Time Warner's Policy on File Sharing

If you are a residential customer, Time Warner's Road Runner Internet software will systematically disable your computer's peer to peer file sharing capabilities. Time Warner Cable claims that this is to protect the security of your computer and computer's belonging to other users on the network. While it is possible to undo the systematic disablement of your sharing capabilities, Time Warner Cable recommends that you do not.

Time Warner Cable reserves the right to impose bandwidth limits on its Road Runner Internet users. It may monitor traffic patterns to detect instances of likely peer to peer file sharing. For example, if your computer is detected as visiting a known file sharing site on a regular basis, Time Warner may limit your bandwidth. While it doesn't state so explicitly in its "Operator Acceptable Use Policy," this is likely to prevent users who have reactivated their machine's peer to peer capabilities from file sharing.

Many peer to peer file sharing practices are linked to copyright infringement. Time Warner Cable reserves the right to suspend temporarily or cancel outright the account of any user who uses peer to peer file sharing sites to distribute copyrighted material. This policy is typical of other Internet providers and reflects the growing concern of copyright holders about illegal distribution of their material.

While Time Warner Cable may take steps to prevent peer to peer file sharing, including warnings to users who are suspected of illegal file sharing, they state in the "Operator Acceptable Use Policy" that they accept no legal responsibility for the actions of their customers.