File-sharing

Readers may not be aware that any evidence of file-sharing involving copyrighted works, can be used under the three strikes law from today.

The law comes into effect on 1 September, but complaint notices can refer to any alleged infringing within the last 21 days, which starts today.

So if you torrent etc any copyrighted works from today onwards, and your IP address is not masked, then it is possible your ISP will be sent a complaint, and you will receive a “first strike” notice.

Until around 10 days after your first strike notice, you can’t receive a second strike, no matter how many complaints are received – so the first strike might cover one instance or 100.

Be aware though if you do make it through to a third strike and the Copyright Tribunal, then costs can be imposed on all the recorded infringing (if proven).