Anti-Piracy

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The U.S. Government has just submitted its objections to Megaupload’s motion to dismiss the case against the company. Megaupload’s lawyers have pointed out that the Department of Justice is trying to change the law to legitimize the destruction of Megaupload. However, the Government refutes this assertion and asks the court to deny Megaupload’s motion, fearing that otherwise the entire case may fall apart.

Source: U.S. Government Fears End of Megaupload Case

Music Rights Group Sues ISPs Over “Pirate Tax”

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Belgian music rights group SABAM is continuing its efforts to make Internet providers responsible for copyright-infringing material passing through their networks . This week the group sued three Internet providers alongside demands for a 3.4 percent cut of all subscriber fees. SABAM claims it is entitled to this compensation based on existing copyright law, but the Internet providers disagree.

Source: Music Rights Group Sues ISPs Over “Pirate Tax”

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Pirate Site Blocking Legislation Approved By Norwegian Parliament

Norway has moved an important – some say unstoppable – step towards legislative change that will enable the aggressive tackling of online copyright infringement. Proposed amendments to the Copyright Act, which will make it easier for rightsholders to monitor file-sharers and have sites such as The Pirate Bay blocked at the ISP level, received broad support in parliament this week and look almost certain to be passed into law.

Source: Pirate Site Blocking Legislation Approved By Norwegian Parliament

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The Pirate Bay Moves to .SX as Prosecutor Files Motion to Seize Domains

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Swedish authorities have filed a motion at the District Court of Stockholm on behalf of the entertainment industries, demanding the seizure of two Pirate Bay domain names. In addition to the Swedish-based .se domain the motion also includes the new Icelandic .is TLD. In a rapid response, The Pirate Bay has just switched to a fresh domain, ThePirateBay.sx, registered in the northeastern Caribbean island of Sint Maarten.

Source: The Pirate Bay Moves to .SX as Prosecutor Files Motion to Seize Domains

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MPAA Executive Tampered With IFPI Evidence in Internet Piracy Case

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Earlier this month Finland’s largest ever Internet piracy case ended with four men being found guilty of copyright infringement and two being exonerated. The case involved a so-called ‘topsite’ called Angel Falls and had an interesting twist. During the trial it was revealed that evidence gathered by a local anti-piracy group and the IFPI was also handed to a “senior MPAA executive” who tampered with the evidence before handing it to the police.

Source: MPAA Executive Tampered With IFPI Evidence in Internet Piracy Case

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Do “Strikes” Programs Help to Reduce Piracy?

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Several countries including the US and France have implemented so-called “strikes” systems to warn and punish P2P file-sharers. The goal of these programs is to reduce piracy, but do they have any effect on people’s download habits? Music group IFPI believes so, and has some numbers to back up its claims. The group further notes that piracy through ripping software and cyberlockers continues to rise.

Source: Do “Strikes” Programs Help to Reduce Piracy?

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US Ambassador Pleads: Stop Pirating Game of Thrones, It’s Stealing

Just when the Game of Thrones file-sharing controversy had begun settling into the background, the most senior figure yet has weighed in on the debate. Marking UN World Book and Copyright Day and citing TorrentFreak stats to on how many times the show has been downloaded, the U.S. Ambassador to Australia has pleaded with Aussies to stop making excuses and “do the right thing” by paying for Game of Thrones.

Source: US Ambassador Pleads: Stop Pirating Game of Thrones, It’s Stealing

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Police Flex Muscles Again, Arrest Admin of Sweden’s #2 BitTorrent Site

After being targeted by a police raid on a web host previously owned by Pirate Bay co-founder Gottfrid Svartholm, Sweden’s #2 torrent site took just three weeks to come back online. Taunting the authorities with their return, Tankafetast rented cinemas and launched a clothing range but for the police there was clearly unfinished business. An admin of the site has now been arrested and questioned. The site, however, remains fully operational.

Source: Police Flex Muscles Again, Arrest Admin of Sweden’s #2 BitTorrent Site

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Prolific BitTorrent Uploader Faces Jail Time in Sweden

The former moderator of a now-defunct torrent site has just earned the dubious honor of becoming the most prolific BitTorrent uploader ever to be charged by authorities. The man, who was arrested in 2011, is said to have uploaded around 500 movies and TV shows to a private BitTorrent tracker over a two-and-a-half year period. The quantity of uploads is almost ten times more than the previous record in a case of its type, leading the prosecutor to warn of a looming jail sentence.

