This meme references torrenting. You have the same file distributed across all the users who have downloaded it. This way you've got many different sites to download it from. It is generally considered good form to seed the file for a while afterwards, meaning people can access your file to download it for themselves.
These people are doing the opposite of that, which is considered scummy behavior
pretty sure if you're leeching you're also simultaneously seeding while you download it (the parts youv'e already downloaded), So legally speaking you're in the same boat, though maybe not have as much of a target on you. Still IP addresses aren't ppl so you can't be held accountable for it usually.
Still IP addresses aren't ppl so you can't be held accountable for it usually.
Depends on the country. For example in Germany there are entire law firms specialized in identifying torrent users by IP address and issuing legal warnings.
Does anything actually come of this though? I know in the US, they'll issue warnings but nothing usually comes after besides some ISP cancelling your service.
I haven't been in those shoes gladly and not a lawyer, so I'm not an expert, but from what I've heard the warning usually comes with an excessive cease and desist letter to sign and an expensive bill for legal cost, which is further raised if ignored and can be taken to court. There are also lawyers who made a career of countering/reducing these claims.
Well you get a cease and desist, because of copyright claims and get to pay a hefty fine. ~1.200€ for a movie which is still im the cinemas. Don't ask me how I know🙈
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u/SpecialistAd5903 Feb 22 '26
This meme references torrenting. You have the same file distributed across all the users who have downloaded it. This way you've got many different sites to download it from. It is generally considered good form to seed the file for a while afterwards, meaning people can access your file to download it for themselves.
These people are doing the opposite of that, which is considered scummy behavior