Check this out sorta scared me at first

[Squid_uk]

[quote]

Dear Mr. X

We have received the attached email regarding breach of copyright.

Activity of this nature is a direct breach of our terms and conditions.
We do not intend to take further action, at this time.

If you require further information then please contact us.

Yours sincerely,

Scott Le Page
Domains Administrator
Guernsey.Net Ltd



From: sony-pictures@copyright-compliance.com
Subject: Unauthorized Use of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
Property [Notice ID: 703205]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Guernsey Net Ltd
Internet Service Provider

<

Re: Unauthorized Use of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. Property
Notice ID: 703205
Notice Date: 9 Nov 2004 22:33:52 GMT
Case ID: *****

Dear Sir or Madam:

"Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.", Inc. and its affiliated companies are the exclusive owners of copyrights in motion pictures and television, including the property listed below.

It has come to our attention that Guernsey Net Ltd is the service provider for the IP address listed below, from which unauthorized copying and distribution (downloading, uploading, file serving, file "swapping" or other similar activities) of "Columbia Pictures Industies, Inc."'s (property)(s) listed below is taking place. We believe that the Internet access of the user engaging in this infringement is provided by Guernsey Net Ltd or a downstream service provider who purchases this connectivity from Guernsey Net Ltd.

This unauthorized copying and distribution constitutes copyright infringement under Section 106 of the U.S. Copyright Act . Depending upon the type of service Guernsey Net Ltd is providing to this IP address, it may have legal and/or equitable liability if it does not expeditiously remove or disable access to the (property)(s) listed below, or if it fails to implement a policy that provides for termination of subscribers who are repeat infringers (see, 17 U.S.C. §512).

Despite the above, "Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc." believes that the entire Internet community benefits when these matters are resolved cooperatively. We urge you to take immediate action to stop this infringing activity and inform us of the results of your actions. We appreciate your efforts toward this common goal.

The undersigned has a good faith belief that use of the (property)(s) in the manner described herein is not authorized by "Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.", its agent or the law. The information contained in this notification is accurate. Under penalty of perjury, the undersigned is authorized to act on behalf of "Columbia Pictures Industies, Inc." with respect to this matter.

Please be advised that this letter is not and is not intended to be a complete statement of the facts or law as they may pertain to this matter or of "Columbia Pictures Industies, Inc."'s positions, rights or remedies, legal or equitable, all of which are specifically reserved.

Very truly yours,

Sarah Bergman
Compliance Manager
BayTSP, Inc.
PO Box 1314
Los Gatos, CA 95031

v: 408-341-2300
f: 408-341-2399

*pgp public key is available on the key server at WWW.******.com
Note: The information transmitted in this Notice is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, reproduction, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from all computers.


Title: Grudge, The
Infringement Source: BitTorrent
Initial Infringement Timestamp: 9 Nov 2004 12:38:35 GMT
Recent Infringment Timestamp: 9 Nov 2004 12:38:35 GMT
Infringer Username:
Infringing Filename: The.Grudge.TELESYNC.TSN.Kvcd.mpg
Infringing Filesize: 688796416
Infringers IP Address: *************
Infringers DNS Name: *************
Infringing URL: *************/The.Grudge.TELESYNC.TSN.Kvcd.mpg
Notice ID: 703205

Anybody had anything similar to this before?

[Capmaster]

Nothing like that.

You sure you want to leave your real IP in the post? And is that your name too?

[Cobra]

We do not intend to take further action, at this time.

Error in grammar.

We urge you to take immediate action to stop this infringing activity and inform us of the results of your actions.

Fishing for a confession?

Very truly yours,

Never seen this, sounds unprofessional.

Is this genuine?

[SLICK RICK]

We do not intend to take further action, at this time.

Error in grammar.

We urge you to take immediate action to stop this infringing activity and inform us of the results of your actions.

Fishing for a confession?

Very truly yours,

Never seen this, sounds unprofessional.

Is this genuine?

Now that is what I call "reading between the lines".

Good job Cobra.

[glockjs]

Never seen this, sounds unprofessional.

Is this genuine?

you gotta remember ol' jack v got demoted, who knows what he's doin now

[Squid_uk]

well this is what my ISP claimed there were sent

[Cobra]

I'd ask them to prove it, or send you a formal apology.

