Tech Tête

Yes, the title is correct! Shocking. At least 23,000 bitTorrent users will soon receive notification that they are being sued for downloading the Expendables in what may become the single largest illegal-BitTorrent-downloading case in U.S. history.

Document Filed

A few things to note here

• A federal judge in the case has agreed to allow the U.S. Copyright Group to subpoena ISP’s (internet service providers) to find out the identity of users who had illegally downloaded the 2010 Sylvester Stallone movie.
• Once an ISP receives the subpoena, it usually notifies the account holder that his or her subscriber information is being turned over to the Copyright Group.

Now, one thing to remember is, some USA ISP’s still deem users information to be private and typically uphold their customers privacy and some ISPs simply send document to customers warning them to stop this activity to avoid their account being suspended (those users would be the lucky ones)

Subpoenas are expected to go out this week but what will come of it is inconclusive at the moment. What we do know is that many lawyers are mimicking the Copyright Group’s legal strategy, which includes offering online settlement payments, in hopes of making quick cash. Not all federal judges, are agreeing to allow a massive number of subpoenas in a single case, but a majority are. The U.S. Copyright Act allows damages of up to $150,000 per infringement, and the cases all demand the maximum which I feel is very steep in retro-spec.

Thomas Dunlap, who heads the Copyright Group in Washington, D.C., did not return phone messages or release any statements. He informed the court Wednesday that, so far, he’s obtained 23,322 IP addresses that have allegedly infringed the Expendables, up from 6,500 when he initially filed the District of Columbia federal court case in February.

Are You On The List? Check it out here.

Don’t know your IP?  Click here for WhatsMyIP.org

Source [Wired]