<p>I just recently received a letter from Tufts describing the use of internet in terms of media downloads. Is Tufts really going to contact local authorities, the RIAA, if you illegally download music/movies and software? If they are, that's pretty screwed up. I don't mind paying a dollar for a song here and there, but i do mind when artists these days expect you to drop over $10 dollars on an album that has only 2 good songs.</p>
<p>Tufts doesn't contact them as much as they slap you on the wrist. There have been a few people that have been caught but I don't think any of them <em>were</em> fined though at other universities I have heard of fines in the thousands. I illegally download, but I'm not obvious about it. The people that get caught are the ones that share. People who download have a significantly smaller risk of getting caught, though the RIAA can catch you that way through a baited download.</p>
<p>I'm not worried, I'll continue to use Azureus and get torrents, which isn't illegal, until I describe which torrents I'm downloading...</p>
<p>I think torrents are risky to use because (correct me if i'm wrong) but in order to download you have to upload? They monitor your upload quantity very carefully. I feel so bad for you all that you don't get to witness the power of I2Hub before the RIAA paid some students to be a mole and expose everyone to lawsuits. When that was in place, intercollegiate downloads could go up to 2meg/second.</p>
<p>^ Well, not only can I not upload at all if I desire, but if I do upload, I maintain it at like 10kb/sec or lower, so it wouldn't be noticed...</p>
<p>If you're in college, the first time they catch you, they'll just give you a warning. After that, you'll be in more serious trouble.</p>
<p>You still technically can be caught (with serious repurcussions) the first time if the RIAA demands your IP address. It depends on whether the RIAA gets to you or Tufts does.</p>
<p>alrite thanks for the advice, i guess my torrent days are of the past now. are there any wireless hotspots out in boston that i can dl media from?</p>
<p>That, unfortunately, I do not know. Any internet cafe - say diesel in Davis Square - should suffice if you're desperate and paranoid.</p>