Watch out US BitTorrent users, you may be sued for downloading illegal movies

If you are one of the many users who download movies illegally of the net via BitTorrent clients in the United States, you may be at risk of getting sued.

[Speed-Racer]

Hmm they fail to realise that they need to get publicity in the first place before dishing out big lawsuits.

[ChozenWoan]

So umm...
... Slow News day?

[darkmurder]

Peerguardian, need i say more.

[Kratos Spartan]

waste of time since i have nothing for you to get

[RememberThe357]

What is Peerguardian?

[anonymouse111335]

@DarkMurder

You do realize peerguardian only slows your download speed down right? The IP's of the RIAA/MPAA are changed often for that reason.

I find it hypocritical when theres videogame piracy articles and they're saying it's the end of the gaming industry but the general consensus on this one is it's okay if it's a TV Show/Movie?

Let's face it, their copyrights are worth more than our human rights, if you let someone btorrow a movie/game/etc, you have borrowed/rented a movie/game/etc, you have essentially done what they call piracy, think about it and you'll realize it.

[geth1gh]

You are still at risk using peergaurdian, just not as high. Usenet is the way to go. yes, you pay $10-$15 a month for it, but you are paying for your own server, so say hello to a constant 2-3mb download. And since it is no peer to peer network, you are pretty safe.

You are only getting the information from that one server, so almost 100% safe, and even if somebody does catch on, your usenet server provider is more likely to take the heat than you are.

[vickers500]

@Raypture

Logic on n4g?!? What blasphemy is this!

[wicko]

By PeerGuardian you meant PeerBlock, which made the original software obselete. PG is no longer being updated, and PB is basically identical and is updated constantly. Pretty sure the developers are originally from Peer Guardian.

And no, PeerGuardian/PeerBlock do *not* slow down your downloads. Whoever said this has no idea what they're talking about. If anything, it speeds up as you are refusing connections with other IPs that are on the block list, and that consequently frees bandwidth. They change their IPs so that they can get past software like PB, but then PB just updates and adds the new IP to the list. There is plenty of valid info on their website.

For further security, I'd recommend using private trackers if possible.

[anonymouse111335]

@Wicko

You do realize they don't constantly use the same IP right? And that IP's get changed from person to person periodically, whereas a IP from something like media defender may have been blocked a few weeks ago it could be a legit peer now, and since that IP is blocked you can't share with them.

Private Trackers don't help much since most of the anti-piracy groups are still scraping the tracker to get your IP, which can be done without registration, Warner Brothers are also hiring people to mainitain accounts at private trackers now.

[evrfighter]

peer block if you're using windows 7 64 bit

[HolyOrangeCows]

"“The genesis of this legal campaign occurred in Germany when lawyers from the US Copyright Group were introduced to a new proprietary technology by German-based Guardaley IT that allows for real-time monitoring of movie downloads on torrents"

[HolyOrangeCows]

On a serious note, why is this practice legal? Isn't this practice of obtaining IP addresses illegal?

[anonymouse111335]

@HOC

Not that I know of, technically by downloading it you are doing something illegal, the Cross Days thing where they uploaded screenshots of pirates' desktops was technically illegal for malware and invasion of privacy, but with these things the logic seems to be two wrongs make a right

[ikkeweer]

You'll be safe, lol, what are they gonna do?, sue 30% of the world?

[DarkBlood]

they cant take out everyone who does this though i imagine theres more then 500,000 doing this they are just wasting thier time.

[PrimordialSoupBase]

They may make an example of a few individuals, and it probably wouldn't go far in court anyway. Simply put, you're more likely to win the lottery than be subject to significant legal action as a consumer of pirated media.

[INehalemEXI]

If they do come after ya, go with an identity theft defense. Tell them you type with 2 fingers.

[D4RkNIKON]

This is terrifying news... I download movies constantly if they are not on Netflix's instant streaming.

[HxCGamer]

i do that too haha but i still think chances of getting caught are still minimal.. you gotta have terrible luck to get sued over this

[FragGen]

20K lawsuits? that's like what? 0.01% of sll bit torrent users in any given month? And these are for what? German independent films pirated in the US? Talk about long odds.

[f789790]

Dude if you have netflix, why are you even downloading them illegally?

