P2P networks anyway? Anything that is worthwhile and legal has a torrent with it's own tracker or a tracker on a respectable site. Using P2P netoworks now is just plain archaic.
 
[quote name='WebScud']Why are you still using P2P networks anyway? Anything that is worthwhile and legal has a torrent with it's own tracker or a tracker on a respectable site. Using P2P netoworks now is just plain archaic.[/QUOTE]
Not really. Plenty of torrents for NEW files, but plenty of older files aren't shared on trackers anymore. Using P2P applications that are susceptible to RIAA and MPAA IP sniffing may be archaic, but the right P2P applications have everything you want and probably won't get you into trouble.
 
[quote name='capitalist_mao']Not really. Plenty of torrents for NEW files, but plenty of older files aren't shared on trackers anymore. Using P2P applications that are susceptible to RIAA and MPAA IP sniffing may be archaic, but the right P2P applications have everything you want and probably won't get you into trouble.[/QUOTE]

First of all, BitTorrent is not anonymous at all. I wasn't saying or even implying that.

Secondly, P2P applications have nothing to do with the content that's available. That's up to the users.

Third. Yes, lots of old content is all over torrent trackers and well seeded. Every hear of ISO Hunt? Or Torrent Finder? Beyond that there's IRC channels that distrubite torrent files as well as bunch of invite only forums. Not to mention, of course, the original distributors torrent trackers.
 
[quote name='WebScud']First of all, BitTorrent is not anonymous at all. I wasn't saying or even implying that.[/QUOTE]
Neither was I. Not sure where you thought I was even talking about that.

[quote name='WebScud'] Secondly, P2P applications have nothing to do with the content that's available. That's up to the users.[/QUOTE]
P2P applications do have to do with what is available, considering the application needs to be able to connect to servers, etc. It's also important to use P2P applications that aren't susceptible to different IP sniffers. Kazaa isn't safe. Many other programs are safe.

[quote name='WebScud']Third. Yes, lots of old content is all over torrent trackers and well seeded. Every hear of ISO Hunt? Or Torrent Finder? Beyond that there's IRC channels that distrubite torrent files as well as bunch of invite only forums. Not to mention, of course, the original distributors torrent trackers.[/QUOTE]
Yep, and most old content ISN'T available. IRC is a pain in the ass (I did that all 7 or more years ago and I have no desire to go back to that crap). Torrent files eventually go defunct because of servers going down, people stopping seeding or servers just taking the trackers off line. Torrent files are not constant, nor do they last forever. They only last so long as there is popular demand. When that starts to wane (and for many files, that doesn't take much time), the seeders dry up and disapear.
 
[quote name='capitalist_mao']Yep, and a lot of old content ISN'T available.[/QUOTE]

So what content are you looking for that's so widely available on, say, the Gnuetilla network that there's no seeded torrent for?
 
[quote name='WebScud']So what content are you looking for that's so widely available on, say, the Gnuetilla network that there's no seeded torrent for?[/QUOTE]
Not sure. I never use gnutella.
 
[quote name='WebScud']Okay, fine. Whatever network you use.[/QUOTE]
There have been plenty of times where I found a torrent isn't working. Music that isn't in stores. Video clips and speed run movies. This is all I can think of off the top of my head, but, there's plenty more.

Just because YOU don't look for it does not mean it doesn't exist.
 
[quote name='capitalist_mao']There have been plenty of times where I found a torrent isn't working. Music that isn't in stores. Video clips and speed run movies. This is all I can think of off the top of my head, but, there's plenty more.

Just because YOU don't look for it does not mean it doesn't exist.[/QUOTE]

Maybe you forgot that we were talking about legal content?
 
[quote name='WebScud']Maybe you forgot that we were talking about legal content?[/QUOTE]
What did I mention that was illegal?
 
[quote name='capitalist_mao']What did I mention that was illegal?[/QUOTE]

When you said "music that's not in stores" I took that as OOP music, not royality free. Which in most cases, you still have to pay for.

My main point was this: 700MB is a big file. BBC shows, Linux ISOs, or maybe a free game like Sapce Cowboy or something. Rarely is a torrent made for a small file like a speed run movie or random clips. But those are always hosted by their creators. I don't claim for their to be a torrent for every bit of data in the world, but P2P networks are too risky for the exact reason that this thread was created. Not to mention spyware, adware, and virus dummy files. Yuck.
 
