'The Internet is not a safety zone for anonymity.' -Jeffrey Antonelli
Chicago, Ill. (PRWEB) April 12, 2016
The lawyers at Chicago law firm Antonelli Law are warning parents—and anyone who pays a monthly Internet bill—to keep a close watch on the electronic materials being downloaded using their ISP (Internet Service Provider) address, which is the number assigned to an individual Internet connection. A recent increase in file-sharing litigation on behalf of copyright trolls has resulted in the filing of thousands of BitTorrent copyright infringement lawsuits across the U.S., many of them targeting innocent people.
Copyright defense attorney Jeffrey Antonelli represents one of the leading law firms in the country defending BitTorrent copyright infringement lawsuits. The law firm’s team of seasoned BitTorrent defense litigation attorneys--which has defended more than 1,100 clients in copyright infringement cases--advises parents to protect themselves from being sued for illegal downloads by keeping an eye on how their kids are using the Internet at home and by making sure they know exactly who is using their Wi-Fi connection.
A copyright infringement lawsuit can happen to almost anyone, but tends comes as a surprise to the unknowing individual who opens their mailbox to find a letter, or an ISP subpoena, from their Internet provider warning them they’re being accused of an illegal download by a movie production company that has subpoenaed their name through the Internet provider. Many of these cases are launched by film houses that produce big-name movies that have been downloaded via an illegal file-sharing website, and others are from companies that produce adult films. These cases can cost the defendant a small fortune of up to $150,000—per download—if they lose in court.
“A rapid increase in the number of unassuming people facing BitTorrent copyright infringement lawsuits—many of them innocent—has reinforced the notion that the Internet is not a safety zone for anonymity,” Antonelli said. “The scariest part is that the person paying the Internet bill usually has no idea that someone else in their household or another person nearby has used their Internet connection to access an illegal download.”
In other instances, a hacker from anywhere in the world will make up an ISP address number to download illegal content. The unlucky person who actually has that same number could be sued for the hacker’s downloads because lawsuits/lawyers target the ISP address by assuming the person attached to the number actually downloaded the content.
The lawsuits can’t be ignored because the plaintiffs have the legal ability to press further and subpoena the defendant’s name from the Internet provider, risking the chance that the lawsuit could be discovered by a family member or an employer. The decision to hire a law firm can help defendants settle their cases anonymously outside of court.
Of course, the best solution is to make sure your Internet account never lands on the list of defendants uncovered by copyright trolls. Firm principal at Antonelli Law, Jeffrey Antonelli, offers several tips to parents for safeguarding their families against being targeted by the rise in file-sharing litigation.
Antonelli says parents should use passwords to protect their family’s Internet account to restrict access to neighbors and potential hackers who look for easy access to unsecured Internet connections. Child-blocking software will also help ease parents’ fears by preventing kids from accessing websites that offer illegal downloads, and teenagers should be part of a family conversation about safe Internet use.
Click here for more information about Antonelli Law’s ISP Subpoena & Copyright Defense group. To learn about the option to file a motion to quash, visit http://www.antonelli-law.com/Motions_to_Quash.php.
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About Antonelli Law
Located in Chicago, Antonelli Law is a leading U.S. law firm defending BitTorrent copyright infringement lawsuits. Leveraging more than 15 years of solid litigation experience in a broad range of litigation, Antonelli Law represents clients in federal copyright infringement defense in every state. The firm also offers legal services in drone/UAS law, intellectual property, commercial law, and educational fraud. Firm principal Jeffrey Antonelli is admitted to the federal trial bar of the Northern District of Illinois, the Central District of Illinois, and all of the federal courts of Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. For more information, visit Antonelli Law or go to Antonelli’s copyright defense blog.