In short, no. When downloading or uploading your IP address is visible. However, the actual chances of you being caught are slim, even slimmer if you don't live in the USA.
But, when they do catch up with you, you might receive a letter like the one below.
Worst case scenario if they catch you is that you'll get prosecuted by the copyright owner. In some cases, you'll just get booted from your ISP. In others nothing may happen at all. It all depends on the situation.
The problem is, essentially there is nothing to stop the copyright owners of the file you are downloading from downloading it themselves. If they do this, they can see all of the other IP addresses in the swarm (not good....).
There are measures you can take however. You can use some sort of blocklist to stop known "bad" IP's from connecting to you. This only works as well as the IP's that are in it though.
Still, if you want to use one just to afford some sort of protection you could use Azureus and the safe peer plugin. The plug-in imports a list of known 'hostile' IP addresses, and blocks them from connecting to you. If this sort of thing really bothers you, you might want to try Protowall which offers more advanced protection. Nothing is going to offer 100% protection, but using something is better than nothing, by a long way
From: antipiracy1@unistudios.com
Reply-To: antipiracy1@unistudios.com
To: xxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2004 17:49:58 -0700
Subject: *** DMCA Notification [Notice ID: 542761]
[Part 0 (plain text)]
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
Re: Unauthorized Use of Universal Motion Pictures
Notice ID: 542761
27 Jun 2003 00:46:56 GMT
Dear Sir or Madam:
Universal City Studios Productions LLLP and its affiliated companies (collectively, "Universal") are the exclusive owners of copyrights in many motion pictures, including the motion pictures listed below.
It has come to our attention that _____ is the service provider for the IP address listed below, from which unauthorized copying and distribution (downloading, uploading, file serving, file "swapping" or other similar activities) of Universal's motion picture(s) listed below is taking place. We believe that the Internet access of the user engaging in this infringement is provided by _____ or a downstream service provider who purchases this connectivity from _____.
This unauthorized copying and distribution constitutes copyright infringement under Section 106 of the U.S. Copyright Act . Depending upon the type of service _____ is providing to this IP address, it may have legal and/or equitable liability if it does not expeditiously remove or disable access to the motion picture(s) listed below, or if it fails to implement a policy that provides for termination of subscribers who are repeat infringers (see, 17 U.S.C. §512).
Despite the above, Universal believes that the entire Internet community benefits when these matters are resolved cooperatively. We urge you to take immediate action to stop this infringing activity and inform us of the results of your actions. We appreciate your efforts toward this common goal.
The undersigned has a good faith belief that use of the motion pictures in the manner described herein is not authorized by Universal, its agent or the law. The information contained in this notification is accurate. Under penalty of perjury, the undersigned is
authorized to act on behalf of Universal with respect to this matter.
Please be advised that this letter is not and is not intended to be a complete statement of the facts or law as they may pertain to this matter or of Universal's positions, rights or remedies, legal or equitable, all of which are specifically reserved.
Very truly yours,
Aaron Markham
Manager of Internet Anti-Piracy,
Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations
VIVENDI UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT.
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
tel. (818) 777-3111
fax (818) 866-6339
antipiracy@unistudios.com
*pgp public key is available on the key server at ldap://keyserver.pgp.com
Notice ID: 542761
Title: 2 Fast 2 Furious
Infringement Source: BitTorrent
Initial Infringement Timestamp: 24 Jun 2003 224:51 GMT
Recent Infringment Timestamp: 24 Jun 2003 224:51 GMT
Infringer Username: None
Infringing Filename: 2.Fast.2.Furious.(TCF).DivX.TS.DaDuck
Infringing Filesize: 722749015
Infringers IP Address: xxxxx
Infringers DNS Name: xxxxx
Infringing URL: xxxxx:6881/2.Fast.2.Furious.(TCF).DivX.TS.DaDuck
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