I've never received such a letter and never had the problems of that sort. However, my dad, who works in IT, had some clients who got such an email and were really frightened; some of people are not familiar with the subject of internet frauds (I guess everyone here received at least one email like 'Pay us 10$ and earn up to 100$!' or something similar). Fortunately, they had enough common sense to ask someone for advice before they paid.
I understand it can be a tough subject, because people who actually downloaded a file from the Internet are too frightened to bring the case to the court - they feel guilty, so they won't risk having to pay a greater fine. It's good to know that something like copyright trolling exists to avoid such situations.
I have never come across this type of trolling but I know a similar extortion method. It is partially based on scaring naive people and partially on blocking the access to the computer (it is not easy to remove the blocking software even for experienced computer users) This kind of activity uses so called "ransomware" – a malware that displays the message with information about a payment that have to be made. The message usually suggests that the user has broken the law with his Internet Activity.
The most recent example is famous "Policja wirus": http://www.komputerswiat.pl/artykuly/redakcyjne/2013/11/uwaga-policja-puka-do-drzwi!-ransomware-powrocil.aspx
I have heard about that problem due to chomikuj.pl portal. I absolutely understand that sharing materials like books, movies or music recording are not legal, but at least at chomikuj.pl people are not doing it to earn money… Thankfully I have not received such letter, but I have never share anything like that in the internet.
A law firms are looking for new sources of income and this one of such ways. But saying that it is because of fighting with pirates is ridiculous. Some of bloggers start writing articles about that to educate people and explain this taboo subject. However 'like' at someone’s Facebook page is probably not going to stop this problem….
The most important thing is to explain people that they do not have to pay for that. Those charges are for few hundred zlotych and law firms do not want to spend money on case in court, because it cost a lot more then that.
In Polish part of Internet a few years ago was similar action of site "pobieraczek", and recently like Karolina said "chomikuj". It's very clever way to make money because it's just legal. Very small group of people read regulations of sites or shops ( yes, that people really exist ), and that are the effects. However trolling should be more chasing by the law. People don't know the law, and don't know what are their rights.
I heard about lawyers-trolls, but I've never got that letter. The premise is that lawyers should protect our interests, unfortunately we became the victims. These practices definitely should be illegal.
I never heard about this. All of us are worried about actions in the internet of course. I think that the law is full of holes and we can earn money using diffrent ways. I think that most people are doing this because of fun and it is easy way to get money.
Never received such a letter personally, but I've heard about similar situations from internet, and once from my friend who got such a threat and, frightened, paid the money unfortunately. I'm very careful about my actions on the Internet, so hope I won't have to face such a thing, but it's good to be prepared and always double-check such messages.
Personally I never had problem with this but my friend had problem with "pobieraczek". They were spamming his e-mail with many threats. Most common of them were form like If you don't XX zł we will sue you. Fortunately he ignored those mails. On the Internet you are exposed on many different kind of scams If you received any kind of e-mail like my friend you should just ignore it.
I am aware of my activities on the Internet. I know that I'm not anonymous and I suffer the consequences of my actions, but many people are not aware of it and often these people have conflicts with the law because it offended someone or do some other stupid joke.
I never received such a letter but I heard about such cases from friends of mine, more often there were letter from the website pobieraczek.pl. I think that we should not download contents for which we haven’t obtained the rights, thereby it protects us almost completely against such lawsuits.
I have never had problems with this but I heard about "pobieraczek". My friend was getting e-mails with the news that he had to pay money for the use of 'pobieraczek'. Fortunately, he realized that it is illegal and nobody cheated him money. Personally, I am aware of the Internet user and I know what the consequences of my actions on the Internet.
Have you got such a letter? I did get some of those, both from illegal sources as well as legal sources. Not fun Do you know any ways to defend against this business phenomenon? Be smart, don't be not smart - as some might say. Be aware that such thing exist. Are you aware of your actions on the Internet? Yes I am. and since I'm no that important to the world, noone is focusing me. Secured.
