Frequently Asked Questions about Copyrights and Verizon's Anti-Piracy Cooperation Program • What is copyright infringement? • Using copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright owner or its authorized representative is in many instances unlawful and can subject those who do so to potential civil and criminal liability. This is called copyright infringement and it not only violates U.S. Copyright law, it also violates Verizon’s Acceptable Use Policy and Terms of Service. Additional information about copyrights and content piracy is available at the U.S.

Copyright Office’s website. • What is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)? • The DMCA was passed in 1998 by the U.S. Congress to protect copyrighted works in the digital age while providing important protections for online service providers to ensure the free flow of information.

Additional information about the DMCA is available at the U. Copyright office's website. Information about how to submit a takedown notice to Verizon’s DMCA designated agent and Verizon’s DMCA Repeat Infringer Policy is available. • What is the Verizon Anti-Piracy Cooperation Program? • The Verizon Anti-Piracy Cooperation Program involves sending notices by email to our subscribers relating to claims of alleged copyright infringement from copyright owners. The program is designed to alert you to potential infringing activity involving your account.

The Program accepts applications from individuals who are in their final year at a U.S.-accredited law school or have graduated from such a law school within the five-year period preceding their application date. In addition to promising law students, the Program welcomes applications from judicial law clerks and those.

• How do copyright owners identify accounts that may be involved with copyright infringement? • When a copyright owner identifies an instance of possible infringement, it sends the user's Internet Service Provider (ISP) a notice that contains the name of the copyrighted work, the date and time of the alleged infringement and the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the computer that is alleged to be sharing copyrighted material. The ISP matches the IP address sent by the copyright owner to the specific customer to whom that IP address was assigned at that time, and then sends the information provided by the copyright owner to that user without identifying the user to the copyright owner.

If you would like to speak with a specialist to explain this information, you can call the Copyright Notification Department at 866.286.6865 between 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM ET Monday through Friday. • How does Verizon protect my privacy? • The copyright owner does not know the actual identity of the user assigned to the IP address associated with activity that they believe may constitute copyright infringement. While we, as your ISP, know the customer assigned to a particular IP address, we do not share that information with the copyright owner. We will only provide your identity under the program if we receive a legal demand (such as a subpoena or court order) to do so.

• What do I do if I'm sure that I have not infringed any copyrights? • If you receive a notice, we recommend that you confirm that the copyrighted material referred to in the notice is on any computer or other device with access to your Internet service and check to see if your computer or other device has any P2P or file sharing software on it. You should also discuss the notice with others who have access to your Internet service. If you have a wireless router, please refer to the 'If I am using a wireless router/modem, how do I protect my home network?' Question and answer below for more information on ways to secure your home network. If you would like to speak with a specialist to explain this information, you can call the Copyright Notification Department at 866.286.6865 between 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM ET Monday through Friday.

• I've lost the notice you sent me - can I view it anywhere else online? • You may view your notice online by logging onto with your Verizon User ID and password and clicking the link that appears in the pop up message to access your Alleged Copyright Violation Notifications history. If you would like to speak with a specialist to explain this information, you can call the Copyright Notification Department at 866.286.6865 between 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM ET Monday through Friday. Bpc Toolkit For Load Runner Tutorial. • Is Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing risky?

• Yes, it can be. Aside from the legal liability for unlawful infringement described above, the use of P2P software can expose your computer and other devices to harmful viruses, spyware and other malware that can compromise your privacy.

This can happen by using P2P and file-sharing software and downloading files you may think are music or video files but are really malware that can secretly steal your passwords, personal information, or bank account or credit card numbers. If you would like to speak with a specialist to explain this information, you can call the Copyright Notification Department at 866.286.6865 between 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM ET Monday through Friday. • How do I uninstall P2P software from my computer? • You can remove P2P software and copyrighted material from your computer by following these instructions. You will need the name of the P2P so you can locate and remove it.

Windows 10 Users Use the Programs window in the Control Panel to remove (uninstall) these programs- just as you would remove any program from your Windows system. • Turn off all file-sharing programs. • Access your computer’s Start menu by clicking on the Start logo in the bottom-left corner of your screen. • Click on the Windows Accessories folder icon. • Click on the Control Panel icon, then click the link for Uninstall a program. • Look for P2P software on the list of installed programs. Click once to highlight the software.

At the top of the list of programs, select Uninstall. Follow the prompts on the screen to completely remove the software and its components. Some peer-to-peer file-sharing programs have companion programs that are not automatically removed.

