The consequences of illegal downloads?

[maplestar]

What are the consequences of being caught illegally downloading stuff? I know loads of people do it, but a mate of mine has just been emailed by his net provider and told they're passing his details over to the police because he's downloaded excessive illegal material... Anyone know what's like to happen? - Slap on the wrist? Fine? Criminal Record? ... Thanks!

[Ethel]

If he's prosecuted, a criminal record and a big fine,

This woman got fined �16000 two months ago

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?news id=103218

[Ethel]

Two years ago:

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/t ech_and_web/article721133.ece

And more

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-104660 7/Up-25-000-British-illegal-downloaders-sued-3 00-games-developers-turn-courts.html

[Twenty20]

I doubt if the Police will be interested unless it's child porn or suchlike he's been downloading.

[sir.prize]

Oh yes they will twenty20

[weeal]

no.know - music/movies etc - its theft

[A.Guest]

The British Phonographic Industry general counsel, Roz Groome, said: We would warn anyone else tempted to illegally upload and download music to cease immediately. The legal penalties can be significant.

[Ethel]

Music, movies, games.....

Anything that you should pay for, but haven't.

Twenty20 - you are very wrong. It's not the police that are clamping down, it is the copyright holders.

There have been several court cases where the copyright holders - huge multi million pound companies - have won the right to force ISPs to hand details of downloaders over.

Read the links I provided - it has happened, it is happening now, and there will be a LOT of people faced with the choice of paying what they ask or go to court.

[Jehovah]

I am curious as to how they know what you have downloaded unless you share it?

[Skyline D]

"I am curious as to how they know what you have downloaded unless you share it?"

Because, as it says in the original question, the ISP is obligated to tell them and your ISP can track your internet activity.

[Postdog]

I would assume from telling th police that he has been caught downloading KP - If I was your friend I'd be looking at a hammer in the PC before they arrived!

[jno]

I like the concept of 'excessive' illegal material. I wonder how much is too much?

[Ethel]

Even one track is illegal.

Once they get the big downloaders, they'll start targeting those who illegally download just a few.

[gina32]

dont you just love the holier than thou brigade

[birdie1971]

As far as I am aware, no one has ever been taken to court for downloading. The only people to have been successfully prosecuted / sued are those people who make copyright material available on-line for others to download. All the links Ethel provided show just that � all those people were file sharing (uploading).

If the police or copyright holders tried to prosecute / sue every person who has used a file sharing network to download the odd bit of music, the court system in this country would grind to a halt.

Maplestar � I�d be very surprised if the police were even vaguely interested in this matter. One bloke downloading a lot of music / films / games etc. is not going to attract the attention of the Old Bill. Unless the �content� of the music / films / games are illegal in themselves.

[maplestar]

Thanks for what everyones said on this matter. It's not porn or anything like that - just films. I said ''excessive" as that's the word the net provider used. I understand it is a form of stealing - however it's not like he was selling it online or burning onto cds to make a profit etc. He's done about 300-400 films i think. I've found out the following:

"it's possible he could go to prison, but more likely to receive a warning and [possibly large] fine... they'd have to prove what he's been downloading, and it's best not to get rid of any evidence as the situation could then get worse... prison is more likely for someone who has constantly been downloading stuff [which i don't think is him] ... ive also been told (legal advice from a friend) that it's unusual they said this anyway - normally you'd get at least one warning to stop before they'd hand it over to the police..."

So at the moment, til the police come knocking - if they come knocking i'm not gonna lose any sleep over imy friend! I'm not saying what he did was right, however if they're gonna clamp down on internet crime, maybe they should pay more attention to the f*ckers out there downloading things like child porn etc.
Thanks and take care people! xxx