Getting sued for downloading pst file

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Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Thanks for signing up! Coding is one of the most in-demand and highest paying jobs in Canada. Also, if someone has downloaded a song but the person owns the vinyl, cassette, or CD with the song, can RIAA still sue since we have aleady bought the music? If you connect and download, they have your IP address. Most ISPs will roll over and give you up.

And yes, downloading a digital copy of a song that you already own on physical media is "technically" illegal. Personally I have no qualms about downloading a replacement copy of a song on a damaged CD, but the record company would argue that you have to buy a new one. Posted by: Jon E. I am a professional musician, independent songwriter and producer. I wonder how many people who defend the practice of "internet file sharing" would be willing to freely "share" their means of earning a living.

Should accountants "share" their spreadsheets? Journalists their source files? Manufacturers their design specifications? Of course not, those products have implied and real value. But for products in my industry, that intrinsic value is undermined by a culture that devalues music to such an extent that people now argue, in effect, that it has no value at all.

The answer is, many of us have and continue to find other means to make a living outside the music industry. Arguing the finer points like you do here misses the big picture, the decline of our industry to amateur status.

Remember, you get what you pay for Posted by: steve h 24 Jan Well, as for me, I'm really mad at these goon squads.

Now I really don't do downloads like this, but these tactics are real overkill. In protest, I refuse to buy any new CDs--I just listen on the radio. Between the overpriced CDs and their twisted "copyright" interpretations, they won't get a dime of my money. Posted by: Mark 23 Jul I recently downloaded a few torrent files.

I would say about 5 max. After researching torrent files, I realize I am making a huge mistake. I dont want to be a pirate, and have removed all such software form my computer.

In your experience have companies gone after small time users, or do they mostly gun for larger game? If you delete the offending materials, I'd say you should be fine. Posted by: Tal Hawkins 05 Jan To Jon E. I'm also a musician and I think internet file sharing is one of the best ideas to have been initiated.

Think about the historical and cultural changes in music. Some of the greatest new genres eg. Music is now more accessible than ever before, and from a creativity point of view that is hugely useful. It depends what your priority is as a musician: are you a musician because you want to make money, or are you a musician because you want to make music? If you want the money maybe you are better off working in some other industry? The best music is that which musicians have written from their heart with no incentive or motivation other than expression of emotion.

Posted by: Isaac 21 Feb I had heard somewhere that artists make deals with record companies to distribute their music, but the artists themselves make the most money by doing tours and such. I can understand that most fans of favorite artist would much rather see a live performance than listen to the studio songs, and it is reflected in the balance of the free market.

Posted by: Zeke Krahlin 05 Mar That is a false value of a pathetically materialistic dogma. The absurd monthly fee I pay to keep a slummy roof over my head, does NOT reflect what I think it's worth.

What it DOES reflect is a greedy society that punishes you for not being uber-rich. More people than ever are losing their jobs and going homeless Posted by: Deke 07 Mar Zeke - If you don't think your slummy dwelling is worth what you're paying for it, why not move out?

Isaac - Most big artists do indeed make most of their money from touring, this is because they now charge silly seat prices to make up for what they're losing in media sales.

People further down the ladder of success don't have this option. If you allow for inflation records are cheaper than they've ever been, and let's be honest, CDs sound much better than 78s Unless you have a laser vinyl player, and if you do then you're probably stinking rich On the other hand live music prices are now considerably more expensive than they've ever been. Ted - History says differently. In the 50s rock'n'roll took the world by storm, in the 60s it was The British Invasion, in the 70s along came punk, in the 80s along came cheap keyboards with preprogrammed sounds and rhythms on them, and that was the end of it.

The rise of the internet has been mirrored by a total lack of any kind of innovation in the field of music. Not that I'm blaming the 'net, but it sure hasn't helped Posted by: Anti 18 Feb Have you watched 'here's my crib' on MTV recently?

Where the hell did 'artists' get the idea that their music is worth so much? That goes for sports people too. What does this mean? The notice means that your Internet Protocol, or "IP" address not necessarily your computer, but a computer using your internet connection has been identified as part of a "swarm," or a group of computers involved in sharing a certain file using a bit torrent client like Vuze, or LimeWire.

You have been sued because the file in question was copyrighted material, and the company who owns the copyright is suing you for copyright infringement. Unauthorized sharing or downloading copyrighted works is a violation of copyright law. Deleting the file will not make this go away. Buying a copy of the copyrighted work after the fact will also not make this go away. If you have no idea why you have been implicated, someone in your household using your Internet connection may be the culprit.

If your spouse, child, or roommate is responsible, talk to them about how your household wants to handle this. Your ISP should have sent you a letter explaining that your name and personal information have not yet been divulged.

Right now, you are only identified by your IP address. The letter should include two dates: one is the deadline to file any legal action contesting the subpoena, and one is the date on which your ISP will provide the plaintiff the company that is suing you, typically the copyright owner or person assigned copyright with your name, address, and other information as directed by the court. If your name and address are released, you might be named in the lawsuit. This means you will no longer appear as "Doe ," instead your name will be listed as a Defendant in the case.

If you do not answer the complaint or file any legal action, the plaintiff may request a default judgment. This is an automatic decision by the court saying that since you did not defend yourself, the court has no choice but to decide in favor of the plaintiff copyright owner.

You will owe whatever amounts are awared in the default judgment to plaintiff, and if you keep ignoring the legal proceedings, the plaintiff could get a piece of your paycheck or your assets.

Has this ever happened? Recently, many people sued in this type of case have been fighting back, which means ISPs sometimes do not release information until after the date on your letter, and some cases are dismissed entirely.

Some judges have dismissed all Doe defendants except one, because of issues with the way plaintiffs group all the defendants together. This is great for the defendants who were dismissed, but very bad for the remaining defendant.

You could take your chances hoping that you or your case might be dismissed, and you might be lucky. Lawsuits that target "swarms" of bit torrent sharers have been contentious in legal and online communities. Lawyers who represent plaintiffs in these cases have been labeled "copyright trolls" and the lawsuits have been accused of being many things, ranging from collection rackets to extortion.

At this time, none of these cases have actually gone to trial, and some people doubt that any will.