Can you get caught?

[Rider Kobushi]

So I thought I'd pose a question to the boards at large: I recently got caught for torrenting an artbook that probably wasn't even protected explicitly by U.S. licensing agreements, and so now I'm wondering what chance I have of getting a cease and desist for downloading toku shows from Megaupload or Sendspace. I've basically sworn off bit torrent, cuz I don't wan't another letter, so what do you all know about the security of direct-download sites/links?

 

[Takuya]

Wow. I've been torrenting and direct-downloading for close to two years now, and haven't gotten anything. It seems odd that you were caught torrenting something like that.

I have no idea as to the security of direct downloads, but what was your letter about? A fine?

 

[Rider Kobushi]

fortunately, it was just a "dispose of this material or we'll threaten you further" kind of thing, but since I'm at college, that constituted a warning, and if I get another, I'd be up for judicial referral.

 

[Ladymercury]

You're violating international copyright laws.
We all are.

 

[x1xBladex1x]

You can't do that stuff on a college's internet server thing. That's how you get caught/in trouble. Do it on a pc that's not a server like that, like you would at home or something.

 

[MegaRyu124x]

Hell, I'm surprised Toei hasn't gotten to TVN yet. Trying to keep exclusivity demands that more people know your service.

I'm shocked word hasn't gotten to Toei. And if they do know about it, I wonder why they haven't done any cease and desist letters.

 

[Exo_Kopaka]

Yeah, the government has enough to deal with as is. They don't need to be going into teenager's buisnesses and finding out what they downloaded for the sake of the country's economy. Unless you're downloading something illegal that is really big, then you probably won't get into much trouble.

Again, this is probably mainly because you are on a public computer, instead of a private one.

About Toei and TVN, I don't think the Japanese are looking for a lawsuit everyday. You know how many pachinko parlors are out there? And they're illegal too, which gives some hint that the cops in Japan really are leanient (sp). Besides, not like any money is being made in this buisness except for donations. Of course it's illegal, but it's not serious or anything.

 

[Rider Kobushi]

yeah, guess that's all true, guys. Does anyone know if it's possible to trace users of Megaupload, or is it just really hard?

 

[Exo_Kopaka]

It's possible to trace anything and everything.

 

[Ladymercury]

You know how many pachinko parlors are out there? And they're illegal too,

Pachinko parlors are not illegal because, technically, they are not gambling for money -- which is illegal in Japan -- they're gambling for stupid **** like tokens, fake watches, other stuff.

There is a way to make money off of Pachinko, but those methods can get you in to some deep **** with the yakuza.

yeah, guess that's all true, guys. Does anyone know if it's possible to trace users of Megaupload, or is it just really hard?

If its in your history, its traceable. Your computer may "delete" files, but they are never deleted unless you actually do an actual system wipe that takes hours.