Tuesday, 13 November 2012

How Users are Getting Caught Pirating


So how do people get caught for illegally downloading music and other shared files online? A recent study at Birmingham University showed that when someone downloads a file (from a site like isohunt or the Piratebay) their computer’s IP address becomes linked to other addresses that are downloading the same file around the globe. So what? Big deal you might say, but this article puts the IP address into persepective; “The risk is that an IP address is akin to a computer's online fingerprint, an often ignored fact that the MPAA and RIAA haven't hesitated to exploit.” It turns out that by downloading even just one single file, your IP address has probably been recorded and monitored by surveillance agencies hired by the MPAA or RIAA. I suppose it all depends on where you live and how you might be reprimanded for this. According to this article, one “US appellate court ruled that is was not unconstitutional for the RIAA to sue for $222,000”.

Are you willing to take the risk? Do you consider this a risk? Many people I know do not, but maybe you should check up on your regions laws against pirating!

1 comment:

  1. I think many people dont even know the risk and dont even care. It is so rare to see that a high number of people are getting there computers raided. I imagine if you take peoples computers in our class you find pirated information on all their computers. It does depend on where you live but will there be any enforcement if the whole population pirates ? i dont think so

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