NTL's opinion on Filesharing

busterdan · 11-10-2004, 19:18

This may be a stupid question, but with increasingly fast broadband connections and the increase of P2P methods, I just wondered what NTL's opinion on this might be...

Especially as much of what is shared will be breaching copyright.

I have always downloading the odd MP3 or app using the likes of Kazaa and now I have a 1mb+ connection BitTorrent, Emule and other apps are proving very tempting.

But I don't want to be kicked off NTL for downloading loads and loads of "stuff". Is there an acceptable limit or quota that NTL tend to stick to....lets say 100mb download each day....it wouldn't take much to get to do that I think but would this likely be a problem?

Thanks

downquark1 · 11-10-2004, 19:44

Your using bandwidth, they don't like it

Perfect NTL customer - has a large bank account and dies after buying 1.5mb connection, not found for months

Quote:

But I don't want to be kicked off NTL for downloading loads and loads of "stuff". Is there an acceptable limit or quota that NTL tend to stick to....lets say 100mb download each day....it wouldn't take much to get to do that I think but would this likely be a problem?

The cap it 1gb a day. Which you should not exceed more than a few times a week.

dragon · 11-10-2004, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by downquark1

The cap it 1gb a day. Which you should not exceed more than a few times a week.

they very rarely enforce that though

badnbusy · 11-10-2004, 20:33

Its not so much a "cap". Your service wont go off (or slower) if you go over 1gb/day.

Its more of a "guideline"

**Matt D** · 11-10-2004, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfarry

This may be a stupid question, but with increasingly fast broadband connections and the increase of P2P methods, I just wondered what NTL's opinion on this might be...

Especially as much of what is shared will be breaching copyright.

I have always downloading the odd MP3 or app using the likes of Kazaa and now I have a 1mb+ connection BitTorrent, Emule and other apps are proving very tempting.

Well, just remember that the ntl terms & conditions prohibit using the service to breach copyright:

http://www.home.ntl.com/page/userpolicy

Plus there's always the chance that, if you share a lot of copyrighted material, the owner of the copyright may well find out & report you to ntl....or worse.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfarry

But I don't want to be kicked off NTL for downloading loads and loads of "stuff". Is there an acceptable limit or quota that NTL tend to stick to....lets say 100mb download each day....it wouldn't take much to get to do that I think but would this likely be a problem?

Thanks

As other people have said, there is a 1GB per day "limit" (not a cap).

If you download more than 1GB per day, for 3 or more days in any consecutive 14 day period, ntl may contact you & ask you to cut down on your usage.

More on it is available in the user policy linked above, plus there's info here: http://www.ntlworld.com/service_update.html

There are also *many* "cap" threads here at CF, if you do a search.

Quote:

Originally Posted by badnbusy

Its more of a "guideline"

Matth · 11-10-2004, 23:54

Look up "Peerguardian" - that main reason for getting into trouble, is being found with stuff shared by snoopers - that seems to be the way some people ended up getting a cease and desist.

I'm not saying anti-snooper blocking will guarantee your safety, but you won't live very long on a P2P network without it.

dragon · 12-10-2004, 07:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matth

Look up "Peerguardian" - that main reason for getting into trouble, is being found with stuff shared by snoopers - that seems to be the way some people ended up getting a cease and desist.

I'm not saying anti-snooper blocking will guarantee your safety, but you won't live very long on a P2P network without it.

hopefully if your not doing to much sharing they will decide your not worth going after.

ive seen all this stuff about people being sued for downlodaing music and movies from kaz.etc with Riaa and that but i don't think ive ever heard of one person being sued for downloading software from p2p.

andygrif · 12-10-2004, 11:13

I would imagine the opinion of ntl would vary according to who you spoke to...for example:

Marketing department see p2p as a selling point of the broadband service (and still think the service has no limit)

Network department don't like you using their bandwidth

Legal department could not possibly condone the illegal breaches of copyright.

And to clarify about the BPI suing people for using p2p - at this stage they have applied to the courts to force ISPs in this country to reveal the identity of 28 IP addresses and if sucessful will commence legal proceedings against those people.

These 28 are amongst the worst offenders when it comes to sharing copyrighted material, not those that only download.

The problem is that the government minister for arts has publicly lent her support to such action, which in my opinion (and I am against illegal p2p) is wrong. This is a civil case and not in contravention of any criminal law, therefore should not be of concern to the government - but as she's said what she's said it is quite likely the courts will agree with the BPI and force the ISPs to reveal these people's identities.

If (or more likely when) this happens you can expect a second round to begin fairly soon afterwards.

Personally I feel they should be more concerned with people selling counterfeit CDs which is far more damaging to the industry, but then that doesn't scare music lovers so has little effect - and file sharers are far easier to catch.

Chrysalis · 12-10-2004, 15:43

I would guess these 28 people are leaving big connections on 24/7 uploading continously, but I agree with andygrif they should really be after the people selling the cd's.

Fractal Helix · 12-10-2004, 23:10

I don't see why you shouldn't be able to download stuff....unless you get some fanmail from Universal or someone.

Taken from NTL's advert here:

1.5Mb Broadband Internet*

More than 25x faster than standard Dial-up Internet. Perfect for heavy internet use, playing games and downloading music, film and software.

I'd just carry on

quadplay · 12-10-2004, 23:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fractal Helix

Perfect for heavy internet use, playing games and downloading music, film and software.

I'd just carry on

It is, of course, possible to legally download music (iTunes, et al), films (numerous short films are available legally) and software (see www.download.com for example!)

Chris W · 12-10-2004, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbo

It is, of course, possible to legally download music (iTunes, et al), films (numerous short films are available legally) and software (see www.download.com for example!)

and of course through Broadband Plus

andygrif · 13-10-2004, 00:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fractal Helix

More than 25x faster than standard Dial-up Internet. Perfect for heavy internet use, playing games and downloading music, film and software.

I'd just carry on

The manufacturer of my car says it will go 155 mph...does that mean it's not illegal for me to do so now? Cool!

iron25 · 13-10-2004, 01:44

I think if you are just a heavy downloader then ntl will not bother you. I think it's when you start to upload constantly that ntl might give you a call as I'm lead to believe that it is the upstream that affects the network more than the downstream. Why do you think they only give 256k, if you want more then you have to pay alot more.

With regard to the filesharing issue, I knew someone that was downloading movies using bittorrent and was subsequently issued with a threat of legal action by universal studios. It had his name, isp and movie and looked pretty legit. Did a search on google and I couldn't find whether or not it was a hoax. I read that the RIAA (Rip-off Industry of American Association) only target those users that heavily share the files so if you don't act as a server and allow people to download from you, I reckon your pretty safe.

The trouble with file sharing software is anyone can see exactly what you are sharing. Download from the newsgroups, it's more anonymous and afterall, you are only downloading text headers

dragon · 13-10-2004, 07:25

dont get me started on RIAA and the BPI

anyway i agree with andygriff with what ntl say depends on the department.

bah i dont think they will ever stop p2p and you have to take the risk that you might get caught someday you just have to hope that you are not one of the unlucky people

Oh and i think the Upstream on NTL is kinda poor on the 750kb service, hopefully the next speed upgrade will be on upstream.