What Do I Do if I’ve Received a Copyright Alert?

The “Alert” you received is meant to inform you that your Internet account may have been used to engage in copyright infringement. We want you to know about the importance of respecting copyright and the potential consequences of inadvertent or purposeful sharing of movies, music and TV shows through peer-to-peer networks. To avoid receiving future Alerts, here are some steps you can take:

  • If you have been downloading or sharing content illegally please stop doing so immediately.
  • Make sure that everyone who uses your internet connection knows that you received this alert and advise them to use only legal sources for music, TV shows and movies.
  • Secure your home wireless network so that only people you authorize are able to use it. Learn more here.
  • Check to see if any P2P software is running on your computer or you are otherwise sharing content passively without your knowledge. Learn more here.

If you receive multiple Alerts – meaning that there may be multiple instances of copyright infringement associated with your account – your ISP may undertake measures that will temporarily affect your Internet experience.

Depending on your service provider, the range of actions may include:

  • A temporary reduction in your Internet speed;
  • A temporary downgrade to your Internet service tier or
  • Redirection to a landing page for a set period of time, until you contact your ISP, or until you complete an online copyright education program

If content is no longer illegally downloaded to or shared from your account, you will not receive additional Alerts.

Note: The Copyright Alert System is designed to protect a subscriber’s ability to access important services, such as Voice over Internet Protocol telephone service (e.g. to call 911), services for disabled subscribers, or home security or medical -monitoring services even during the Mitigation Stage of the program.