[Roundabout]

We do not intend to take further action, at this time.

Error in grammar.

We urge you to take immediate action to stop this infringing activity and inform us of the results of your actions.

Fishing for a confession?

Very truly yours,

Never seen this, sounds unprofessional.

Is this genuine?

Grammatical errors are common in such notices, I doubt anyone proofreads them. If you do a web search, there are quite a few such notices posted in forums like this one asking the same questions.

The notice is sent to the ISP, therefore the "take immediate action and inform us of the results" is directed at the ISP, not the infringer. They don't know who the infringer is, only the IP address, so they address the message to the party that is able to something about it immediately, the ISP.

BayTSP is one of the companies charged with monitoring the P2P networks, so my guess is that it is genuine. If you want to risk it, you can contact the ISP and/or copyright holder with the case # at the beginning of the message, but you might accidentally reveal something admitting guilt.

Since the movie studios have very recently announced they will begin to sue people downloading movies, it's becoming a very risky proposition to do so on unencrypted networks. See this post: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=243466

I don't know if you actally were downloading this or not, and I don't want to know - but if you were, it'd be advisable to stop IMO.

Edit: And if I were you, I'd take Cap's advice and remove your IP address and real name from the post, it's asking for trouble. Remove the Case ID and all other non-pertinent information, other than the basic letter. Just a suggestion, but that's what I'd do.

Second Edit: I see you have removed the IP address, but you still have the Case ID (toward the beginning of the message). Probably be a good idea to remove it too, it's not necessary to have it there to discuss this topic, and what if BayTSP or someone else does a google search and finds this topic, and makes note of what you have said (or might say)? No reason to risk more problems, I always say.

[tgpo]

Movies are not worth going to jail over. Spend the $3 to rent it. ESP a movie Sam Raimi Produced.

[Cobra]

Anyone who issues a formal accusation like that and makes it legal yet cannot grasp basic grammar goes right down in credibility with me. Just my thoughts on the matter, it could be genuine. I see large companies using erroneous grammer in their adverts, so maybe poor English is now acceptable. I just find that it raises a flag with me, and makes me feel that it is not serious.

[Roundabout]

Well, since the letter is only an advisory, and not a legal brief, they can probably only afford to have some hack type it out and send it en masse to everyone that has that file in their shared folder.

The only thing I know for sure is, the studios are monitoring the P2P networks for infringing files. BayTSP is definitely one of their "goons" that they use to track the files, and of course, they are most interested in the latest films that have just been released. I doubt they are looking for people downloading "Plan 9 From Outer Space"

If he calls his ISP, they can confirm/deny that they sent the e-mail, and he could find out for sure. Just not saying anything beyond that, and then decide from there what to do.

[BJ_M]

I guess I shouldn't download 'Eugenie' - by Jesus Franco [1969]


oh wait -- it is still legal in Canada ... :







/just a example and provoking comment, not intended to infer any current or previous downloading of movies...




so buzz off ...

[lordsmurf]

It's real. Quit downloading stuff.

[BJ_M]

It's real. Quit downloading stuff.

or uploading it -- which is what they are more referring to i think ..

[ViRaL1]

I'd say at the very least stop whatever it is you're doing that MIGHT be construed as copyright infringement. Second, I'd follow up with the ISP and find out what information they were given as far as whom they should contact regarding the matter. You may be able to get more information out of them.

Movies are worth going to jail over. Spend the $3 to rent it. ESP a movie Sam Raimi Produced.

ARE???

[tgpo]

ARE???

Keyboards are the middle man between your brain and your computer. This middle man has a drinking problem and sometimes doesn't listen to what you tell him.

[adam]

We do not intend to take further action, at this time.

Error in grammar.

That statement was made by his isp in relaying the message to him. It wasn't written in the cease and desist email.

We urge you to take immediate action to stop this infringing activity and inform us of the results of your actions.

Fishing for a confession?

Absolutely. They can't find out his name and address unless they subpoena the information from his isp, which requires that they file suit first. Its much easier if he just responds directly to the copyright holder (or rather their attorneys) giving his name and address. Then they can evaluate whether or not to file suit.

Also, it is customary in a cease and desist letter to request an affirmative response stating that the complained of activity has ceased.

Very truly yours,

Never seen this, sounds unprofessional.

