My main concern isn't if the 800 people saw my IP, i know they did. It's if the 800 people had me as a tracker for downloading Dexter. It would be along the lines of the MPAA thinking that i was the person of origin that mass uploaded the show.
The 800 peers were coming from DHT. I don't know what that means.
The RIAA sue happy version is now defunct they have forced ISP's to agree to a 3 or 6 strikes rule I believe it is called, so if you were caught you will get a little letter saying you were trading copyright material and that you must cease and decist. If you keep getting caught your ISP will terminate your service with them and report you. So just don't do it again.
http://www.wired.com/business/2008/12/riaa-says-it-pl/
Bit torrent wiki -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BitTorrent
DHT is covered there, if you are interested.
If your torrent was encrypted and you were not stupid and name it a copyright material name ie DEXTER SEASON 2 EP 1versus FILE FOR YOU JOHN [one is a red flag the other is a wonder what he is sending john moment] you'll never hear from anyone. They generalyl are not looking for one quick share, but something that stays up there seeding from YOU for a long time in the end. Nothing is impossible, but if you shared it long enough for your friend to download it and then TOOK IT DOWN, it's not plausible you're going to have anything happen.
You may also find this read interesting
http://www.techspot.com/news/45020-over-200000-bittorrent-users-sued-for-file-sharing-in-the-us.html
particularly the final paragraph
With the sheer increase of these lawsuits it's only fair to assume the scheme is paying dividends, at least for now. In what seemed to be a significant change of gears, an U.S. Judge ruled last May that
an IP address is not adequate evidence to pin a crime on someone, a key piece of the scheme currently being used by the so-called "copyright trolls".
That said I pirated software back when the commodore 64 was new and inventive once, it was a disk with a bunch of atari games on it called zipper and I was 12. I am 40ish now for reference. A computer programmer who overheard the conversation sat me down and started teaching me programming [in commodore BASIC] then explained why what I did was wrong. I have never done it since, and I still live. It's not a necessity to have dexter, hell I get it for free as a cable company employee and do not watch it. I don't watch any TV really. If you don't want the paranoia, just don't do it, it really is simple to not steal someone's work. None of it is life supporting, if your bored, go play catch with a dog, they'll love you for it. And they are a whole lot more honest and and loyal than people will ever be. Recommended labs, just a great companion. You could literally be an axe murderer and they will be happy to see you come home covered in blood, try that with a wife and see where it gets you.
The real trick is to get a job to get your money when you start thinking of potential purchases in terms of hours, they suddenly are not so important. Lets see I can get SC2 for 3 hours of work and it will last me for a few weeks of entertainment, hmm......