# articles

feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=159552
title: PUBG: NetEase Masks Its Copyright Infringement With Game Updates
uri: PUBG-NetEase-Masks-Its-Copyright-Infringement-With-Game-Updates
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/LHugcOcakb0/
content:
<p><img src="media/b1bca04e.pubg.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/pubg.jpg" alt="" width="277" height="171" class="alignright size-full wp-image-153819">PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) is without a doubt one of hottest games at the moment. </p>
<p>The success earned the company hundreds of millions of dollars, which inspired other developers to create similar games. </p>
<p>Some of these games are <em>too similar</em>, according to PUBG. </p>
<p>To protect its financial interests, the company, therefore, decided to take the developer of two alleged spinoffs to court. PUBG sued the Chinese company NetEase, the makers of ‘Rules of Survival’ and ‘Knives Out’, accusing it of copyright infringement.</p>
<p>While NetEase readily admitted that its games operate in the same genre, it refuted the copyright infringement claims. Last month the company filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, describing it as an attempt to monopolize the popular “battle royale” genre.</p>
<p>This motion triggered a response from PUBG this week, in which it describes NetEase&#8217;s defense as baseless.</p>
<p>&#8220;Defendants’ attack on PUBG’s complaint is baseless. PUBG is not seeking &#8216;to monopolize the popular ‘battle royale’ genre of video games,&#8217; instead, it seeks to protect its creative expression of unique and distinctive elements within its BATTLEGROUNDS game,&#8221; PUBG writes.</p>
<p>NetEase argued that the infringement claims are unfounded, pointing at several elements that are clearly different. However, PUBG clearly disagrees, noting that individual elements and the overall selection and combination of these elements were copied.</p>
<p>&#8220;Those distinctive and protectable elements have been blatantly copied by Defendants in not one, but two, competing games,&#8221; the company writes. </p>
<p>NetEase&#8217;s defense also summed up a variety of elements that were clearly different in their games. </p>
<p>This is a non-issue according to PUBG, as copyright infringement is based on similarities between works. This means that the differences between the games provide no defense.</p>
<p>In addition, PUBG notes that this argument is improper, as many of the cited differences were introduced in updates that came out after the lawsuit was filed.</p>
<p>&#8220;[M]any of Defendants’ claimed &#8216;dissimilarities&#8217; are a fallacy, strategically inserted by Defendants after this lawsuit was filed, in a clear attempt to mask Defendants’ blatant infringement,&#8221; PUBG writes.</p>
<p>The developer provides several examples of ‘Rules of Survival’ changes that were added after the complaint was filed. These range from changes to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/rules-of-survival/patch-notes_nov-22- 2017/1364767880300504/">optimize the gameplay</a> to the addition of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/rules-of-survival/patch-notes_july-18-2018/1620506608059962">new weapons and armor</a>.</p>
<p>Many of the cited differences, were not in the &#8216;Rules of Survival&#8217; game when it was first released. The same applies to &#8216;Knives Out.&#8217;</p>
<p>&#8220;Similarly, since the initial publication of KO, NetEase has implemented at least 21 updates to add dissimilarities including 9 updates since the commencement of this litigation,&#8221; PUBG writes. </p>
<p>Based on these and other arguments, PUBG asks the California Federal Court to deny the motion to dismiss, and let the case proceed. It is now up to the court to decide if that will indeed happen, and time will tell which side gets the chicken dinner.</p>
<p><em>&#8212;</p>
<p>A copy of PUBG&#8217;s opposition to the motion to dismiss is available <a href="media/3349288d.pubgreply.pdf" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/pubgreply.pdf">here (pdf)</a>.</em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=159913
title: Top 10 Torrent Site iDope Goes Down With Domain Issues
uri: Top-10-Torrent-Site-iDope-Goes-Down-With-Domain-Issues
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/iOQfZzYZFKY/
content:
<p><a href="media/9d1bbbbe.idope-e1534263315790.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/idope-e1534263315790.png"><img src="media/9d1bbbbe.idope-e1534263315790.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/idope-e1534263315790.png" alt="" width="250" height="136" class="alignright size-full wp-image-159930"></a>In the summer of 2016, shockwaves rippled through the BitTorrent scene when KickassTorrents (KAT), the world&#8217;s most popular torrent site at the time, was forcefully <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/the-kickasstorrents-shutdown-one-year-later-170720/">shut down</a>.</p>
<p>The action coordinated by the US government saw alleged KAT founder Artem Vaulin taken into custody. Meanwhile, millions of former users scrambled to find alternatives elsewhere on the Internet.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, many dispersed to existing torrent giants such as The Pirate Bay and RARBG but it didn&#8217;t take long for new blood to enter the ecosystem. Soon after KAT&#8217;s demise, a new indexer called &#8216;iDope&#8217; made its debut, largely as a tribute to the dismantled torrent behemoth.</p>
<p>&#8220;This project was developed the next day after we knew KAT was taken down, it&#8217;s very very new, and we are a very small team, so you won&#8217;t find anything about it on the Internet, especially when we never promoted it decently,&#8221; one of the site&#8217;s operators said back in 2016.</p>
<p>&#8220;We only intended to make simple products that everyone can enjoy, we don’t make bucks out of it, and thus we promise no annoying pop-up ads.&#8221;</p>
<p>In the months and years that followed, iDope gained a significant following and in January 2018, the relatively new site broke into TorrentFreak&#8217;s annual round-up of the world&#8217;s most-visited torrent sites. With similar traffic to the equally popular Zooqle, iDope bagged itself a joint <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">tenth position</a> in the list.</p>
<p>During the past week, however, problems have hit the site. Without any warning, iDope &#8211; which has operated very smoothly from the iDope.se domain since its launch &#8211; went offline.</p>
