[quote name='slimpip'][quote name='greendj27'][quote name='slimpip']Yea I knew that whole thing about the IP addresses but I don't think they can do much with an Ip address. Wouldn't they have to contact the ISP to get your personal information? I know that alot of ISP's have privacy policies that won't allow divulging of personal info without substantial evidence. And scanning a hard drive without someone's knowledge has to be illegal without a search warrant.
Anyway I really don't think the RIAA or MPAA is concerned with downloaders as much as they are with the people who host the files, who leak the files, and who sell them for profit.[/quote]
If that is the case, then why are there people who have been caught downloading mp3's being prosecuted?[/quote]
I don't know :/ But, I'm hoping someone who is more knowledgeable about the topic steps in and enlightens us.

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No one's actually been prosecuted, as in charged criminally for using P2P. The RIAA has been filing civil suits, settling out of court, and playing to the media that they "prosecuted." The reason they can do this is that kazaa and it's ilk are sharing programs and these people have big folders full of songs that they are sharing with others. Therefore they're uploading as well as downloading. It's not illegal for them to see what you have with no warrant when you use those networks because they're looking at your shared folder which you have made publically available. If you opt not to share, so no one can download things from you, I believe you're safe. Also. as far as BT goes, I beileve you need to have the game/movie/show etc. in a usable form to be in the wrong legally speaking. I read somewhere that having for example, an archived (winrar'd etc.) movie or game image becomes a problem when you burn it to media or when you unarchive it or otherwise make it usable on your PC. This does not apply to uploading, but then again, with BT your only upping random pieces.