Is this genuine?

Actually that is a very common way to close a cease and desist letter.

If the email was forwarded from his isp then I can just about guarantee it is genuine. These letters are unbelievably common now. The BSA, MPAA, and especially the RIAA have hoards of individuals browsing all of the popular P2P programs logging ips of everyone uploading files with suspicious names. Then come the cease and desist letters.

[jimmalenko]

So is it just uploaders they're targeting ?

[ViRaL1]

Better to stop it at the source. Shut down the dealers and you shut down the trade. (Not that this will actually work online, but it's the plan).

[bazooka]

The isp's will usually tell you to get a router.

[Faustus]

Its pretty common as I've seen from other forums. Something your downloading. (naughty naughty) has been flagged by a company who sent a complaint to you ISP. In response you ISP sends you a message saying stop.

I suggest stopping.

[adam]

So is it just uploaders they're targeting ?

Statutory damages are awarded per each instance of infringement. Upload a copyrighted file to 10 people and you will pay a set amount of damages for each of those 10 infringements.

If you instead sue the downloader you've only got one case of infringement.

There are clearly many more infringers out there then they can sue, so it just makes sense to focus on the uploaders since you can hold them accountable for more damages. I'm not saying you won't get sued just for downloading copyrighted files, but it is not at all what is being targeted.

[Roundabout]

So is it just uploaders they're targeting ?

Uploaders, downloaders, whatever - if you are using a popular p2p program, such as BT or eMule, you have to have the file in your shared folder in order to complete it, therefore you are both uploading and downloading until such time as the file is complete, and only then, and if, you move it out of your shared folder would you be "safe", so to speak. Even if you only have a small piece of it in your folder as you begin downloading, the hash signature indicates the name of the file on the network. Therefore, they can find you easily.

It's laughably easy for them to get your IP address, and there's no easy or simple way to mask it. All the popular p2p programs make no pretense of masking your IP, and you can see at anytime you want exactly who is uploading from you and who you are downloading from. Getting a router won't solve your problem, as the data is still going to your IP address and you will still be found out. In fact, a router can cause more problems than it solves, if not secure (Adam knows what I'm talking about ) and it happens to be wireless.

The only way you could possibly hope to mask your identity is either to use a proxy (preferably private, paid one) or use an encrypted filesharing program such as ANTs or Mute. You can find out more about those at Slyck.

The only safe thing to do in the long run: don't use p2p to download copyrighted data. Period.

[jimmalenko]

Thanks adam ...

... I feel better about downloading Capmaster's midget clown porn collection now

... I've just got series 3 of the vinyl goat fetish series to go


I wonder how they'd go if you've got a dynamic IP address (dialup/some cable & ADSL) ?

[bazooka]

Not true roundabout.

The router uses network address translation and the computers have private addresses that do not reach the net. Most routers also use ip spoofing.

I am not advocating downloading or uploading but the isp will recommend getting a router. Your router is a proxy.

[lordsmurf]

The isp's will usually tell you to get a router.

Totally worthless. He who pays the bill gets the shaft. Routers touch the IP at some point in time, and is impossible to avoid.

[Roundabout]

Bazooka,

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you on this one. It will not make any difference if you use a router, because the data still goes to your main IP address first, and this is the public one that the ISP gives you, and that will be tracked.

Believe me, I know what I'm talking about.

If it were that simple, everyone would just use a router and the problem of being caught would be solved. But if you don't believe me, it's OK. Just ask around, you will find out that this is correct.

I respect your opinion, and I've seen many things you have done which have helped a lot of people on this forum, so please don't take anything I say in the wrong way. I'm not trying to call you out on this, but at the same time, I'm sorry, you are wrong. You cannot mask or hide (or spoof) your IP address (the one the ISP gives you) with a router.

[Faustus]

With a router yoru using a different IP INTERNALLY, but to the outside world yours still you. The only way to not get caught it to stop.

[offline]

Gentlemen. This a scare tatic that the "industry" has
been using for the past few months. Anyone can track you via
IRC or P2P or even bittorrent which is why you
should use PeerGuardian. It will stop a torrent port query
dead. Normal firewalls won't. It's also free

[pacmania_2001]

You could just hijack an unsecured wireless connection to download your movies.

Not suggesting someone do this, just saying its a possible way.