It is possible that actions by other persons at your home or business, or even nearby and outside, may have prompted the notifications. That could be someone using your Internet connection without your permission, another authorized user who may not fully understand the copyright laws, or a computer virus or malware. We recommend that you secure your wireless network to avoid unauthorized use and urge all authorized users of your account to avoid copyright infringement.
Copyright protection gives creators of original expressive works of authorship (such as music, movies, videos, games, software, books, images, and other artwork) the exclusive right to do certain things with that work. That includes control over reproduction, adaptation, distribution of copies to the public by certain transactions, public display, or public performance of the work. Anyone who reproduces, adapts, transmits, displays, or performs copyrighted material, without authorization of the copyright owner or the law, may be infringing those rights. If you have questions about what you can and cannot do, you should consult a lawyer. Copyright infringement can lead to substantial damages and penalties, including criminal prosecution. Using your Internet service to infringe copyrights also violates the GCI Acceptable Use Policy and Copyright Policy, which apply to all users of your account. You may review GCI’s policies under the Terms and Conditions section of gci.com.
It is GCI’s policy to terminate, in appropriate circumstances, the GCI Internet account of any account holder who is a repeat copyright infringer. GCI is providing the information in this message so that you can investigate and take immediate steps to correct the conditions or behavior that may have prompted the notification. When GCI receives a notification of alleged copyright infringement identifying an account, it means that a copyright owner has taken the first step of enforcing rights against you or someone using your Internet account. You or other users of your account may be at risk of being sued and should take this seriously. You may wish to consult a lawyer who can explain copyright law to you.
If GCI receives additional notifications of claimed copyright infringement related to your account, your account will be considered for possible suspension or termination. GCI will attempt to provide you notice if practicable before suspending or terminating an account. If you believe the accusations of copyright infringement are unfounded and are unaware of any conditions that would prompt the notification, you may provide a written response at copyrightteam@gci.com. GCI suggests that you preserve any records or information that could be used to show that no infringement occurred or that you are not responsible for any infringement, and you may wish to have a lawyer communicate with us.
No. GCI does not monitor Internet usage on its network for evidence of copyright infringement. Nor can it determine whether certain acts are infringing. GCI is sending this message based on its receipt of a complaint from someone who claims a copyright infringement. In keeping with the GCI Privacy Policy, GCI has not released your name or personal information to the complainant. The complainant provided GCI with an IP address associated with your account. Please note, however, that GCI must provide your personally identifying information to a copyright claimant or agent, or to law enforcement or a court, if GCI receives a lawful demand or order to do so.
The federal government has published a summary of the relevant portions of the Copyright Act, which can be found here. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has published answers to frequently asked questions regarding online copyright infringement, which can be found here. The MPAA has also created a search tool to find movies and television online from legal sources, which can be found at http://www.wheretowatch.com.
If you have questions about this letter, you may contact us at 907-375-7240 from Monday through Friday during the hours of 8am – 8pm.
Sincerely,
GCI Copyright Management Team