[What Would Kratos Do]

PRETTY WELL!!!?

I'd imagine a defence lawyer would be laughing all the way to the bank with prosecution evidence thats 'pretty' accurate.

[AssassinHD]

The burden of proof in a civil case is not nearly as heavy as that of a criminal case, so "pretty well" is well enough.

[Godmars290]

By the sound of things you're only going to get sued if you download German indy films.

There are 50,000 US bit torrent users who DL German movies? Indy German movies?!

[FragGen]

This crossed my mind, too. Sounds like they caught ALL of them and then some. :)

[Saryk]

I download a regular TV episodes off of a torrent site (ones I missed). It is NOT a movie, just a TV series. I wonder if that counts?

[Bilbo65]

Oh man you shouldn't have said that on the internet, they are gonna get your ip now :/ gl. I'd reformat your hard drives asap

[Noctis Aftermath]

XD

[Saryk]

Sorry at work and they can come here and my home and search all they want, lol.

Seriously however, i wonder if a regular TV program counts. I mean I can watch the exact same program on CW. I just download it off of torrent, work around the home, when i am ready, watch it.

[NeoBasch]

I'm pretty sure it's illegal. They charge for episodes through iTunes, PSN, XBL, etc. None of which is free. So my guess is that they could catch you on it if they wanted to, but more than likely they won't. I doubt they'd care that much. A lot of people do this, and I haven't heard much from the companies who produce them about torrent-ing. Especially since it encourages you to watch their broadcast when you get caught up. You're also a walking advert, basically. Same thing has been going on with the anime industry for the last couple of years.

[karlowma]

I read another article related to this not long ago (if I can remember where, I'll post a link). My understanding is that copyright law for television programs in a digital space is currently an entirely gray area. Little or no precedent has been set, and everyone should know, it's not the law that matters, but the interpretation. It stands to reason that if one was, say, a cable television subscriber, who has perfectly legal access to the content, but chooses to download instead for purposes of convenience, there is likely no wrong done. It is basically up to the producers of the content to choose where to draw the line, and prosecute accordingly.

[Wii360BeatsPS3]

"They are suing on behalf of independent film producers in Germany"

Yeah like anyone is going to get sued for downloading german granny orgy porn

[washingmachine]

here in uk virgin was doing deep packet inspections,dont know if it workt cause my friend still downloads from rapidshare and megaupload etc,does that only apple to torrent apps or all downloads in both countries?

supposed to be a 3 strikes and ur net gets turned off,dont know if its even still in practicing cause i havnt heard or read much on people getn axed net from downloading.

[Darkstorn]

That three strikes rule sounds enticing. Here in the U.S., we don't have those types of consumer protections. Maybe when this consumer protection agency gets off the ground we will; who knows.

[Proxy]

The three strikes policy is "we reasonably believe your doing something wrong, strike one". No chance to defend yourself, no due course of law, just a strike issued because someone had a hunch.

[Therealspy03]

in the US???

baaaahahahahaha

it's corporate protection or nothing. fascism at its finest.

[bobrea]

It sounds like you need to download German Indie Films for this to apply to you, so most people in the States don't have to worry.

[EliteAssass1n]

one of them is that Far Cry film by Uwe Boll. if you're downloading his movies, then i think you deserve to get sued.

[FantasyStar]

Yeah, Uwe Boll is a terrible director. Watching his movies is a crime in itself.

[rodeoo]

Just great.. I d/led far cry....It was real bad. Now i am going to get sued for a movie i watched the first ten minutes of.....LOL...Ill keep you all posted...Will you all write me in jail?....I can see it now..Bubba says "what you in for?" I say(short fat white dude) "Pirating a uwe boll film" Bubba then proceeds rape me then shank me. LOLOLOL

[bobrea]

haha 9.1 has a great point. Thank god I stay away from that chumps movies.

[heylo]

I guess those 3 or 4 Americans who download German indie movies are totally screwed now

[Gamefan12]

for now,

then the movie studios buys this software and use it themselves

[testerg35]

They could do like DirecTV and just demand have you pay $XXXX for using illegal access card devices or go to court. Most peeps just paid the $3000.

[SuperStrokey1123]

Thats alot of German indy movies!

[RBdrift]

What if your downloading movies of a website? and not using a torrent program?