If you have more than one program to remove, click No if prompted to reboot your computer. Then repeat these steps until you have removed all file sharing programs. • Make sure you reboot the system when you are finished. Windows 8 Users In the Programs window in the Control Panel, use the Uninstall a Program function to remove (uninstall) these programs just as you would remove any program from your Windows system.

• Turn off all file-sharing programs • Go to your computer's Control Panel by pressing the Windows Key + X key to open a task list • Select Control Panel • Select Uninstall a Program under Programs • Look for P2P software on the list of installed programs. Click once to highlight the software. At the top of the list of programs, select Uninstall.

Follow the prompts on the screen to completely remove the software and its components. Some peer-to-peer file-sharing programs have companion programs that are not automatically removed. If you have more than one program to remove, click No if prompted to reboot your computer.

Then repeat these steps until you have removed all file sharing programs • Make sure you reboot the system when you are finished Windows 7 Users Use the Programs window in the Control Panel to remove (uninstall) these programs just as you would remove any program from your Windows system. • Turn off all file-sharing programs • Go to your computer's Control Panel. You can access Control Panel from your computer's Start logo • Double-click on the Programs icon • Look for P2P software on the list of installed programs.

Click once to highlight the software. At the top of the list of programs, select Uninstall.

Follow the prompts on the screen to completely remove the software and its components. Some peer-to-peer file-sharing programs have companion programs that are not automatically removed. If you have more than one program to remove, click No if prompted to reboot your computer.

Then repeat these steps until you have removed all file sharing programs • Make sure you reboot the system when you are finished Windows Vista Users Use the Programs and Features window in the Control Panel to remove (uninstall) these programs just as you would remove any program from your Windows system. • Turn off all file-sharing programs • Go to your computer's Control Panel. You can access Control Panel from your computer's Start logo • Double-click on the Programs and Features icon • Look for P2P software on the list of installed programs. Click once to highlight the software. At the top of the list of programs, select Uninstall. Follow the prompts on the screen to completely remove the software and its components.

Some peer-to-peer file-sharing programs have companion programs that are not automatically removed. If you have more than one program to remove, click No if prompted to reboot your computer. Then repeat these steps until you have removed all file sharing programs • Make sure you reboot the system when you are finished Windows XP Users Use the Add/Remove Programs window in the Control Panel to remove (uninstall) these programs just as you would remove any program from your Windows system. • Turn off all file-sharing programs • Go to your computer's Control Panel. You can access Control Panel from your computer's Start logo • Double click on the Add/Remove Programs or Add or Remove Programs icon • Select Change or Remove Programs.

Click once to highlight the software you would like to remove, then click on the Remove or Change/Remove button. Follow the prompts on the screen to completely remove the software and its components. Some peer-to-peer file-sharing programs have companion programs that are not automatically removed. If you have more than one program to remove, when prompted to reboot the computer, click No.

Then repeat these steps until you have removed all file sharing programs • Make sure you reboot the system when you are finished Mac Users • Quit all file-sharing programs • Locate the folder containing the P2P software that you want to remove. It is usually in the Applications folder • Double-click the P2P program's folder to examine its contents • Some Macintosh-compatible P2P programs come with an 'uninstall' program. If you see an 'Uninstall' or 'Uninstaller' program, run it to remove the P2P software.

If you do not see such a program, go back to the Applications folder, and move the P2P program's folder into the trash • Empty your computer's trash folder • Go to the Apple menu and select Restart to reboot your computer If you would like to speak with a specialist to explain this information, you can call the Copyright Notification Department at 866.286.6865 between 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM ET Monday through Friday. • How do I remove copyrighted material from my computer? • You can remove copyrighted material from your computer by following these instructions. Windows Users • Review the copyright alert(s) sent to you by Verizon. The alert(s) will contain the name of the file(s) that is alleged to be infringing material • Enter this file name into your Search window to locate it on your PC. Then delete the file from your PC • Repeat this process for each copyrighted work listed on each alert we sent you • Empty your Trash folder and reboot your computer Mac Users • Go to Find • Review the copyright alert(s) sent to you by Verizon.

It will contain the name of the file(s) that is alleged to be infringing material. Enter this file name into your Search window to locate it on your Mac and press Delete to remove this file(s) from your Mac • Repeat this process for each copyrighted work listed on each alert we sent you • Empty your Trash bin and reboot your Mac Note: Verizon Technical Support cannot help with removal of P2P software or copyrighted material. You may want to consider subscribing to Verizon's Premium Technical Support service. To learn more, please visit us.

