PEOPLE who download the latest TV shows, films and games are at risk of prosecution as major distributors use new forensic technology to target individuals who illegally file-share on the internet.

The technology claimed its first scalp last week when Queenslander James Burt, 24, was ordered by the Federal Court to pay $1.5 million in damages for copying and uploading a Nintendo game.

Nintendo managing director Rose Lappin said it had ''no other choice'' than to go after Burt when he uploaded a copy of a new Super Mario Bros game that was yet to be released worldwide, resulting in 50,000 downloads of the game within six days.

''We will go to any lengths to stop piracy, including going after the individual,'' Ms Lappin said.

She would not go into detail about the technology used to track Burt but said it was now highly advanced. She said serial uploaders were under surveillance.