This is applicable to both civil and criminal. For example, I’ve been pirating for over 26 years. I can’t be sued by anyone for the pirating I’ve done for 23 of those years, only for the past 3 years that I’ve pirated.
If anyone tries to scare you about how you’ll be caught for your past pirating activities, don’t be.
Assuming this is in the United States of America, this is not necessarily true based on a recent supreme court case, Warner Chappell Music, Inc. v. Nealy, the U.S. Supreme:
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-1078_4gci.pdf
On May 9, 2024, in Warner Chappell Music, Inc. v. Nealy, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that a copyright owner is entitled to monetary relief for timely infringement claims — i.e., claims brought within the Copyright Act’s statute of limitations — no matter when the infringement occurred. This could potentially allow some plaintiffs to claim damages stretching back many years into the past.
The majority “assum[ed] without deciding that a claim is timely under [Section 507(b)] if brought within three years of when the plaintiff discovered an infringement, no matter when the infringement happened.”
*statute
Also, you’re not technically free from charges of piracy just because you downloaded it a long time ago. If you still have those copies , that’s a crime that’s being committed today.
This is generally why we talk about having roms of games we don’t physically own being deleted after 30 (?) days.
FTR: I’m not a lawyer and clearly OP isn’t either.
Copyright isn’t about owning a pirated copy, it’s about distribution, right? The act of distributing a copy has a statute of limitations of 3 years is what OP is claiming.
Okay so you admit you’re not a lawyer but try being technical about something criminally-related while I have not stated that I was a lawyer and I based what I said off some research. Just so you can feel cute by adding a jab at the end of your little reply.
Yeah uh-huh, cute.
Dude, you could just asked “on what information are you basing this opinion?” This is a genuine issue to pay attention to so having the opportunity to help make sure someone doesn’t have an incorrect legal interpretation, you instead just resorted to the snyde remarks.
You’re just stating untrue shit. You absolutely can be charged for shit you pirated 26 years ago if you still have copies and someone is willing to press charges for you owning them.
I’m saying that whoever reads this can do whatever they want but they shouldn’t take legal advice from either of us.
