Post by @bzipitidoo@lemmy.dbzer0.com

@bzipitidoo@lemmy.dbzer0.com

2026-09-14 16:59 UTC

Don’t have to have a VPN. Just don’t download new stuff. Material over 5 years old is safe enough. One exception is the occasional artist who has gone copyright extremist, and wants their entire catalog monitored for piracy. If you are caught, you’ll get a warning from your ISP. It’s largely toothless. After the 3rd warning, they’ll disconnect you from the Internet until you’ve clicked acknowledgment to a scary warning screen that piracy is very naughty and you could be in Big BIG Trouble if you keep doing it.

Replies (4)

@trebach@sh.itjust.works 2026-09-14 17:23

Not always true. I got a notice from my ISP for downloading Airplane! which was released in 1980.

Open ##4691852
@loppwn@sh.itjust.works 2026-09-14 21:25

I would call this bad advice depending on where OP lives. In germany we have companies like Constantin Films with lawyers watching over their property. ISPs would not cover you. Some friends of mine got letters from lawyers, no fun. Learn to use a VPN with a killswitch before you use torrent / p2p-networks. If you really want it raw use one-click-hosters or u s e n e t - indexers. But i would recommend a VPN.

Open ##4693991
@homosapien@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2026-09-15 23:26

use a vpn anyways. Don’t risk it.

Open ##4713108
@BlackFlagsForever@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2026-10-28 15:50

I guess it depends on what level of risk you are comfortable with… but considering that people have literally gotten notices when NOT doing anything illegal, like this one: torrentfreak.com/comcast-subscriber-receives-dmca… My reasoning is that it is better to just hide everything you do from your ISP bc even if you can get the court case dismissed / the warning ends up just being a threat with no teeth, VPN’s aren’t that expensive and I don’t want to have to waste my time dealing with greed corps at all. But you do you

Open ##5291259