[quote name='WebScud']I don't claim for their to be a torrent for every bit of data in the world, but P2P networks are too risky for the exact reason that this thread was created. Not to mention spyware, adware, and virus dummy files. Yuck.[/QUOTE]
Like I said before, you obviously don't know your P2P programs. Most don't allow for IP addresses to be sniffed. There is relatively low risk amongst many of the better P2P programs. Certainly less risk than a torrent.

As for Spyware, adware, etc, it's your own damn fault for running everything you download. If you think the P2P program is going to give it to you, you obviously did no research to figure out what was going on...or still use Kazaa and believe they're all the same.
 
[quote name='capitalist_mao']Like I said before, you obviously don't know your P2P programs. Most don't allow for IP addresses to be sniffed. There is relatively low risk amongst many of the better P2P programs. Certainly less risk than a torrent.
[/QUOTE]

I mentioned nothing about anonymity. There's no need if you're downloading something legal, now is there? So there is zero risk.

[quote name='capitalist_mao']As for Spyware, adware, etc, it's your own damn fault for running everything you download. If you think the P2P program is going to give it to you, you obviously did no research to figure out what was going on...or still use Kazaa and believe they're all the same.[/QUOTE]

That's the whole point. You don't know what you're downloading or who you're downloading from. If you downlaod something from a trusted tracker there is no problem.
 
[quote name='WebScud']I mentioned nothing about anonymity. There's no need if you're downloading something legal, now is there? So there is zero risk.[/QUOTE]
And like I said before, if you consider a P2P program "risky" because of the lack of anonymity, then using a P2P program to preserve anonymity is what you want. your logic is circular...at best.

[quote name='WebScud']That's the whole point. You don't know what you're downloading or who you're downloading from. If you downlaod something from a trusted tracker there is no problem.[/QUOTE]
Typically one can spot a bad exe file right off the bat. Anyone who runs any exe file or trusts ANYTHING on the internet (whether it's a tracker or a zip file from a website) deserves to have their computer infested with malware.
 
[quote name='capitalist_mao']Anyone who runs any exe file or trusts ANYTHING on the internet (whether it's a tracker or a zip file from a website) deserves to have their computer infested with malware.[/QUOTE]

You know, just like anyone who can't defend himself deserves to get mugged.
 
[quote name='eldad9']You know, just like anyone who can't defend himself deserves to get mugged.[/QUOTE]
what does trusting everything you download have to do with being attacked? It's not like these programs are downloading themselves and forcing you to run them...unless you start opening the flood gates to virus hell.
 
[quote name='eldad9']You know, just like anyone who can't defend himself deserves to get mugged.[/QUOTE]

This only holds if you willingly invite a mugger into your house.

You with the gun. ... Want a beer?
 
I refer you to my previous quote.

[quote name='WebScud']That's the whole point. You don't know what you're downloading or who you're downloading from. If you downlaod something from a trusted tracker there is no problem.[/QUOTE]

[quote name='capitalist_mao']And like I said before, if you consider a P2P program "risky" because of the lack of anonymity, then using a P2P program to preserve anonymity is what you want. your logic is circular...at best.[/QUOTE]

I said nothing about anonymity for the last fucking time. My entire reasoning for bashing P2P networks is that you never know what you're going to get. Think prostitute + latexless sex. Legit files have legit sources. They're always hosted by their creators or some larger [legit] site, like say FilePlanet for game demos and patches.

[quote name='capitalist_mao']Typically one can spot a bad exe file right off the bat. Anyone who runs any exe file or trusts ANYTHING on the internet (whether it's a tracker or a zip file from a website) deserves to have their computer infested with malware.[/QUOTE]

Malicious code can exist in any file format. Stuff isn't just limited to EXEs. And if you don't know that you deserve infection. ;)
 
[quote name='WebScud']I said nothing about anonymity for the last fucking time. My entire reasoning for bashing P2P networks is that you never know what you're going to get. Think prostitute + latexless sex. Legit files have legit sources. They're always hosted by their creators or some larger [legit] site, like say FilePlanet for game demos and patches.[/QUOTE]
I'm really really confused. You're changing your tune to "not knowing what you're going to get?" Whereas, you say:
[quote name='WebScud']but P2P networks are too risky for the exact reason that this thread was created[/QUOTE]
This thread was created because some MPAA or RIAA good sniffed his IP from a file that was, apparently, named incorrectly. This thread is based on the unanonymous IP address that was give to the world. Then, you lambast users of the P2P programs by saying they're "just plain archaic". So, yes, anonymity has everything to do with this conversation and your posts. Now, if you want to change your tune, that's fine and dandy, but don't say that anonymity had nothing to do with this thread, because it DOES!