[proudly_X]

Bring it on.. . . Torentszzzz

[AngryTypingGuy]

Yeah, Africans have AIDS, and genocide instead. What a lucky continent.

[KingKiff]

Australia has laws in place but as yet not a single person has ever been prosecuted for DL stuff...

And plus we don't have aids/genocide here like Africa lol...

All good for us Aussies...

Cheer up mates.

[AliTheBrit19]

It's not just the US

This kind of thing is becoming a big part of UK Law and EU law soon

Its happening all over, they are really taking action against Pirates.

But, fear not, I am sure that people will still find a way.

[RedVsBlue]

This is a risk every downloader takes when downloadnig something illegal so how is this news ?

[RememberThe357]

I love German indy films... Not.

[SuperStrokey1123]

I wasnt aware that people said "not" anymore...

[DarkSpawnClone]

Pfft, who the hell watches German Indy movies.

[JohnnyHalo]

Everytime i see news like this i get inspired to pirate even further. Arggghhh maties.

[zekks2k9]

i'm a pirate and love it....lol...damn my parrot just flew off my shoulder...lol

[monkey nuts]

*Tumble weed blows through a dusty street*

[no_more_trolling]

lolololol
@ the tumble weed comment

[despair]

hmm i think im gonna dl some German indy films just for the hell of it. :)

[jjesso1993]

Torrents just are not safe these days over in uk with 3 strike and your out rule there basicaully montioring peer to peer coming from your adress and if theres high amount they send letter warning you they suspect you of illegal filesharing. and other thing is there only really going after people that upload the material not downloads waist of time and goverment spending wont really solve the problem megaupload rapishare way better and faster and safer servers are hosted in places where theres to piracy laws or little of so no one have any legal obligation to ask who has been downloading what contennt they only can ask them remove the content.

[Lemon Jelly]

good thing I use rapidshare. :D

[Speed-Racer]

I heard Rapidshare is cracking down on their illegal content to "separate" themselves from the competition. However they wont be suing anyone, just removing illegal files and terminating account holders who upload illegal content. They'll be doing it on a much larger scale now, and I think they may be working with some big name movie and music companies to host paid file downloads or w/e. They also stopped their rewards program to reduce the incentive of illegal upload activity.

[BannedForNineYears]

Who downloads movies? :|
Watching them online is faster. xD

[no_more_trolling]

one word

torrentflux

^_^

[JD_Shadow]

"Hey, our profits are down."

"Why?"

"Because our movies are sh!t and we charge such a high price for EVERYTHING."

"We can't admit that. That would show that we are who we really are: greedy douchebags."

"I'M NOT A GREEDY DOUCHEBAG! Uhh...well...we do need to fix this somehow so I can get another solid gold Humvee."

"Yeah, I know. That Diamond studded swimming pool I want won't grow on any tree in my 500 acre backyard. Need some way to make money. HEY! I got it! You know about that Bittorrent thing people use? Tens of millions of people are using it."

"Yeah, I think so...no, what is it?"

"People can download movies, games, music, porn, whatever they want."

"Isn't that illegal or something?"

"There's too much gray area they can use. I downloaded some Metallica off of it last night, actually."

"Hmm! I got a friend in the Pentagon that I can get to 'influence' some people in the court system to make people see it our way. You're safe, of course."

"What are you gonna do?"

"Lot of gray area, right? That's how we make money. Sue everyone, other than you--and maybe me, I would love to see that Hot Tub Time Machine movie myself--and try to mold the law to fit our view."

"That'll never work, though. Copyright laws have protections for the consumer."

"My friend is a Republican-slash-tea party person that voted against health care reform."

"OHHH! Then things will go over just fine."

"We'll get that money in no time."

"Good thinking."

[FragMnTagM]

that very thing was probably said in some way somewhere in a board meeting. It is disgusting how the capitalistic society operates. Reason and logic do not apply, rather, dollars and cents take center stage.

[FinalomegaS]

move to canada...

good folks that made bit will have someone follow their foot steps and make something that will beat this system, and the war will rage on =/

[JJFNIGHTS80]

PEERGAURDIAN #1!!

[karan8624]

If I had enough money to be worth all this trouble suing, I'd buy my movies

[zeddy]

i use rapidshare, dont like torrents me too risky.

