According to the news reports, here's what's happening. P2P download systems include a certain pressure to offer files as well as downloading them. The RIAA has been sueing both downloaders and uploaders for some time. The MPAA (movies) has just started. They've already managed to close the major BitTorrent server. Your ISP knows who you are and may or may not resist handing the information over if subpoenaed. If they resist, the case may or may not go in their favour. The RIAA has been winning consistantly, of late. Your best protection is the fact that you're just another target out of thousands. Take the chance, if you want. The average RIAA demand has been US$3000; the MPAA wants a lot more.

Need I say that most P2P downloadable movies are illegal? It's been said that quality varies from awful to perfect. You won't know 'til you look at it.

There are closed P2P groups. Traffic logs indicate who they are but the nature of that trafic is private. So far.

The economics of these lawsuits stinks. Ultimately, they lose money. Neither the RIAA nor the MPAA seem to be bothered by that. Both are rich.