You also say:
[quote name='WebScud']Third. Yes, lots of old content is all over torrent trackers and well seeded. Every hear of ISO Hunt? Or Torrent Finder? Beyond that there's IRC channels that distrubite torrent files as well as bunch of invite only forums. Not to mention, of course, the original distributors torrent trackers.[/QUOTE]
So, why do you suddenly trust torrent sites and IRC channels? They have just as much unseemly and seedy material as any P2P server.

[quote name='WebScud']Malicious code can exist in any file format. Stuff isn't just limited to EXEs. And if you don't know that you deserve infection. ;)[/QUOTE]
Yes, but let us say that you just downloaded a file. How does it infect your system? You're going to have to execute the code for it to infect windows, and that is usually accomplished with an exe. Unless, of course, you drop it into your windows/system32 folder, then edit your registry to start up a file that runs that dll. Even browser-based viruses are installed using scripts of one sort or another that install files on to your system. The mere act of downloading a file isn't going to infect your system. On top of which, a user will have to consciously make a lot of effort to get a virus installed on a system with executing a file.
 
[quote name='capitalist_mao']This thread was created because some MPAA or RIAA good sniffed his IP from a file that was, apparently, named incorrectly. This thread is based on the unanonymous IP address that was give to the world. Then, you lambast users of the P2P programs by saying they're "just plain archaic". So, yes, anonymity has everything to do with this conversation and your posts. Now, if you want to change your tune, that's fine and dandy, but don't say that anonymity had nothing to do with this thread, because it DOES!
[/quote]

I'm chaning my tune? Am I? The OP was pissed because he downloaded a mislabeled file. That was what I was talking about. Not the letter he got. That what I've been trying to explain to you. What I was saying.

[quote name='capitalist_mao']So, why do you suddenly trust torrent sites and IRC channels? They have just as much unseemly and seedy material as any P2P server.[/quote]

And as far as torrent searches and IRC go, they're just as unsafe as P2P. Anyone can drop anything into any torrent. Yet, through those searches you often find torrent communities which rate and post comments about files. I've found lots of great sites, like Demonoid for example, that way. Though, the're legal to illlegal ratio is like 1:50. But that is some layer of security. Also, with many torrent files hash checks are included in the torrent listing.

[quote name='capitalist_mao']Yes, but let us say that you just downloaded a file. How does it infect your system? You're going to have to execute the code for it to infect windows, and that is usually accomplished with an exe. Unless, of course, you drop it into your windows/system32 folder, then edit your registry to start up a file that runs that dll. Even browser-based viruses are installed using scripts of one sort or another that install files on to your system. The mere act of downloading a file isn't going to infect your system. On top of which, a user will have to consciously make a lot of effort to get a virus installed on a system with executing a file.[/QUOTE]

Opening a MPG or JPG or anything could unleash something wicked on your system. And if a file is infected with a virus you punked as it is.

Listen, I wasn't trying to get in to a dick measuring contest with you, nor was I trying to hijack this thread for a debate. The bottom line is you totally misunderstood what I was saying. Do you get it now?
 
[quote name='WebScud']Opening a MPG or JPG or anything could unleash something wicked on your system.[/QUOTE]
No, it can't. If the mpg or jpg or whatever media file you're refering to has malicious code in it, it would have to be something that the program opening the file can understand. Considering everyone uses different programs for movie playing, audio listening, image viewing, etc, you'd be hardpressed to write any sort of code to do any damage at all, except to an extremely small segment. On top of which, you're not going to find the windows image and fax viewer having the ability to write malicious code to your registry or whatnot.
 
[quote name='capitalist_mao']No, it can't. If the mpg or jpg or whatever media file you're refering to has malicious code in it, it would have to be something that the program opening the file can understand. Considering everyone uses different programs for movie playing, audio listening, image viewing, etc, you'd be hardpressed to write any sort of code to do any damage at all, except to an extremely small segment. On top of which, you're not going to find the windows image and fax viewer having the ability to write malicious code to your registry or whatnot.[/QUOTE]

So you're saying if you download an infected movie file the media player won't reconize it and it won't spread infection? I'm certain that there is stuff that can be piggybacked on any type of file. Let me see if I can find one. Er, a link. Haha.
 
Sure, as long as there is a bug in either an application or the OS itself that allows actually running code embedded in those files.

I won't even reply to those "victim's fault for not being careful" comments.

P.S. Peerguardian. it helps. Not a full solution, of course, but if you're not into letting the MPAA/RIAA/local/foreign governments into your PC, you may want to look into it.
 
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