There has been a tremendous increase in the number of copyright infringement cases filed alleging copyright infringement or “piracy of content” (including movies, videos, images, and music files) against named individuals in Connecticut and “John Does.” These copyright infringement lawsuits typically involve the use of peer-to-peer (P2P) or file sharing services, such as BitTorrent, FrostWire, gtk-gnutella, MLDonkey, Shareaza, Limewire, Filesonic, Fileserve, and The Pirate Bay.
“JOHN DOE” AND CO-CONSPIRATOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
These cases, brought in federal and state court, can sometimes involve a large number of alleged infringers identified only as “John Does” or co-conspirators. The plaintiffs generally allege to have used proprietary software that permits them to identify the Internet Protocol addresses or “IP address” of the devices (or “peers,” in the case of an alleged unlawful distribution via a BitTorrent protocol) that were used in connection with the alleged copyright infringement.
FIGHTING CONNECTICUT IP ADDRESS SUBPOENAS
Armed only with a list of IP addresses, a plaintiff will generally file a motion with the court to seek expedited discovery to uncover the name and address of each individual subscriber associated with each identified IP address. This includes requesting the court to serve the Internet service providers (i.e., Comcast, Cox, Verizon, and Time Warner) with a subpoena to provide the contact information, such as the name and address of each subscriber.
If an Internet provider is unable to quash the subpoena (or the subscriber is unable to intervene on its own behalf), the subscriber information will be released to the plaintiff.
CONNECTICUT FILE SHARING INFRINGEMENT LAWYERS
At Aeton Law Partners, our Connecticut copyright attorneys defend individuals charged with online theft of intellectual property. We defend individuals throughout Connecticut, including Middletown, Storrs, Hartford, Stamford, and New Haven, who have been charged with the illegal downloading of music, video, and images.
HAVE YOU RECEIVED A LETTER OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT FROM YOUR INTERNET PROVIDER?
Our Connecticut Internet attorneys caution individuals accused of file-sharing copyright infringement to seek legal counsel right away. Depending on each individual case, certain copyright holders are much more aggressive than others when it comes to enforcing their rights. Most importantly, we strongly caution our clients NOT to take matters into their own hands and contact the plaintiff or their attorneys on their own.
It is possible to protect yourself, but you need to fully understand your rights and legal options in order to best defend against these claims alleging copyright infringement.
Many of these cases are based on incomplete and unreliable information relating to IP addresses that have been associated with the downloading of copyrighted content. Even if you are charged, being prepared can make a difference in the charges, the outcome, and the penalties.
CONNECTICUT ISP SUBPOENA DEFENSE LAW FIRM
If you live in Connecticut and have been charged with or are being investigated for copyright infringement of any kind, we invite you to call us to discuss your situation. As discussed above, it is best to call an attorney before contacting the companies yourself in order to prepare and plan thoroughly. If you have already made contact, however, we can also counsel and advise you on the best course of action to take based on the facts of your case.
Contact us at 860.724.2160 to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable Connecticut copyright infringement lawyer.