Will you suffer Consequences to Copyright Infringement?

            When it comes to downloading and sharing of online media illegally through peer-to-peer networks (P2P), some assume that users of the Internet are unaware of what is legal and what is not.  The Internet Service Providers (ISPs) started work with the entertainment industries (music, film, and television). They developed the Center for Copyright Information (CCI). The CCI is meant to be an ”education process,” to inform consumers of piracy laws and the significance of copyright protection.  Under the CCI, is the creation of the Copyright Alert System (CAS), which is a system that alerts the ISPs of an individuals Internet Protocol (IP) address when online copyright infringement takes place. The Internet Service Providers then, send out a copyright alert to their consumers, warning them of the probable activity of illegal sharing of media through a peer-to-peer happening on their online account. Other uses of the copyright alerts are to educate consumers in how to prevent illegally downloading and sharing online media on a P2P, and providing them with the proper way to access the content legally (What is a Copyright Alert 1).

http://www.copyrightinformation.org/the-copyright-alert-system/

As of now there are only five Internet Service Providers taking part in the CAS, which include Time Warner, Verizon, AT&T, Cablevision, and Comcast. In hopes of human righteous, the Center for Copyright Information thinks that most of their consumers will change their illegal ways for a more ethical path of obtaining online media. However, if the consumers decide to be rebellious against this moral movement the ISPs has the authority to take action to affect their Internet experience. According to the Center for Copyright Information possible actions include; “a short-term reduction in Internet service tier short-term decline in Internet speed, and redirection to a landing page for a set period of time, until a consumer contacts the ISP, or until the consumer completes an online copyright education program” (What Is a Copyright Alert 1).

            I’m not sure how this has not shot up any red flags for being against privacy laws. Privacy is the right of an individual to be let alone or being free from being observed or disturbed by other people. In my opinion this Copyright Alert System goes against the third and fourth amendments. It affects the third amendment because it states the right of privacy of the home.  The fourth amendment is affected by unreasonable searches and seizures and right to probable cause-which is difficult considering consumers are held responsible for making sure their Internet account is not used for copyright infringement, when there is still the possibility of some consumer’s Internet being hacked into.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57571307/copyright-alert-system-launches-isps-to-send-notice-of-illegal-downloads/

http://www.copyrightinformation.org/

http://www.copyrightinformation.org/the-copyright-alert-system/what-is-a-copyright-alert/

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130222/14191722072/six-strikes-officially-begins-monday.shtml

"What Is a Copyright Alert?" Center for Copyright Information What Is a Copyright Alert Comments.
N.p., 2013. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. Management Information Systems by Laudon & Laudon.  Twelfth Edition. Prentice Hall, 2012. ISBN: 0-13-214287-2. Chap 4