ISP Copyright Infringement Defense Attorney
Federal defense for internet subscribers accused of copyright infringement, from the first forwarded notice through a subpoena for your identity and beyond.
Call (312) 201-8310
Antonelli Law® has represented more than 5,000 clients in federal copyright matters since 2010, across more than 50 different plaintiffs. Our practice focuses primarily on BitTorrent copyright defense. Whichever letter you received, we can manage this.
Your internet provider contacted you about copyright infringement, or you’ve already been served. Where you are in this process determines your options and your deadline. There are three stages, and identifying yours is the first thing we do on a call.
Call (312) 201-8310 or contact us for a free, confidential consultation. Everything you tell us is covered by attorney-client privilege, even if you never hire us.
Which Letter Did You Receive?
These three stages call for different responses. Identifying yours is the first thing we do on a call.
Forwarded infringement notice
A rights holder complained to your provider about your IP address. No lawsuit exists, no court is involved, and your identity has not been requested. Repeated notices can affect your account.
How we defend it: We review the notice and explain your actual exposure. No court filing needed yet.
Notice of a federal subpoena
A federal lawsuit was filed against a John Doe IP address and a judge authorized a subpoena for the subscriber name and address. Roughly 30 days before disclosure. Strike 3 Holdings lawsuits always name at least 23 works, and damages apply per work.
How we defend it: Confidential settlement, totally anonymous settlement, or a motion to quash before the deadline.
Amended complaint and summons
Your identity reached the plaintiff and you have been named and served. Demands typically rise, and an ignored summons creates real default judgment risk.
How we defend it: Full defense representation and negotiation from a served posture.
Our ISP Copyright Infringement Defense Services
We recommend a path after reviewing the federal filings in your case, not before.
| Options | What It Includes | Timeline | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confidential settlement negotiation | Keeps your name off the public court record permanently. The agreement uses your IP address as the identifier and your attorney signs as your agent. Your financial information goes to the plaintiff’s attorneys under a strict confidentiality agreement, which reduces the amount. | 2 to 3 weeks | Most clients. Fast resolution, identity kept out of the public record. |
| Totally anonymous settlement | No name, address, or financial information reaches the movie company. Because that documentation is never provided, these settlements generally cost more. | 2 to 3 weeks | Clients wanting privacy from the movie company as well as the public. |
| Motion to quash the subpoena | A federal motion to stop your provider from releasing your identity. Your name need not appear in it. | Before the deadline | Good faith legal grounds, or preserving litigation options. |
| Full copyright defense representation | Defense through discovery, motion practice, and trial if necessary, which is rare. | 12 to 18 months | Settlement is not achievable, or the facts support a real defense. |
Why Clients Choose Antonelli Law
Volume that turns into pattern recognition.
More than 5,000 clients since 2010, including 2,300 Strike 3 Holdings clients since 2017, the most active plaintiff currently filing. That volume is why we know how each plaintiff behaves in negotiation. It is also why we do not treat cases as interchangeable: strategy is built around how many works are alleged, who had access to the connection, and what your finances support.
A federal litigation backbone, not just a settlement desk.
Jeff Antonelli has been in litigation since 2000, admitted in federal court since 2006, and has filed motions to quash nationwide since 2011. That background includes post-judgment collection limits, which vary by state, and creates leverage even in cases that never see a courtroom.
You do not need a lawyer in your city.
We represent clients in federal courts nationwide and file appearances, motions, and defense papers in any federal district electronically. Physical appearances are rare and routinely permitted when necessary.
Flat Rate Pricing
Representation is typically a $3,000 flat fee, so you know the cost upfront.
Our Defense Process
Step 1: Free confidential consultation (day 1)
We pull the federal filings and tell you what is in them. The number of movies alleged never appears in the subpoena, and it is almost always higher than people expect: at least 23 works, often 25 to 75, at times more than 100. We also locate your real deadline. Everything discussed is privileged, whether or not you hire us.
Step 2: Appearance, buffer, and strategy (days 1 to 14)
We contact opposing counsel ourselves, so you never deal with the movie company directly, then pursue the path you chose: a confidential settlement, a totally anonymous settlement, or a motion to quash filed before your provider’s deadline.
Step 3: Resolution and closure (days 14 to 21)
We execute the settlement or obtain the court’s ruling, confirm the plaintiff files a dismissal, and document the resolution. Settlement funds move from our client trust account, so your name and account details never appear on payment paperwork.
Nearly 100% of our clients resolve these matters without going to court, and most settlements are finalized within 2 to 3 weeks of hiring us.
Key Things to Know Before You Act
An IP address is not an identification.
The Ninth Circuit held in Cobbler Nevada, LLC v. Gonzales that being the registered subscriber of an infringing IP address, standing alone, does not create a reasonable inference that you are the infringer. A plaintiff must allege something more.
The damage numbers are per work, and the big one is a ceiling.
Standard statutory damages run from $750 to $30,000 per work infringed, as the court considers just. Where a plaintiff proves willful infringement, the court may award up to $150,000 per work. That larger figure is a ceiling, not an expected outcome.
Your letter contains more than one date.
The date your provider will release your name and the subpoena compliance date are different. If the compliance date is later, contact us to discuss what that means rather than acting on it yourself. Judges authorize the subscriber name and address only.
Timing moves the number.
Strike 3 Holdings opens at $750 per movie before your identity is disclosed. Once an amended complaint is filed and you are served, the demand typically doubles to roughly $1,500 per movie, and settlements generally run 20% to 40% higher, with legal fees on top. Early resolution is almost always the lowest total cost.
A VPN does not undo a subpoena.
If a letter arrived at your home with your name on it, your provider already matched that IP address to your account. And never ignore a summons and amended complaint. If you have been served, call us the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this be resolved without the movie company learning my name?
It depends on which option you choose. In a confidential settlement, which most clients choose, your name stays off the public court record permanently, and we share your financial information with the plaintiff’s attorneys under a strict confidentiality agreement to bring the amount down, often substantially. In a totally anonymous settlement, nothing reaches the movie company at all, which costs more because that documentation is never provided.
What if someone else in my household did the downloading?
This is common, and it changes the analysis. Household members, guests, and unauthorized users of an unsecured connection are all real possibilities, and the law does not treat the subscriber and the infringer as the same person. Where the person involved was a minor, Jeff has resolved the matter with no payment to the movie company roughly nine times out of ten.
Do I need a lawyer in my own state?
No. These cases exist only in federal court, and federal practice is nationwide by design. We file in any federal district electronically, and in the rare event a physical appearance is necessary, courts routinely permit it. Geography matters far less than how many of these cases a firm has handled.
Talk to Us Before Your Deadline
The earlier we get involved, the more options you have and the stronger your position.
Antonelli Law has represented more than 5,000 clients in federal copyright matters since 2010, including 2,300 Strike 3 Holdings cases since 2017, more than any other firm we’re aware of. Nearly 100% of our clients resolve without going to court.
Most settlements are finalized within 2 to 3 weeks. Representation is a flat $3,000 fee, so you know the cost before you decide anything.
Call (312) 201-8310 for a free, confidential consultation, or contact us here.
Your consultation is confidential and covered by attorney-client privilege, even if you do not hire us. You will speak directly with an experienced federal copyright defense attorney who will tell you where you actually stand. No pressure to decide anything on the call.