Can you get sued for downloading?
It is illegal to download copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Unfortunately, if you download a movie or song illegally, you could be sued. Recently, these lawsuits have been brought by law firms who contract with copyright holders.
Can u go to jail for piracy?
Legal & Monetary Those found guilty of copyright infringement may face the following penalties: Up to five years in jail. In addition to any other charges that might be brought against you, the copyright holder can file suit, which can result in legal fees and damages that must be paid.
What to do if you get a letter saying you are being sued?
Preston said Nielsen didn’t know what to make of the letter when it arrived the other day but was understandably concerned about the possibility he was being sued by debt collectors. By law, you have to be officially served for litigation to proceed. “We’ve received no notice of a lawsuit,” Preston told me.
How to sue an ISP for copyright infringement?
Since, at least at the outset, all the ISP has is an I.P. address, they subpoena the ISP to legally force them to reveal the name of the account holder associated with that I.P. address so that they can name them in the lawsuit and hold them responsible directly (without having to go through the ISP).
Who are the law firms that send out letters?
All that took me about five minutes to ascertain. Crosby Connolly, a lawyer with Hyde & Swigart, said letters such as the ones his firm sends out could be seen as fishing for clients, but they actually perform a helpful service.
Why did I get a letter from Hyde and Swigart?
It says that if you haven’t received legal papers, it may be because the plaintiff, probably a debt collector, didn’t bother sending a notice in hopes you’ll default in the case, making it possible for the collector to garnish your wages or place a lien on your property. The law firm, Hyde & Swigart, wants to help.
Where does the letter say you may have been sued?
Copy Link URL Copied! The mail is from a San Diego law firm, and right there in the envelope’s address window it says, ominously, “You may have been sued.” The letter within states that “county records indicate you (or someone with your name) have been sued recently.”
What happens if you get sued for illegal downloading?
Statutory damages. If you are sued in a civil lawsuit, you may have to pay $750-30,000 per illegal download. If you violated the law “willfully,” then you may have to pay up to $150,000 per download.
Can a law firm Sue you for downloading a movie?
Unfortunately, if you download a movie or song illegally, you could be sued. Recently, these lawsuits have been brought by law firms who contract with copyright holders. For example, a law firm recently sued 23,000 torrent users for downloading the movie “The Expendables.”
Can a settlement letter be used as a lawsuit?
If you already own a copy of the material, and you can prove that you purchased the copy before you downloaded the file, you may be protected under “fair use.” Though a settlement letter is not a lawsuit, it’s still a good idea to contact an attorney.