Downloaders Beware!

Hubby downloads TV shows from file-sharing sites so we don’t have to watch commercials. He also downloads pay-TV programs from premium channels we don’t subscribe to, like HBO. We compare it to asking a friend to tape a show for us…the friend with a pay channel is simply sharing a recording with us. It’s borrowing from a friend, not stealing; so we thought. Apparently HBO disagrees.

About a month ago, hubby downloaded the HBO program “Lucky Louie” from mini-nova. Yesterday our internet service went down, so he called the cable company to report the problem. The tech told him that our service had been shut off because of a complaint from HBO…they found out that he had been downloading shows through mini-nova and they consider that theft of service.

How did HBO find out? Apparently they set up a sting; registering a computer with the mini-nova site, sharing the show and recording the IP addresses of the computers who were downloading it. They then contacted the ISPs and had the accounts shut down. Hubby was unlucky enough to get caught with his hand in the cookie jar. The Cox Cable tech advised him that they have a “three strikes and your out” policy; three complaints and they shut off your internet service permanently.

I don’t know if any other file-sharing services are being monitored for this type of “theft”, but hubby won’t be downloading any more HBO programs. I don’t think we’ll subscribe to the channel, but (since I need home internet service) we’ll have to find a low-tech way of getting their programs.

Downloaders beware! Big brother is watching and he’s pissed.