Three Strike Comcast Rule?

For all of you that download "somewhat" copywrited material, do you use Comcast?

In the matter of the last year, I have received 2 letters, one in last March for downloading some material. The letter spells out the whole works...

-Filename
-My IP
-Date/Time of DL
-Location of Torrent Tracker
-Location of file on my computer


In August I received a second letter for downloading some more material.

Someone told me about a 3 strike rule, meaning that if copywrited material comes across their network into my IP, that Comcast service would be shut off permanently at my address.

Are these threats true and real?

I have been selective since August, (no movies, no TV, just music)

Anyone been shut off from Comcast? Anyone get a third letter?

 

I have no idea
but heres a tip, although its not very helpful
they might do it, they might not
dont download copyrighted material, buy it
or just spend a ton of money and get T1, with your own server, then noone can get mad at you! i think...

 

Wow, Comcast seriously spies on what you download? I mean, I know ISP's have that information but damn, I'm glad I picked Verizon over them.

 

Yup. I got the same message as FivePops. They had my IP, name, tracker, name of the file, and even what program I was using at the time. :/

There was also a message regarding a lawsuit up to $250,000 fine for every movie I had downloaded. Let's just say my parents weren't too happy regarding that statement.

-Mike

 

I would immediately drop comcast just because of that. Who knows what kind of sensitive data you could be sending or receiving (CC numbers/ bank accts/ paypal information). A lot of ISPs don't allow even their own employees to look and see what has been downloaded and to where, a few of these companies are Road Runner, Cox, Qwest, Verizon. I would recommend getting diffrent service, who's to know what some random comcast employee will do with your cc info.

 

All this is to save Comcast from getting sued from the RIAA or MPAA.

 

Doesn't matter there are privacy laws, theres no way for the RIAA or MPAA or the government to require any information on to which your downloading or uploading unless they get a warrant. To get a warrant they would need probable cause which they can sometimes get but it's very costly and time consuming. They have done it to a few people to set examples but other then that just be smart, keep your ip hidden and use a decent firewall.

 

Yeah the spying sucks, but what do you expect for "stealing" someones intellectual property?

 

What about the people who aren't stealing intellectual property their cc numbers/ bank accts/ personal data are still being looked at.

 

VERY much agreed, but I was referring to the OP and the illegal downloads. Personally Im glad to hear about this information stealing as my comcast contract is almost up and verizon is laying FIOS (finally) to my small neighborhood so they will loose yet another customer due more then just poor service. How they have the right to spy on peoples lives and still maintain a successful business is beyond me, but at least I will not be contributing to said success in the near future.

 

Anyone know if Verizon FIOS is in the Bay Area yet?

 

Expect this to follow on other ISP's in time. The bottom line is do not illegal downloading of copyrighted material. If all would to buy, instead of steal, the price would get more affordable for all. Our world of being unknown is gone in this technology laden world.

FIOS is a lot better than Comcast. Comcast tech support is very very poor. They had a DHCP server broadcasting to the world that My FW was blocking on a avg of 2-3/5sec 24/7. But they said it was not so, even though my routers FW was logging it. It happened when they merged with another ISP, my guess it was missed configured for the new network. They just blew me off so I did the same to them. Since then they sold out to Time Warner.

 

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

 

I have never gotten anything from AT&T (formerly Bellsouth) but if I do I would drop them like a hot potato.

 

I've been with Comcast for years, and haven't had any letters... but if they ever send one, I'm calling Speakeasy the same day.

Comcast never treated me right when I was a contractor working for them. This ex-cable guy has been out til 4am, just to wake up again at 6am to be there at 7... As if anybody in their right mind wants to be in the city of Detroit past 6pm anyways.

 

I would drop them ASAP if I were you.

 

The letter you received with your information is automated. It is outlined in your terms of residential use included in the privacy policy that you get with your welcome kit. I realize it's a big book (not the condensed version you got with your bill -- the BIG booklet -- although I believe the pamphlet has this to), and that most people don't read it, but it's not like Comcast doesn't tell you. Most of Comcast is dictated by software, it will automatically put a block on your e-mail if it reaches the conditions of potentially being a UID that's been phished and abused by a spammer, their software will put a tb25 block on your smtp port. This is why they've recently been telling mail client users to change their smtp port number to 587. Also, they don't want you running a server from your house if you're on the residential service plan. If their software detects that your monthly usage exceeds 250 GB, you can be cut off. They announced this to all users in October. Examples of what can add up to this much usage is outlined on Comcast.net by going to their help section and doing a search on "excessive usage cap." Again, this is all computer automated, and NO comcast employee has access to your usage other than how much e-mail space you're using, and they have that to let you know if you're over the storage limit if you call in and ask why you aren't getting e-mails (they have more than twice as much storage as Verizon, which should compensate for the fact that they allow two less e-mail addresses than Verizon). Bottom line: You don't need to be stealing copyrighted material. I correspond with record labels and musicians everyday who will agree with me. Musicians simply don't get paid enough for playing music when you subtract all of their expenses from what they earn and what they earn from other ventures. Same goes for images, files, or anything else of the like that you're stealing. The economy is bad enough without you contributing to the wreckage. Follow the rules, and you'll have nothing to worry about. As for their customer service or overall service -- no one can make a fair assessment of either of those. You're dealing with a national hotline that's connecting with all local offices, and other offices that take national queues, even outside the US. . What's true in one market may be totally different in another market. Give these people a break. Would YOU like to be spoken to like that, especially b/c of something that's out of your hands?

 

I don't think it's comcast, company's like NBC Universal set up stuff on torrents that take your IP tracks you then contacts you ISP. I have gotten a letter forwarded from my ISP from NBC Universal saying that I was breaking the US Copy right law, and they put some threatening crap in there. I laughed it off because they can't do anything because I'm in Canada, but my mom was worried so she called our ISP and the person on the phone said they had even gotten those letters before and just said turn off Uploading, since it is only illegal to share in Canada XD

 

LOL, the price for movies/Music hasn't even dropped since tapes. If we all started buying it they would charge more. Maybe if they actually offered a CD for less the $20 on average then maybe people would buy them.

 

I'd read my service contract with my ISP with a very, very big magnifying glass before I went and relied on that statement. Privacy laws are irrelevant if you've already agreed in writing beforehand that the ISP can share said information with law enforcement.

 

i don;t believe comcast has a three strikes rule

 

Metaljournalist; Holy raising the dead threads, batman! If I'm not mistaken, there is a forum rule against doing such things... (Since you are nitpicking about rules).

Also, send me your address so I can send you spare 'tab' and 'return' keys...

 

Not true. America is a greedy country. They lose less money, they have more money in their pocket.

 

This is why I'm glad I use Verizon.

 

Anybody who tells you s/he isn't greedy, is either lying to you or trying to steal something from you - everyone is greedy, it's basic human nature. On that score, such a statement merely implies that America is more honest than others are.

 

This thread is almost a year old. Please start a new thread if you want to talk about this topic, thank you.