P2P File Sharing in the US

[ofaas]

Hi, I've spent most of my life living in the middle east and I just moved here to the US to be able to go to college. Here in the US, I am unfamiliar with the laws and since I use a P2P file sharing software(utorrent), I was wondering if people here make that big of a deal about the whole illegal downloading stuff. Please don't flame me for my way of life; I would just like to know the consequences(if there are any) of downloading media content illegally. Where I'm from, people don't give 2 shits about it and nothing really can happen to you for using a P2P file sharing software.

[zombie@computer]

There are two differences you need to be aware of:

1) (illegal) filesharing is more or less illegal
2) if you get caught, your balls will really get broken

but overall, nobody gives a fuck.

[Dionysos]

In the US, the media industry can ruin your life if you get caught (even if you didn't do it). So be careful, I'd say.
SwissVPN.net

[Chopium]

Anybody can use P2P sharing, but you must not let yourself become greedy. Torrent only either what you really can't afford or what you cannot buy in stores. Companies only really take notice and care about what you downloaded when you have a lot of stolen, copy-righted content on your computer; It makes you a better target to make an example of in court. So, that makes my Rule 1: Don't make yourself a legal target by being greedy and downloading loads of stolen content. Don't make pursuing worth it for them.