Privacy concerns

[Threshold]

I just read an extremely disturbing article on chat room secrity. the FBI actually seized a server that was probably used for hacking, but was pulling double duty as a chat. the problem is that the thing was full of at least email addresses and IP numbers. so the potential is there for the FBI to mistake a zombied machine address for a real hacker's address, and wind up seizing home machines! imagine how horrible it would be for anyone, even someone who's totally legit, to answer their front door to the FBI, who say "we have a warrant for your computer's confiscation". SO... my points and queries are:

a) doesn't the FBI handle copyright violations? (I'm almost certain)

b) when you get your automatic patches from OSI, can't they get your IP?

c) even though just logging on to an emulated server isn't illegal or in violation of a license agreement, I know that software companies take this stuff VERY seriously. putting a and b together, could anyone who's patching UO emulated be opening themselves up for legal action?

in the license agreement for the UO:AoS trial, a person would agree to not make server emulations or protocol tunnels or similar things. I don't think that precludes just using existing tools. If anyone has, say, an occupational legal background, any insight into this... would be helpful.

P.S. I've heard of just getting the latest .exe from another person will actually do the patch job, but I'm pretty sure that crosses the license, so nobody really interested in law-abiding would want that.

[David]

Is using RunUO legal or not? God hasn't this been beat to death already?

When you patch, I am sure your ip is logged somewhere. Almost any action you take on the Internet is logged somewhere. Personally I am not even slightly worried about the FBI knocking on my door. But, I am not a lawyer, my suggestion is to consult one.

What I do know for certian is that just updating the exe is not enough to say your UO installation is patched.

[Daegon]

If you're worried, lease an off-shore proxy. There are a lot of them in Russia and other Slavic countries for a few bucks a month. Run your patcher through that.

Or, if you are really worried, there is alway Sea Land, where anything goes.

[Mark]

The FBI does not handle copyright violations, except in extreme circumstances (loss is a substantial amount of money or on a large scale). Example: Half Life 2 source code theft.

Differentiating between 'osi use' patching and 'emulation use' patching: Not possible.