Dumb and Dumber downloaders face legal action

Internet users who downloaded the Jim Carrey movie Dumb and Dumber To are now facing the prospect of legal action. The company has filed several lawsuits in Oregon calling for Comcast to reveal subscriber identities so that defendants can be pursued for damages.

BitTorrent networks are online venues where anyone with an Internet connection can obtain almost limitless content for free. They’re also places closely monitored by copyright holders looking to protect their interests.

While some monitor for analysis reasons, others aim to boost profits. The most recent to venture down this latter path are the rights holders behind the Jim Carrey / Jeff Daniels movie Dumb and Dumber To.

In motions filed at the United States District Court in Oregon, DDTO Finance, LLC explains that it needs to obtain the identities of at least five individuals said to have downloaded and shared the comedy without permission.

“The Doe defendant is a BitTorrent user, or ‘peer,’ whose computer is interconnected with others and was used for illegally copying and distributing plaintiff’s motion picture to others,” one motion (pdf) reads.

“Plaintiff is suing the Doe defendant for using the Internet, specifically the BitTorrent file distribution network, to commit copyright infringement.”

While conceding that the subscriber may not necessarily be the actual infringer, DDTO Finance calls on the Court to force Comcast to reveal the subscriber details quickly so that ongoing infringement can be brought to an end.

“[It] is the experience of counsel that parties generally promptly terminate infringing activity and further distribution as soon as they have notice of an actual suit pending,” motion for discovery adds.

Read full report via Torrent Freak.