Most people are unaware that copyright infringement can result in the loss of their OEC Fiber services. That’s right! Violating the Acceptable Use Policy can cause you to be banned from using OEC Fiber services for a full year.
What is copyright infringement?
The most common forms of copyright infringement are illegally downloading or sharing copyrighted music, movies or other content. It may also involve criminal acts originating from your IP address, such as hacking, DDoS attacks, spam, malware or phishing.
What does OEC Fiber do when there is copyright infringement?
OEC Fiber uses a “two-strike policy” for most copyright infringement cases. That means you get one warning before we terminate your service.
Let’s use illegally downloading a video game as an example.
If OEC Fiber receives a copyright claim from a game distributor, we obtain the game’s title and the IP address used for the illegal download. This does not identify the specific device, only the subscriber’s service location. We promptly call the subscriber to inform them of the violation and warn that a second one will result in service termination and a one-year ban from reenrollment.
Now, there may be instances where no warnings are given. This typically includes activity that results in criminal charges. You can learn more about our policy in our Terms and Conditions.
Why is copyright infringement such a big deal?
The reason copyright infringement poses an issue comes down to OEC Fiber’s contracts with our content providers. In order to provide service, we are held to a set of rules and standards that we must adhere to. Violations of these can result in our license being revoked and the loss of our ability to offer services. That is why OEC Fiber has a strict policy regarding copyright infringement.
So, the next time you have the urge to download some late-night entertainment, make sure your download comes from authorized sources and not pirated material. That seemingly harmless free download could result in you losing access to the internet.