Source: Prolific BitTorrent Uploader Faces Jail Time in Sweden

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Anti-Piracy Chief Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking

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Following an undercover police investigation, the Vice President of Lithuanian Anti-Piracy Association LANVA has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. Vytas Simanavicius, known for his efforts to curb online piracy in the Baltic country, faces up to eight years in prison. Because of the looming incarceration, his role as an expert witness in a Microsoft court case against a local BitTorrent site has become uncertain.

Source: Anti-Piracy Chief Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking

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U.S. Flip-flopping Proves Us Right, Megaupload Tells Court

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In a filing just submitted to a U.S. federal court Megaupload is using the Government’s own words against it, hoping to get the case against it dismissed. Megaupload points out that the Department of Justice is trying to change the law to legitimize the destruction of Megaupload. The DoJ wants to amend the law so that it’s possible to serve foreign defendants, while it previously argued in court that the authorities didn’t require such power.

Source: U.S. Flip-flopping Proves Us Right, Megaupload Tells Court

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“Killer Joe” Sues VPN-Using BitTorrent Pirates

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With a budget of $10 million and under $2 million in domestic grosses, the movie “Killer Joe” didn’t provide the box office successes its makers had hoped for. To make up for disappointing sales, movie studio “Killer Joe Nevada” is now turning to alleged BitTorrent users. The company sued a few dozen people at a federal court in Delaware this week, and aside from subscribers of residential ISPs their list of defendants also includes VPN users.

Source: “Killer Joe” Sues VPN-Using BitTorrent Pirates

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Interpol Probe Targets Funds of Major File-Hosting Services

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Citing an Interpol investigation underway with the cooperation of Mastercard and Visa, Czech-based payment processor iKoruna discontinued service to file-hosting sites this week. The target of the investigation was not announced but transaction information was handed over to Interpol and all remaining funds have been frozen. The news comes soon after an Italian prosecutor announced a major crackdown on file-hosting sites, including some iKoruna clients.

Source: Interpol Probe Targets Funds of Major File-Hosting Services

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Large Piracy ‘Topsite’ Trial Ends in Suspended Sentences, ‘Disappointing’ Damages

Finland’s largest ever Internet piracy case has come to an end with six men standing trial for running a so-called ‘topsite’. Two were cleared by the court but four others were found guilty of distributing movies, music, TV shows, software and other media. They received suspended jail sentences of up to six months but rightsholders are disappointed after their six million euro damages claim – 900,000 euros from Microsoft alone – was reduced to just 45,000 euros.

Source: Large Piracy ‘Topsite’ Trial Ends in Suspended Sentences, ‘Disappointing’ Damages

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Obsessed With Google, Copyright Holders Ignore The Actual Pirated Content

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When it comes to online piracy, copyright holders have an obsession with Google. Every month the search engine is asked to take down links to millions of URLs to help stop the unauthorized distribution of their work. Strangely enough, many copyright holders fail to target the root of the problem as they don’t make the effort to send takedown requests to the originating websites.

Source: Obsessed With Google, Copyright Holders Ignore The Actual Pirated Content

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Massive BitTorrent and Cyberlocker Domain Crackdown Underway (Updated)

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In what is being described as the biggest domain crackdown since US Homeland Security seized more than 70 domains in 2010, Italy has targeted more than two dozen BitTorrent, cyberlocker and other file-sharing sites. The Public Prosecutor of Rome has ordered the blocking of Rapidgator, Uploaded, BitShare, NowVideo, VideoPremium and many others, warning that he will progress the action internationally in order to properly seize their domains.

Source: Massive BitTorrent and Cyberlocker Domain Crackdown Underway (Updated)

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Police Handcuffed Then Attacked Me, Says Busted Torrent Site Owner

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A torrent site owner who was arrested in 2008 but later found “not guilty” in court has been targeted again. The man, who runs Latvia’s biggest torrent site, says that following the filing of a new copyright case the country’s Economic Police turned up at his house and handcuffed him. The Latvian says he was subsequently beaten by three policemen, an attack which resulted in concussion. His domain has also been seized.

Source: Police Handcuffed Then Attacked Me, Says Busted Torrent Site Owner

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Google Relaxes DMCA Takedown Restrictions, Eyes Abuse

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Following requests from some copyright holders, search giant Google has relaxed its DMCA restrictions allowing for more takedown notices to be processed. As a result the number of URLs being removed from Google continues to shoot up, surpassing the record-breaking 4.4 million mark this week. Both Google and the RIAA are happy with the progress being made but the former says it will keep a close eye on abusive practices.

Source: Google Relaxes DMCA Takedown Restrictions, Eyes Abuse

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