[bjornbear]

if the costs of suing a person are greater than the amount suable...they won't sue

so there goes 90% of users being sued =P

[Ch1d0r1]

Just make sure you enable "Forced Encryption" and dont allow legacy connections. you should be solid.

And visit less known private torrents. Demonoid seems to be tainted now. A fam member got a letter from their ISP regarding a demonoid movie dl.

[kancerkid]

Download from open wifi networks at libraries or coffee shops lawl, or your government

[ATi_Elite]

I've heard that before! As some people I don't know I over heard all of them talking on a crowded street corner I can't remember where said they download over WiFi from like three different places that over lap.

The material downloaded I wasn't interested in but I found a place similar and bridged my connections and WOW That was fast for a public connection. Great way to play online gaming in public if the settings are just right.

[ATi_Elite]

YEh it's happening all over except Russia where they upload movies like crazy and they have NO COPYRIGHT laws. Hell it's dam near impossible to prosecute Credit Card Hackers in Russia even if the U.S. knows the first and last name, their address, have a photo I.D. of the perp, and a video detailing step by step how they did it.

Saw a news clip the other day of some young Russians flashing all the $1000.00 American money they Hacked off Credit cards and the investigator basically saying yeh we know everything it is to know about the group but can't do JACK about it. But we will BUST your BALLS HARD over a $19.99 straight to DVD movie that nobody would pay to see. Nice

If your uploading a DVD rip of a movie before it's released in the theaters well That's your dumb fault. But if some one gives you a "Free Piece" of a movie that they bought well hey what's so different from you going over to their house and watching the whole thing?

[discstu37]

"German independent films" AKA hardcore porn.

[nsexton2]

I don't know if I am the only one that has thought of this...but could this possibly be some terrible April Fool's joke?? I can only hope so. Freakin' out, man!!

[tripewire]

I find myself unsure about pirating.

1) I download entire albums to LEARN music. If I paid for every album I learnt id be broke permanently.

2) I have a collection of about 400 DVD's and blurays. Its getting to the point where I cant actually fit any more in my house. This isnt counting the ones i've had permanently "borrowed" by family and friends.

3) If I went to see a movie 3 or 4 times at the cinemas, and want to buy it on bluray when it releases, am I hurting anyone by downloading a copy illegally while I wait out the bluray release?

4) I work crappy hours and cant catch all the programs I want. I can record them on my PS3 via Play TV but whats the point when I can download them. Id be fast forwarding the adds anyway so....

5) I used to buy pirated games when I was younger. Basically I couldnt afford them. However, I came to love gaming as a hobby and have not pirated a game since I was about 16. Just the games I have now are valued at about AU$2000 new. Thats not including games ive traded in or sold on eBay.

So yeah. Basically, I pirate stuff quite often, but am I hurting the entertainment industry?

[lordaltay]

Well. I use several programs to mask my IP through the net. it's the safe way to pirate!

[TD_RJ]

WOOOHOOOOOOOO !!!!

[jack_burt0n]

Piratebay still clockin 2000 hits a second, fact is that if they did start suing everyone doing it they would have to sue judges, politicians, movie stars, the lawyer prosecuting the cases because its most likely he has used some form of something illegal on his ipod/smartphone.

[juanvan]

Ok this is Def an april fools joke - Has anyone heard of these said 30k suits in action right now? No.. Or one would think that would have been the news.. Not them going to.

PG/PB either one - or just rent them and copy *Thumbs Up* Do all your own ripping, and download the ripping software. ;)

Better Alot Source -
http://torrentfreak.com/rig...

Won't let it be added thought..

[steve30x]

Just use Peerguardian and VPN. Your a lot safer that way but you still wond be totally invincible.

[awkenney]

This isn't gaming news - so flush it.

[SSCOOLCHEA]

Gotta Gotta catch them all . Catch all those pirated mfkers . There no good for the consumers . They jack up the price on all the games , movies and cds because of those mfkers . Go buy the fkn product you cheap mfkers . They do deserve to be sued .............SUED THEM ALL

[Toneman]

I hate to say it... but why did it take them so long to make this illegal? I mean, I don't care how you do it, you're downloading copyrighted material for free! Now, maybe they'll start making quality movies if people have to spend their own money to see them.