• If I am using a wireless router or modem, how do I protect my home network? • Verizon recommends using the strongest network encryption compatible with your network devices to prevent others from accessing your connection without your permission. In most cases, that is WPA2 encryption. However, you will notice some older routers or modems may not be compatible with WPA2 encryption. In those instances, WPA is the preferred encryption because it is still stronger than WEP. For step-by-step instructions for upgrading your network security, please visit and select the router you are using and the type of encryption you prefer.

Finally, one of the most effective ways to protect your computers and data from unwanted intrusions is to use updated firewall software. You should also install and use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and keep your software up to date. There are many different types of security software available, including the Verizon Internet Security Suite. For more information about how firewalls, anti-virus and anti-spyware software works and to sign-up for the Verizon Internet Security Suite software, which includes a built-in-firewall, please visit us.

See also: • • • • • •.

• • • • • • • • Copyright is a legal term describing ownership of control of the rights to the use and distribution of certain works of creative expression, including books, video, movies, music and computer programs. Historically, copyright law has been enacted to balance the desire of cultures to use and reuse creative works (thus creating 'derivative work') against the desire of the creators of art, literature, music and the like to monetize their work by controlling who can make and sell copies of the work. To strike this balance, the exclusivity of control is almost always restricted to a set period of years, after which a copyright-protected work reverts to the and may be freely used. Under current law in the U.S., works created after Jan. 1, 1978, are afforded copyright protection for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years.

For anonymous, pseudonymous and corporate-owned works, a copyright lasts 95 years from the year of its first publication or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first. The copyright holder is often a company or corporation. If a work is created as a component of employment ('work for hire'), then the copyright for the work defaults to the employer.

Copyright ownership is bounded by the territory of the jurisdiction in which it has been granted (a copyright granted by the United States is valid only within that country, for example), as well by certain specific exceptions. Much of international copyright law was brought into relative conformity with the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (usually referred to as the Berne Convention), in 1886 (with numerous subsequent revisions over the decades). The World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty (also known as the WIPO Copyright Treaty or WCT) was adopted in 1996 to cover information technology and the internet, elements not directly addressed in the Berne Convention. The copyright symbol, used to assert copyright ownership. An important shift in copyright legislation that appeared in the Berne Convention was the move to make copyright protection automatic. In most countries today, creators do not need to register or apply for copyright protection of a work. Rather, the author of a work is immediately entitled to all copyrights of the work until those rights are explicitly disclaimed or the copyright expires.

Before 1989, United States law required the use of a copyright notice to assert that copyright was being claimed. The copyright symbol or the word 'copyright' had to be placed somewhere within the protected work, along with the year the work was created or published. Copyright duration and public domain The notion of protecting publishers from unauthorized third-party sales of copies of their books dates back to the 1709 Statute of Anne in Britain, a law that gave publishers exclusive publishing rights for a fixed period, after which their work could be produced and sold by others.

In the United States, the first legislation along these lines appears in the U.S. Constitution, in Article I, Section 8, Clause 8, where the so-called Copyright Clause gives Congress the authority to enact laws 'securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.' Both these laws, along with current copyright legislation worldwide, call for protected works to enter the 'public domain' after the copyright law's stipulated term has passed. Works in the public domain may be used, copied and distributed with no restrictions under copyright law. Copyright exceptions and fair use Not every expression of an idea may be copyright protected. Copyright doesn't protect: • Product names • Titles of works (such as book titles) • Names of businesses and organizations • Pseudonyms, including computer hacker '.'

• Slogans, catchphrases, mottos and short advertising phrases • Lists of ingredients, such as on product labels or as used in recipes Some things on this list, such as product names, may be afforded protection under trademark law. Even when a work is protected under copyright law, the copyright law allows certain exceptions where works may be used even when the copyright holder has otherwise restricted use. Some of these exceptions are a matter of practicality, such as allowing libraries to make Braille copies of books they own. In some cases, such as public venues that play music through jukeboxes, the copyright owner is compelled by the law to grant the jukebox owner a license at a predetermined fee. One important set of exceptions is the allowance for making copies of digital works that are copyright protected. The most important exception is 'fair use,' known in some other international jurisdictions as 'fair dealing.'

Conceptually, fair use is a refinement of the basic balance copyright strikes between author and civil interests. It is in the public's interest to have access to critical reviews of works, and in considering these works, the critic may include short excerpts of a work in order illustrate a point being made. Copyright laws also generally protect works of parody from copyright infringement claims, as is the use of works for educational uses.

