Allowing your friends to use your login to watch movies on Netflix or stream music via Rhapsody could land you in jail if you live in Tennessee.

A new law, which takes effect July 1, allows download services to press charges if they feel they’ve been ripped off, according to a report by The Tennessean of Nashville.

From the newspaper:

The legislation was aimed at hackers and thieves who sell passwords in bulk, but its sponsors acknowledge it could be employed against people who use a friend’s or relative’s subscription.

The bill expands an existing law used to prosecute people who steal cable television or leave restaurants without paying for their meals. It adds “entertainment subscription service” to the list of services protected by the law.

The law likely won’t affect those who share their password with their families, the paper said.

While those who share their subscriptions with a spouse or other family members under the same roof almost certainly have nothing to fear, blatant offenders — say, college students who give their logins to everyone on their dormitory floor — could get in trouble.

Under the law, anyone who steals $500 or less of entertainment could be charged with a misdemeanor that carries up to a year in jail and a fine as high as $2,500. Stealing more than that would be a felony, which means much stiffer fines and jail time.

The bill was a pet cause of the recording industry, which claims it is losing billions of dollars each year because of illegal music sharing. Naturally, these entertainment conglomerates hope the other 49 states adopt similar laws.

(Photo: www.christianholmer.com)