Illegal downloads

Torrents are pretty safe though, is just users of e-donkey or whatever its called.

Torrents are one of the least safe methods. They've been going after torrent sites and users for years now. Most of the elitetorrent admins got 5 months imprisonment followed by 5 months house arrest.
 
That isn't the case, you can upload any data under that torrent, media companies commonly do it to try to corrupt peoples downloads. Just because someone is up or downloading that torrent does not mean they are uploading copyrighted material and such evidence would not stand up in court if contested.
If you try to "tamper" with the contents then the hash will be different so a bit torrent client will re-request that chunk again and again until the hash eventually matches.

I believe the tactic that the copyright owners used to do (and possibly still do...I dunno) is to create "fake" torrents, i.e. a torrent called "Batman... Awesome DVD Quality...!!!11!" which really contains empty files - albeit large files - so that people waste their time and bandwidth on useless files. Not sure where they'd stand on trying to prosecute someone for downloading something which they thought was something other than what it actually is.
 
MediaSentry, one of the most used firms, do this: They find a torrent file they're interested in, they download the tracking list. They pick an IP. They download the file solely from that IP. They manually check the file is working. They sue the owner of that IP. In at least one of the recent American cases the judge gave a summary of how mediasentry went about collecting information - that is how.
 
If you try to "tamper" with the contents then the hash will be different so a bit torrent client will re-request that chunk again and again until the hash eventually matches.

I believe the tactic that the copyright owners used to do (and possibly still do...I dunno) is to create "fake" torrents, i.e. a torrent called "Batman... Awesome DVD Quality...!!!11!" which really contains empty files - albeit large files - so that people waste their time and bandwidth on useless files. Not sure where they'd stand on trying to prosecute someone for downloading something which they thought was something other than what it actually is.

If thats the case, then there are loads of givaway signs, the size of the download, the popularity, the release group, the comments, I dont think i have ever come across such a torrent....but the dodgy ones stick out like a saw thumb...and theres always a better one available so you just dont join a dodgy swarm.

Your argument holds no water, as downloading a fake torrent is obviosly not breaching copyright, as you are not sharing any copyright material if its a fake.

Disclaimer: I only download copyright free files, and files I am entitled to download.
 
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OK, you really have been watching too much porn... Before it was a bit sad, now you're a bit odd...


so you never watch porn......are you a monk :confused:

i really dont see the issue here....i consider it normal for a guy to watch some porn regardless of him having a partner or not.


so do you not watch porn because its against copyright lol ?
 
If thats the case, then there are loads of givaway signs, the size of the download, the popularity, the release group, the comments, I dont think i have ever come across such a torrent....but the dodgy ones stick out like a saw thumb...and theres always a better one available so you just dont join a dodgy swarm.

Your argument holds no water, as downloading a fake torrent is obviosly not breaching copyright, as you are not sharing any copyright material if its a fake.

Disclaimer: I only download copyright free files, and files I am entitled to download.
Oh, yeah... I know that these should be easy to spot, especially once somebody has downloaded it once and realised it's a fake. I'm sure there are people who still fall for it though, else the copyright owners wouldn't continue to do it.

I'm still interested in the question of whether you can be held accountable for something that you intended to do but didn't actually do. Like you say, you shouldn't really be prosecuted for infringing copyright if you didn't infringe anyone's copyright because the files weren't what you were expecting. But, in other areas, you can be arrested for attempting a crime, e.g. attempted murder or attempted burglary... even attempting suicide used to be illegal until the 1960's! :eek::p:D

However, I'm no Perry Mason, so maybe there's some distinction that means you can be arrested for attempting those crimes and being unsuccessful, which wouldn't apply to downloading the latest Madonna album or High School Musical films.
 
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Usenet it the way to go. However, like I have said a few times already the relevant industries need to adapt to the "download age" and people will then rather download legally than go to torrents. If it is easy, cheap and (somewhat) DRM free then people will come. Those idiots who just hoover the 0-Day Warez and never really use it will still keep doing it. The industry will never stop that.

I used to be a heavy illegal down loader but with iTunes (and iTunes Plus), Love Film and Boomerang Rentals it is no longer worth the effort. The only exemption is software that is still mostly overpriced.
 
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