I log into my e-mail account today to see that I've gotten an e-mail from my Internet provider who says that they were contacted by HBO regarding copyright infringement for obtaining an episode of The Wire. I have taken the steps of deleting any and all files that could be questionable on my computer. However, I am still about to crap myself. What should I do?
Another of the advantages of using small-provider DSL: Your line is yours and yours alone, and nobody ever snoops on what you do with it.
Don't worry about it. Just take the steps necessary to show that your in compliance. Also don't use P2P anymore. Are you with comcast/time warner? Your a small fish. Don't worry.
hey small-provider DSL? i'm currently using DSL, they're really reliable and i never ever have problems. but if your small-prodiver DSL faster? some more info please <3
I am on a small company called Apogee in Austin. I've been recommended to do numerous things, such as ignore the e-mail (apparently these are sent out frequently with no further action) or say that I was obtaining a trailer that was unknowingly something else.
get yourself a lawyer right away. and if anyone you don't know comes up to you and asks if you are so and so (your name), say no and leave right away.
Obtain a new identity and move to Mexico. Seriously, this has also happened to me for getting an episode of Heroes. My internet wasn't working so I called tech support and they told me there was a hold on it because they were contacted by NBC. The guy on the phone asked me to delete the file, and then turned my service back on. He let me know there was a 3 strikes policy, two more warnings and Cox would boot me as a customer. That was it, basically a slap on the wrist. It's not like they ran a scan on my computer or anything. Let's just say I'm more careful about what I download and where now.
Usually the ISPs will just give you a warning saying blah blah don't do it again kthxbai and nothing will come out of it especially if you only got caught downloading one movie or something. Unless you're running a large piracy ring....
I am currently leaning toward this being a warning with no serious consequences. However, should I even reply? I am worried that any reply I send could be seen as implicating myself in wrongdoing, which I certainly do not want to do.
No, you should definitely reply. Now is the time to come clean with them. Send them a list of all the stuff you have illegally downloaded, because if they find out on their own, it'll be so much worse...
This happened to me when I used Limewire to download Harry Potter book 5. I was told by the tech guy to delete it, and that they had a 3 strikes policy. Then they restored my sevice. The biggest key he told me (guy was pretty cool) was that if I was going to dl these files, make sure I had sharing turned off, and to put them in an unshared directory as soon as the dls finished. That was about 3 years ago now. I've continued to use p2p from time to time and haven't had any problems since.
