Odile82

Q: Copyright infringement notice from ISP after watching trailer in Front Row

I got the shock of my life the other day when I received a copyright infringement notice from my ISP. It seems that Fox did not like the fact that I watched the Black Swan trailer in Front Row. When I checked with my ISP (Verizon,) the email was not a spoof, and there indeed was a copyright infringement notice.

All I could get from Verizon was the assurance that they would not report me to Fox. When I called Apple to complain, all I got was a reassurance that I hadn't done anything illegal.

Since this is an app that I paid for when I bought the computer and the associated software, I was under the impression that the free streamed trailers were legal products.

Now I'm just plain too paranoid to watch a trailer in Front Row after this threatening e-mail!

Has anyone else encountered this?

iMac 27 i3, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Jan 27, 2011 7:18 PM

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Q: Copyright infringement notice from ISP after watching trailer in Front Row

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  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Jan 28, 2011 5:13 AM in response to Odile82
    Level 8 (48,913 points)
    Jan 28, 2011 5:13 AM in response to Odile82
    Very strange.

    I have not personally heard of this happening before, and I have alerted the Hosts as well as more experienced contributors here to your post.

    We would, I think, all like to know the answer!
  • by ~Bee,

    ~Bee ~Bee Jan 28, 2011 10:13 AM in response to Odile82
    Level 7 (31,802 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 28, 2011 10:13 AM in response to Odile82
    Odile --
    Welcome to Apple Discussions!
    We're not staff, but other Mac users here, asking questions and sharing solutions.


    +It seems that Fox did not like the fact that I watched the Black Swan trailer in Front Row.+

    Are you positive that Fox said this was the "infringement?"
    Did they tell you specifically what you did wrong?
  • by Odile82,

    Odile82 Odile82 Jan 28, 2011 10:49 AM in response to Odile82
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 28, 2011 10:49 AM in response to Odile82
    I reviewed the notice of copyright infringement that Verizon sent me. No specific action on my part was mentioned, other than it was a "level one copyright infringement." The bulk of the e-mail was details about the size of the file, the fact that someone else with access to my computer may have done this but I was still responsible for anything coming from my machine, and the fact that there are civil and criminal penalties associated with copyright infringement. When I called Verizon they said that I reportedly downloaded the trailer. Again, all I did was watch it on Front Row. I thought that was a streaming service.

    I didn't burn it to a a DVD, save it to my computer, or anything else. Just watched the trailer.

    When I told Verizon this they said they would take me off their flagged user list, whatever that is! And I contacted Apple, who told me that I didn't do anything illegal by watching the trailer.

    That's it. No other information.

    Absolutely insane!
  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Jan 28, 2011 11:06 AM in response to Odile82
    Level 8 (48,913 points)
    Jan 28, 2011 11:06 AM in response to Odile82
    all I did was watch it on Front Row. I thought that was a streaming service.

    It is!

    The bulk of the e-mail was details about the size of the file

    If you didn't attempt to download it (via a Torrent site for example) there is no 'file' to measure!

    This appears to be just the latest weird story about Verizon!
  • by Odile82,

    Odile82 Odile82 Jan 28, 2011 11:49 AM in response to Odile82
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 28, 2011 11:49 AM in response to Odile82
    There is a Torrent reference in the e-mail! I don't even know what Torrent is!

    If I had Airport utility on is it possible that a neighbor of mine hacked in?
  • by ~Bee,

    ~Bee ~Bee Jan 28, 2011 1:04 PM in response to Odile82
    Level 7 (31,802 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 28, 2011 1:04 PM in response to Odile82
    Odile --

    +There is a Torrent reference in the e-mail!+

    That's a very important detail there.
    That's the reason we asking exactly what they said.

    Do any teenagers have access to your computer?
  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Jan 28, 2011 1:31 PM in response to Odile82
    Level 7 (29,380 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 28, 2011 1:31 PM in response to Odile82
    Odile82 wrote:
    If I had Airport utility on is it possible that a neighbor of mine hacked in?


    What kind of wireless security do you have? Regardless, you should setup WPA2 and change the password. if anyone wants the new password you will get a chance to explain how the nice corporate lawyers are going to cut off your internet connection and take their allowances as damages.

    That is why they send those letters - to let the person who pays the bills know what is going on.