I've never received such a letter and never had the problems of that sort. However, my dad, who works in IT, had some clients who got such an email and were really frightened; some of people are not familiar with the subject of internet frauds (I guess everyone here received at least one email like 'Pay us 10$ and earn up to 100$!' or something similar). Fortunately, they had enough common sense to ask someone for advice before they paid.
ReplyDeleteI understand it can be a tough subject, because people who actually downloaded a file from the Internet are too frightened to bring the case to the court - they feel guilty, so they won't risk having to pay a greater fine. It's good to know that something like copyright trolling exists to avoid such situations.
I have never come across this type of trolling but I know a similar extortion method. It is partially based on scaring naive people and partially on blocking the access to the computer (it is not easy to remove the blocking software even for experienced computer users)
ReplyDeleteThis kind of activity uses so called "ransomware" – a malware that displays the message with information about a payment that have to be made.
The message usually suggests that the user has broken the law with his Internet Activity.
The most recent example is famous "Policja wirus":
http://www.komputerswiat.pl/artykuly/redakcyjne/2013/11/uwaga-policja-puka-do-drzwi!-ransomware-powrocil.aspx
I have heard about that problem due to chomikuj.pl portal. I absolutely understand that sharing materials like books, movies or music recording are not legal, but at least at chomikuj.pl people are not doing it to earn money… Thankfully I have not received such letter, but I have never share anything like that in the internet.
ReplyDeleteA law firms are looking for new sources of income and this one of such ways. But saying that it is because of fighting with pirates is ridiculous. Some of bloggers start writing articles about that to educate people and explain this taboo subject. However 'like' at someone’s Facebook page is probably not going to stop this problem….
The most important thing is to explain people that they do not have to pay for that. Those charges are for few hundred zlotych and law firms do not want to spend money on case in court, because it cost a lot more then that.
In Polish part of Internet a few years ago was similar action of site "pobieraczek", and recently like Karolina said "chomikuj". It's very clever way to make money because it's just legal. Very small group of people read regulations of sites or shops ( yes, that people really exist ), and that are the effects. However trolling should be more chasing by the law. People don't know the law, and don't know what are their rights.
ReplyDeleteI heard about lawyers-trolls, but I've never got that letter. The premise is that lawyers should protect our interests, unfortunately we became the victims. These practices definitely should be illegal.
ReplyDeleteI never heard about this. All of us are worried about actions in the internet of course. I think that the law is full of holes and we can earn money using diffrent ways.
ReplyDeleteI think that most people are doing this because of fun and it is easy way to get money.
Never received such a letter personally, but I've heard about similar situations from internet, and once from my friend who got such a threat and, frightened, paid the money unfortunately. I'm very careful about my actions on the Internet, so hope I won't have to face such a thing, but it's good to be prepared and always double-check such messages.
ReplyDeletePersonally I never had problem with this but my friend had problem with "pobieraczek". They were spamming his e-mail with many threats. Most common of them were form like If you don't XX zł we will sue you. Fortunately he ignored those mails. On the Internet you are exposed on many different kind of scams If you received any kind of e-mail like my friend you should just ignore it.
ReplyDeleteI am aware of my activities on the Internet. I know that I'm not anonymous and I suffer the consequences of my actions, but many people are not aware of it and often these people have conflicts with the law because it offended someone or do some other stupid joke.
ReplyDeleteI never received such a letter but I heard about such cases from friends of mine, more often there were letter from the website pobieraczek.pl. I think that we should not download contents for which we haven’t obtained the rights, thereby it protects us almost completely against such lawsuits.
ReplyDeleteI have never had problems with this but I heard about "pobieraczek". My friend was getting e-mails with the news that he had to pay money for the use of 'pobieraczek'. Fortunately, he realized that it is illegal and nobody cheated him money.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am aware of the Internet user and I know what the consequences of my actions on the Internet.
Have you got such a letter?
ReplyDeleteI did get some of those, both from illegal sources as well as legal sources. Not fun
Do you know any ways to defend against this business phenomenon?
Be smart, don't be not smart - as some might say. Be aware that such thing exist.
Are you aware of your actions on the Internet?
Yes I am. and since I'm no that important to the world, noone is focusing me. Secured.