It is important to note, though, that what counts as fair use is generally not well delineated in copyright laws around the world. In the U.S., the law lists four basic guidelines courts may use in lawsuits where infringement is alleged: • the purpose and character of the use, including whether it is commercial or noncommercial; • the nature of the work (e.g., factual works are entitled to less protection than purely creative works); • the amount and substantiality of the portion of the work used; and • the effect of the use upon the potential market for the work. In the world of popular music, the boundaries of fair use have been tested as a result of the use of 'samples' or short snippets of copyright-protected songs in new works.

Clear precedents have not been established because court decisions have taken unpredictable turns. A 2005 decision in the 6th District Court in the U.S. Held that copying even as few as three consecutive notes could constitute infringement.

Other cases have revolved around whether permissions must be obtained for portions of a work that are sampled or for the underlying song, or both. Generally, commercial musicians generally buy 'clearances' to sample works, meaning that whether that sampling could be allowed under fair use provisions is simply not tested.

Digital rights management as copyright control Digital expressions, such as and music, are of course protected under copyright just as their traditional book and counterparts are. Controlling infringement and unauthorized reproduction of digital works is considerably more difficult than products that require printing and physical distribution. Copyright protects these works and can be used as the basis for lawsuits after the fact, but corporations have embraced the idea of using digital technologies to protect digital works.

There are two basic approaches used in typical products: • Individual copies of the digital product are and contain the necessary to protect their use. The protections used to prevent unauthorized duplication of commercially distributed s are examples of this and rely on safeguards built into DVD players to prevent the use of pirated copies. • A centralized rights management checks authorizations at time of use and locks or unlocks digital copies accordingly. This allows finer-grained control and better overall use accounting but requires internet connection before each use. There are, in some DRM systems, additional controls enforced. Books read in the Amazon Kindle ecosystem, for instance, can be 'highlighted' within the context of the present copy, but copying text displayed in a Kindle reader to the of the isn't allowed.

This DRM-imposed restriction on cutting and pasting is, critics have noted, a restriction that goes beyond the rights provided under copyright law, where that cutting and pasting might well fall into the realm of fair use. Not being able to make backup copies of DVDs is another case where use of a work is allowed under copyright but may be prohibited by the DRM system a corporation has opted to use. Further, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 () includes a stipulation that makes it a criminal offense to DRM systems, even if the aim is to take actions that are allowed under that same copyright law. Manufacturers of goods such as farm tractors and cars that one wouldn't normally associate with copyright protections have asserted that the DMCA reverse engineering provision applies to software used in within their products. Thus, third-party attempts to understand those systems are criminal offenses, not because of copyright infringement but simply because research on the workings of DRM systems is illegal. A number of prosecutions (and threatened legal actions) have been mounted since the DMCA was enacted.

A partial list of these is maintained by the. In October 2016, the Library of Congress temporarily authorized security researchers who were 'acting in good faith' to conduct some kinds of research on consumer devices so long as the research did not violate other laws such as the (CFAA). There is a four-part test for whether any given research falls under the exemption: 1) The computer program must be lawfully acquired. 2) The actions taken must be 'solely for the purpose of good-faith security research.' 3) The research must take place after Oct.

4) While not technically a requirement, the authorization implies that responsible disclosure is an important element in establishing that the work was done in good faith. Good faith is circularly defined as being 'solely for the purposes of good-faith testing,' but is also explained to mean the work can't be done 'in a manner that facilitates copyright infringement.' Only research conducted with primarily consumer-oriented products fall under this authorization. Copyleft and creative commons An interesting exception of sorts to copyright is a concept originally championed by Richard Stallman and the, which created as a means of effectively stripping most copyright restrictions from a work to allow free use (including copying) of the material, while retaining control over how the material is shared.

Under the copyleft, derivative works created using that original work must also be given copyleft protection. More broadly, this approach is known as 'free' licensing, and is considered a form of license. Material published under open source licenses may be freely copied, modified, shared and distributed, as long as the original license is applied to the distributed material. When used for publishing software, the copyleft license also requires that source code be included (or made available) when modified software is published.

In 2001,, a nonprofit organization, was created to facilitate several kinds of legal sharing so that works could be freely reused, but in contexts that are controlled by the copyright holder. Works covered under Creative Commons licenses are aggregated at creativecommons.org.