Think Twice Before Downloading that “Free” File
Think Twice Before Downloading that “Free” File
When was the last time you received something for free? Was it a water bottle with a logo prominently displayed on the side? Was it an app you downloaded without paying any money, but every time you load it, a ten second advertisement plays? Even library books aren’t “free” – they’re paid for with tax dollars.
There is an economic phrase that can be used to describe this exchange: “There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.” (link: ) (See generally, Milton Friedman). The idea behind this term is that no one receives som for nothing. The legend goes that originally, bar patrons were given “free” lunches if they bought beer- but the food was salty enough that patrons were encouraged to buy more beer.
Most of the time, we are willing to receive “free” items from manufacturers or advertisers because we believe that the exchange doesn’t cost too much. However, in the case of BitTorrenting, that “free” movie being downloaded could come with a nasty bill in a month or two: in the form of a settlement demand letter or federal copyright lawsuit summons!
When watching movies and television online, think about this exchange – what are you trading in exchange for the show? Is it your time – watching advertisements – if you’re streaming a recent episode of “The Bachelor” on ABC’s website? Is it a few dollars every month to Netflix? Or, is it the potential for a copyright infringement lawsuit to knock on your door?
Although torrenting sites like Popcorn time (which I wrote about last summer – link ) say their content is “free,” think about the consequences of hitting that “download” button. What is the potential cost to going through this “backdoor” method? To me, the potential for a federal lawsuit is not worth it.
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About Author
JAntonelli
Jeffrey Antonelli is a member of the federal trial bar of the Northern District of Illinois and is admitted to numerous federal courts around the country. He has been a civil litigator nearly 25 years in a broad range of actions representing corporations and individuals as plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal court. Jeffrey has been interviewed by the media many times, including Bloomberg BNA, NBC, The New York Times, Chicago Lawyer, Chicago Tribune, and the longstanding lawyer’s publication Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Prior to forming Antonelli Law Ltd. in 2007 Jeffrey worked for several litigation boutiques in Chicago’s Loop as well as a full service firm. His litigation experience includes hotly contested issues in intellectual property, business, insurance, and consumer fraud. He is an adviser to the Illinois Board of Higher Education Advisory Council for Private Business and Vocational Schools (PBVS), and was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Education Law Section Council from 2012-2013. Jeffrey is especially proud of his work representing hundreds of students defrauded by improperly accredited educational institutions, including as certified class counsel. Before attending law school, Jeffrey was interested first in business, and then in biomedical ethics. These interests led him to graduate from the nation’s largest philosophy department at Loyola University in Chicago, where some of his favorite (and most challenging) subjects were cognitive science and philosophy of science. During college he held positions at the University of Chicago’s Ben May Institute; as a medical assistant for a University of Chicago foot and ankle surgeon; and volunteered in the emergency room at the University of Chicago Hospitals. These experiences led to studying health law at the DePaul College of Law where Jeffrey earned his law degree and a certificate in health law. At that time DePaul’s Institute for Health Law was consistently ranked in the top 10 health law specialty programs nationwide. During law school Jeffrey immersed himself in studying the practical and public policy aspects of health care through internships at the American Medical Association in Chicago, and on Capitol Hill at the Governmental Relations Office of the Association of American Medical Colleges in Washington, DC. Jeffrey has concentrated in civil litigation throughout his legal career, and is a member of the federal trial bar of the Northern District of Illinois, the Central District of Illinois federal court, and all federal courts of Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. In addition, he is a member of the DuPage County Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association. Jeffrey prides himself on his strong personal ideals, passionate, ethical advocacy, and working hard to bring the best possible results for his clients. He also maintains a special interest in cases involving fraud. Whether due to good parenting, his family’s law enforcement employment, undergraduate studies in philosophy including ethics, or a fortuitous outcome of good breeding, one essence of Jeffrey’s character is a drive to root out the truth behind fraudulent practices.