    Message was edited by: etresoft
  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Jan 28, 2011 3:29 PM in response to Odile82
    Level 8 (48,913 points)
    Jan 28, 2011 3:29 PM in response to Odile82
    I don't even know what Torrent is!

    LimeWire (now defunct) and other peer-to-peer sharing applications and download torrents supplying pirated software, movies etc are hotbeds of potential software issues waiting to happen to your Mac. Everything from changing permissions to downloading trojans and other malicious software can be acquired from using these applications. Similar risks apply to using Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube and similar sites which are prone to malicious hacking: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8420233.stm

    If I had Airport utility on is it possible that a neighbor of mine hacked in?

    Yes.
  • by Odile82,

    Odile82 Odile82 Jan 28, 2011 5:43 PM in response to Odile82
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 28, 2011 5:43 PM in response to Odile82
    No teenagers have access to my computer, as a matter of fact, I'm the only user.

    There was a timestamp on the time of the alleged copyright infringement that indicated a time when I wasn't even home and the computer was off.

    My internet connection is a DSL ethernet line. I don't have a laptop. I have a non-Apple smartphone.

    Is there any reason I should have the AirPort utility on to begin with, if someone in the neighborhood could just hack in? The only reason it was on was because they set it up at the store that way.

    If I change the WPA password, will I have to reconfigure my e-mail on my smartphone (which comes in via WPA push?) This is always a major PITA, and usually ends up with me calling my cellphone provider for assistance (another major PITA.)
  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Jan 28, 2011 6:30 PM in response to Odile82
    Level 7 (29,380 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 28, 2011 6:30 PM in response to Odile82
    Odile82 wrote:
    My internet connection is a DSL ethernet line. I don't have a laptop. I have a non-Apple smartphone.


    It is indeed a sad hacker that uploads torrents via DSL.

    Is there any reason I should have the AirPort utility on to begin with, if someone in the neighborhood could just hack in? The only reason it was on was because they set it up at the store that way.


    The Airport utility is just used to configure an Airport wireless device such as an Airport, Time Capsule, or Airport express. Do you have one of those? What are your security settings on it? WEP or WPA?

    Having the Airport utility running wouldn't allow anyone to hack in. But if they set it up at the store that way, wouldn't you have quit the program by now? If you don't have a laptop, how did the store run the Airport Utility and how did you get said machine home from the store with said program still running? I'm confused.

    If I change the WPA password, will I have to reconfigure my e-mail on my smartphone (which comes in via WPA push?) This is always a major PITA, and usually ends up with me calling my cellphone provider for assistance (another major PITA.)


    You will not have to reconfigure your e-mail, but you will have to re-establish connection through your home wireless network. As a side note, I hear the Apple smartphones are much easier to configure
  • by Odile82,

    Odile82 Odile82 Jan 28, 2011 6:48 PM in response to Odile82
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 28, 2011 6:48 PM in response to Odile82
    Since I don't have an Airport, an Airport Express, or a Time Capsule, I just went ahead and turned off the Airport Utility (the settings they put in in the store left the utility on, and it apparently starts when you start up the system.) I'll give Verizon a call to see what the WPA settings should be, and how to make sure the router is protected. In the meantime, I'll turn off the router when the computer isn't in use. No sense in letting some neighborhood brat hack in on my dime.

    Thanks for the assistance with this.
  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Jan 29, 2011 10:07 AM in response to Odile82
    Level 7 (29,380 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 29, 2011 10:07 AM in response to Odile82
    Odile82 wrote:
    Since I don't have an Airport, an Airport Express, or a Time Capsule, I just went ahead and turned off the Airport Utility (the settings they put in in the store left the utility on, and it apparently starts when you start up the system.)


    It shouldn't be doing that. Check System Preferences > Accounts > <your account> > Login Items and see if Airport Utility is present.

    You mentioned that the infringement was while your computer was turned off. However, your setup seems very confusing at this point. Go to System Preferences > Sharing. What sharing services do you have turned on?

    I'll give Verizon a call to see what the WPA settings should be, and how to make sure the router is protected. In the meantime, I'll turn off the router when the computer isn't in use. No sense in letting some neighborhood brat hack in on my dime.


    That is unnecessary. Do you have a wireless router? Do you use the wireless connection? If not, you can just turn that off. If you do use the wireless, just setup a WPA password according to Verizon's instructions and that will prevent anyone from using it.