Some Questions

[canirideyourbike]

I am not new to File-Sharing, but BitTorrent is different than others so i thought id ask...When you download lets say an album, and it finishes, is it "open" to the public for others to get from me? And, can the RIAA track you down even after you have completed a download from a Torrent site like suprnova.org or LokiTorrent.com and sue you? Thanks.

[SanDiegoKid]

As long as you're "seeding" the torrent after a succesful download, you're technically *not* in the clear. Closing the torrent and making off with your new files as soon as it's done is called "snatching", and is and generally frowned upon. Seeding until you've uploaded the same amount that you've downloaded is a good guideline.

But hey... this is coming from me, a guy who thinks leeching kicks ass.

Up to you, hoss. A moral quandry fo y'ass.

[Siskabush]

With BitTorrent, the file is sent to you in random pieces (You may get the end first, and start last type deal) and you are constantly sharing what you acquire. IE: If you have 55% of the file, and if someone needs a piece that you have, they may copy that part off of you.

As for the RIAA suing you for using BitTorrent, its a gray area because all they may aquire off of you is a few bits containing lyrics like "the", "was" and half words, therefore not enough to prove its thier material. You could probably get away with saying you were sharing a fake file in the end.

[cjules13]

You can't NOT share with BT. As soon as you begin the download your computer is open up to the world and you begin sharing immediately!

I agree with Siskabush's 1st paragraph, but not the second. If you are participating in the distribution of copyrighted works, even pieces or partials, you're fair game. You could hire a lawyer to contest the "gray" area as you call it, but by then you're already busted and in a world of shit.

[canirideyourbike]

Ok, say i download an album, then delete it after i burn it onto a cd-r. Can they still trace you down and sue? Or will they even since im not sharing the file(s)?

[Deegin]

If they still recorded your IP address as providing the file for download, then yes, it is still possible. You still share the file as you are downloading it, sort of like partial sharing on other P2P programs.

[crackerjacker]

Very good answers on this thread.
They are as honest as they could come. :)