| Oh, this is a big one. If you think it's cool to download | | | | the files and understand that a future offense is very |
| illegal movie files, I've got information to help you think | | | | very bad. |
| again. It's not cool. It's against the law and the movie | | | | If you sign that form and get caught uploading another |
| houses are going after violators. | | | | file illegally, the punishment usually involves the |
| When you download a movie file using a file sharing | | | | permanent cancellation of your internet service (a bad |
| program one of the requirements of the peer to peer | | | | thing if you have no or few choices for providers in |
| software you used is that you make that file (and all | | | | your area), and the release of your name, address and |
| others) available to other users of the system. This | | | | usage logs to the authorities. Think about that. They will |
| means that in the middle of the night someone half | | | | then know exactly who you are, you will no longer be |
| way across the world can find a copy of the latest | | | | a number, and they can sue you in court. Some recent |
| Harry Potter movie on your hard drive and download it | | | | cases of music uploading have been costly for the |
| direct from you. At this point you become a pusher of | | | | violator to the tune of hundreds of thousands of |
| the movie, and the copyright infringement groups track | | | | dollars. |
| you down through your IP address. They find out who | | | | Take this lesson to heart. Downloading first run movies |
| owns the IP address (your internet provider) and they | | | | from the internet for free is illegal. They don't tolerate it |
| require your ISP to turn off your internet connection. | | | | and you will be caught eventually. Losing your internet |
| Now, in some cases it's one strike and you're off for | | | | for life is painful enough, do you also want to pay |
| good. In other cases you are given the opportunity to | | | | thousands of dollars for the privilege of watching that |
| sign a form saying you'll never do it again, you'll remove | | | | movie? Just go the theater. |