Raids on piracy crackdown

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2005/June/05_crm_353.htm
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/6586.cfm

It is being reported on some news sites that some raids took place today against Internet "warez" groups. It has been confirmed so far that there was at least one arrest against a Fremont man. Chirayu Patel, 24, was arrested yesterday accused of setting up hardware and running a site for a group called Boozers; who are famous online for releasing pirated DVDR copies of movies. Apparently the FBI unmasked a number of piracy groups by making massive amounts of storage space available to them.

On these 2 servers provided by the FBI and 2 servers provided by "warez group members", 27TB of data appeared including movies like Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith just hours after their first theatre showings. Patel is alleged to have become a "Site Op" who used one of the undercover servers and uploaded loads of video games, architectural software and movies.

While now there are only a couple of news sources writing about it, the rumours have been buzzing around the Internet all morning with some details reaching us slowly. Apparently, raids were also targeted against the leaders of groups Centropy and TDA. Some other details that have come this way include the apparent nickname of one federal agent involved - Griffen.

An announcement by U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is expected today with details on the larger investigation. We will keep up to date as more details come clear.

Noooooooooooooooo! Do they ever go after the people downloading?
[right][snapback]113845[/snapback][/right]

What they gonna do about file sharing applications?
[right][snapback]113848[/snapback][/right]

I am up in Canada and I just saw that our government got in on this as well. That is strange because our federal courts have ruled that downloading isn't different from having a photo copier in a library. The issue is yet to be heard by our Supreme Court. Now, frankly, most of the stuff available for download is of rather poor quality, especially the cam stuff. If you like the movie, you will buy it, rent it or copy it when it comes out on DVD. DVD sales and rentals outstrip movie attendence anyway and that's where the money is. What is of true concern, this will undermine if not destroy the betamax decision. What's next? Will dvd writers be removed from computers? Will DVD recorders and VHS recorders be withdrawn from the market? Here's an idea for the whining multi billion dollar entertainment industry, put a good quality film on line at the same time you release your movie and charge a reasonable price for the download, let's say the price of a dvd rental. If I have a guarantee that this movie will be an excellent digital reproduction in a language I speak, I will pay to download it. Do not expect me to mortgage my house to go see it in a theatre, I won't. Don't make me wait a year before I can get it on DVD, I will always be able to get a pirated version no matter what you do. Step up to the plate jerks, this is the information age. If you want your intellectual property protected, set up some electronic distribution of your own. You will make a killing. It will be the only decent thing you have made in years. You people piss me off. Sorry about the rant afterdawn people, I am contacting my politicians on Monday (Today is Canada Day) and I am going to raise hell. There is no Patriot Act up here and the RCMP cannot trample on my civil liberties and get away with it.

"yarrrrrgh"

although its hard to read, I like this guy Image file not present in the recovered backup


[right][snapback]113863[/snapback][/right]

Looks like its time for most illegal torrent sites to shut down soon