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Ask Slashdot: How Would You Handle A Bogus Copyright Infringement Notice?
Very long-time Slashdot reader Andy Smith writes:
Yesterday I received an email from my ISP telling me that I had illegally downloaded an animated film called Cubo and the Two Strings. I'd never heard of the film and hadn't downloaded it. The accusation came from a government-approved group called Get It Right From a Genuine Site. I contacted that group and was directed to their FAQ. Worryingly, there's no way to correct a false report. The entire FAQ is written from the position that either you, or someone on your network, definitely downloaded what you're accused of downloading.
Their advice to avoid any problems with your ISP is simply to not download anything illegally again. But if they can get it wrong once, then surely they can get it wrong again. How widespread is this problem? What safeguards are in place to ensure that people aren't falsely accused? Why has the government allowed this scheme to operate without the accused having some right to defend themselves?
After advising users to check their wifi password -- and confront all the network's users about whether they've downloaded Cubo and the Two Strings -- the site concludes simply that "If there is no further activity identified for an IP address associated with your account, you will NOT receive further Educational Emails." Six weeks ago the U.K. government reported that "The campaign has now reached 21% of the population and, whilst piracy levels remain constant, it has decreased significantly among those exposed to the campaign."
Have any other Slashdot users experienced problems with bogus copyright infringement notifications? And if so, how did you handle it?
Their advice to avoid any problems with your ISP is simply to not download anything illegally again. But if they can get it wrong once, then surely they can get it wrong again. How widespread is this problem? What safeguards are in place to ensure that people aren't falsely accused? Why has the government allowed this scheme to operate without the accused having some right to defend themselves?
After advising users to check their wifi password -- and confront all the network's users about whether they've downloaded Cubo and the Two Strings -- the site concludes simply that "If there is no further activity identified for an IP address associated with your account, you will NOT receive further Educational Emails." Six weeks ago the U.K. government reported that "The campaign has now reached 21% of the population and, whilst piracy levels remain constant, it has decreased significantly among those exposed to the campaign."
Have any other Slashdot users experienced problems with bogus copyright infringement notifications? And if so, how did you handle it?
The term "Educational Emails" gives the game away. Presumably those emails have no legal status, and are just intended to warn the recipient that someone thinks they have done something wrong.
I would suggest adding them to your spam blacklist.
If anyone wishes to argue that you have broken a law, let them produce evidence. Otherwise, let them shut up and mind their own business.
I am sure that there are many other solipsists out there.
And keep them busy. Call, and call, and call again. Clog them with calls.
It's time ISPs learn it's LESS hassle to deal with bogus claims than to wave them through.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Could you cite the case? If it went to Federal court, we should be able to look it up. It is public record, after all.
I think most of us would like to see the details.
Write to your ISP making a formal complaint. Highlight that this is unsolicited spam advertising a film in which you have no interest, a libellous false accusation, a breach of your privacy and harassment.
Demand that they cease with immediate effect, request an apology and suggest politely that they improve their processes to prevent re-occurrence.
Ask them to confirm in writing that they have done so.
The ISP need to both recognise that this is damaging their business and exposing them to legal countermeasures, but also build the case log that they can use to demonstrate this to the government. Your letter will fulfil both aims.
If the campaign has reached 21% of the people, and piracy has dropped among everyone the campaign reached, how can the overall piracy level not have changed? Is the campaign SOLELY targeting/reaching people who don't pirate at all?