Opinion

U.S. Govt. Attack on Megaupload Bears Hallmarks of ‘Digital Gitmo’

in File Sharing, Games, Hacktivism, News, Technology

Following the release of their white paper earlier today, Megaupload lawyer Robert Amsterdam considers the current political situation in the United States, one in which the interests of powerful corporations are deemed to be of greater importance than the rights of individuals. The U.S. government’s attack on Megaupload bears all the hallmarks of a “Digital Gitmo”, Amsterdam argues, one which shares an absence of rule of law with its physical, Cuba-based namesake.

Source: U.S. Govt. Attack on Megaupload Bears Hallmarks of ‘Digital Gitmo’

BitTorrent Tracker Loses the Plot With Crazy Seeding Rules

All torrent sites rely on seeders, people who effectively donate their upstream bandwidth to provide content for others. Some go the extra mile and use a seedbox, a server-based piece of kit that pumps content into torrent swarms enabling faster downloads for everyone. While this is seen as a good thing by the majority, a private tracker specializing in high definition content has just introduced a set of the toughest and most baffling seedbox rules ever to grace the torrent scene.

Source: BitTorrent Tracker Loses the Plot With Crazy Seeding Rules

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Motivating Yourself Every Day To Fight The Copyright Monopoly

When working for reform or abolition of the copyright or patent monopolies, things can sometimes feel a bit uphill, even though the eventual abolition of these protectionist monopolies seems inevitable. To get energy for activism each day, it helps to understand the Overton Window.

Source: Motivating Yourself Every Day To Fight The Copyright Monopoly

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Is ‘Pirate DRM’ Really the Best Response to Bulk DMCA Takedowns?

Over the past few months there has been greater and greater pressure applied to Usenet-related sites and services, with some being forcibly shut down and others closing out of fear. Some have closed their doors to new members in an attempt to improve security but now another phenomenon is raising its head. In order to hinder bulk anti-piracy takedowns, some communities have resorted to techniques that feel a bit like DRM.

Source: Is ‘Pirate DRM’ Really the Best Response to Bulk DMCA Takedowns?

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Why Do Copyright Monopolists Think They Can Just Take Somebody Else’s Work?

Copyright monopolists insist on the idea of controlling the fruits of other people’s labor, such as when other people copy a particular file. This attitude is offensive, insulting, and antithetical to a free market.

Source: Why Do Copyright Monopolists Think They Can Just Take Somebody Else’s Work?

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Pirate Bay’s Gottfrid Sends His Warmest Thanks to all Supporters

It’s been a rough few months for Pirate Bay co-founder Gottrid Svartholm. After being plucked from his home in Cambodia, dragged back to Sweden and held in solitary, he’s now being detained in a regular prison. The good news is that he’s a strong guy and coping well. Today he sends his personal thanks to everyone who has taken the time to support him through his ongoing ordeal.

Source: Pirate Bay’s Gottfrid Sends His Warmest Thanks to all Supporters

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The 16th Century Religious Wars And Today’s Copyright Monopoly Wars Have More In Common Than You Think

People in power have always tried to prevent the common folk from obtaining knowledge that threatens their power. This happened in the 16th century, and it is happening now.

Source: The 16th Century Religious Wars And Today’s Copyright Monopoly Wars Have More In Common Than You Think

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Happy Internet Freedom Day! – But Was SOPA Really Defeated?

Today is Internet Freedom Day. After historic protests last year SOPA was shelved and the anti-piracy proposal eventually died completely, a big victory for the millions who protested. However, a year later we see that several of SOPA’s provisions are being executed nonetheless, without any oversight or complaint from the public.

Source: Happy Internet Freedom Day! – But Was SOPA Really Defeated?

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Remember Aaron Swartz (1986 – 2013)

A brilliant mind has passed and it’s heartbreaking.

Source: Remember Aaron Swartz (1986 – 2013)

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Bombing BitTorrent and File-Sharing Websites Back to the Stone Age

In the last decade file-sharing has turned from a hobbyist activity into something with mass market appeal. From just a handful of sites there are now many thousands, many of them in the rat-race to become the biggest, fastest, most exclusive location, or a combination of all three. The problem is that for many options are narrowing, particularly when it comes to financing their operations. Is it time for file-sharing to go back to its roots?

Source: Bombing BitTorrent and File-Sharing Websites Back to the Stone Age

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Music Biz Wants To Block Pirate Bay….Plus 260 Additional Sites

At the end of this month a hearing will take place to help decide the fate of The Pirate Bay in Ireland. The major labels want the site blocked by a handful of ISPs that are at the moment digging in their heels and refusing to comply. The issue is particularly important, and not only for The Pirate Bay and its users. The labels have indicated to the court that they actually want more than one site blocked – in fact they have a list of 260 others.

Source: Music Biz Wants To Block Pirate Bay….Plus 260 Additional Sites

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2012 was, without a doubt, the most intense year to date in the fight for civil liberties and against the copyright monopoly. While much work remains to be done, we can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

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Why this Silence About The Pirate Bay as a Distributor of Culture?

In October we published an article which gave Internet users the opportunity to contact Pirate Bay co-founder Gottfrid Svartholm during his detention in Sweden. Support has been overwhelming and from all corners of the world. In a guest post today by Gottfrid’s mother Kristina Svartholm, we look at the content of some of those letters and ask why The Pirate Bay’s contribution to the distribution of culture is so often overlooked.

Source: Why this Silence About The Pirate Bay as a Distributor of Culture?

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YouTube Shows Megaupload How it’s Done with Christmas Pirate Movies

With the disgraceful Megaupload finally out of the way, it’s good to see that a reputable US-based company has stepped up to the plate on the pirate movie front. Without a federal agent in sight and with untold numbers of investors happy to support the company in public, Google-owned YouTube is showing Kim Dotcom how to hand out free Christmas movies this year without a single visit from Scrooge. Now there’s a model to aspire to.

Source: YouTube Shows Megaupload How it’s Done with Christmas Pirate Movies

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The Copyright Monopoly Is A Market Distortion, Not A Birthright

When you start questioning the copyright monopoly, many middlemen and other has-beens start acting offended – as if you have somehow questioned a natural birthright. Nothing is farther from the truth.

Source: The Copyright Monopoly Is A Market Distortion, Not A Birthright

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