<p>The site&#8217;s Twitter and Facebook accounts have been dormant for some time and the recent downtime didn’t result in any updates. Unfortunately, that vacuum has left people to speculate on what has caused the outage, from technical issues to problems with the authorities.</p>
<p>TorrentFreak contacted the last known email address associated with the iDope team expecting that to be dead too. Overnight, however, we received a response, one that leaves hope for a smooth return for the popular torrent index.</p>
<p>“There are some problems with our domain idope.se,  We are communicating with the domain provider. We believe it can be restored within a few days,” TF was told.</p>
<p>While iDope was down, other domains that appeared to be clones or perhaps mirrors of iDope remained up, albeit with indexes a few days out of date. In the first instance it was unclear whether those domains were operated by the site itself but we’ve now received information which suggests that at least two are official.</p>
<p>“Everyone can visit our website using idope.cc or idope.co,” iDope’s operator says.</p>
<p>At first view, the current downtime faced by iDope seems a little ironic, given that the site&#8217;s operators previously claimed that the site would never go down.</p>
<p>&#8220;[T]he server provider we chose will protect our servers even from hurricanes, earthquakes, nuclear bomb. Honestly [I don&#8217;t know] how they are capable of that, sounds pretty badass,&#8221; its operator previously said.</p>
<p>However, as the above shows, iDope’s server is actually standing strong and it’s only its .se domain that’s having a wobble.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=159850
title: Europeans Take “Upload Filter” Protests to The Streets
uri: Europeans-Take-Upload-Filter-Protests-to-The-Streets
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/lXjBKvZrj-E/
content:
<p><img src="media/56ea1f61.saveyourinternet.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/saveyourinternet.png" alt="" width="277" height="196" class="alignright size-full wp-image-159853">After years of careful planning and negotiating, the European Parliament was ready to vote on its new copyright directive last month. </p>
<p>With backing from large political factions and pretty much the entire entertainment industry, many assumed that proposal would pass. </p>
<p><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/eu-parliament-sends-upload-filters-back-to-the-drawing-board-180705/">They were wrong</a>. </p>
<p>The Copyright Directive was sent back to the drawing board following protests from legal scholars, Internet gurus, activists, and many members of the public. Article 13, often referred to as the &#8220;upload filter&#8221; proposal, was at the center of this pushback. </p>
<p>The vote was a massive blow to those who put their hope on the EU&#8217;s proposed copyright changes. Following the failure of SOPA and ACTA, this was another disappointment, which triggered several entertainment industry insiders to call foul play. </p>
<p>They claimed that the grassroots protests were driven by automated tools, which &#8220;spammed&#8221; Members of Parliament were with protest messages, noting that large tech companies such as Google were partly behind this. </p>
<p>This narrative is gaining attention from the <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/google-funds-activist-site-that-pushes-its-views-rg2g5cr6t">mainstream media</a>, and there are even calls for a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/music-industry-lawyer-calls-criminal-investigation-article-13-vote-180723/">criminal investigation</a> into the matter.</p>
<p>Opponents of the upload filters clearly disagree. In part triggered by the criticism, but more importantly, to ensure that copyright reform proposals will change for the better, they plan to move the protests to <a href="https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/copyright-action-day-2018_238803#5/51.317/9.053">the streets of Europe</a> later this month.</p>
<p>Julia Reda, the Pirate Party&#8217;s Member of European Parliament, is calling people to join these protests, to have their voices heard, and to show the critics that there are real people behind the opposition.</p>
<p>&#8220;We haven’t won yet. After their initial shock at losing the vote in July, the proponents of upload filters and the &#8216;link tax&#8217; have come up with a convenient narrative to downplay the massive public opposition they faced,&#8221; Reda <a href="https://juliareda.eu/2018/08/saveyourinternet-action-day/">writes</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;They’re claiming the protest was all fake, generated by bots and orchestrated by big internet companies. According to them, Europeans don’t actually care about their freedom of expression. We don’t actually care about EU lawmaking enough to make our voices heard. We will just stand idly by as our internet is restricted to serve corporate interests.&#8221;</p>
<p>Thus far, <a href="https://www.change.org/p/european-parliament-stop-the-censorship-machinery-save-the-internet">nearly a million people</a> have voiced their discontent with the copyright reform plans through an online petition. And if it&#8217;s up to Reda, these people should do the same away from their keyboard.</p>
<p>On September 12th, Members of Parliament will vote on the future of the Copyright Directive and the protests are planned two weeks earlier, on August 26th. </p>
<p>&#8220;Our goal is clear: The Parliament must adopt alternatives for Article 11 and Article 13 that don’t force platforms to install upload filters and don’t threaten links and snippets with an extra layer of copyright,&#8221; Reda notes.</p>
<p>The public protests will take place in several cities including Berlin, Ljubljana, Prague, Stockholm, Vienna, and Warsaw. The organizers hope to gain the same momentum as the ACTA protests did when <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/massive-street-protests-wage-war-on-acta-anti-piracy-treaty-120211/">hundreds of thousands</a> of people marched the streets.</p>
<p>That would certainly make an impact. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, the tension between opponents and proponents of the Copyright Directive keeps growing. The latter will hope that the protests will only draw a small crowd, but if the turnout is high, they can always point out that many of the protest cities have <a href="https://www.google.com/about/locations/?region=europe">Google offices</a>.</p>
<p><center><strong>Protest locations</strong><br></br></center><center><iframe width="100%" height="300px" frameBorder="0" src="https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/en/map/copyright-action-day-2018_238803?scaleControl=false&#038;miniMap=false&#038;scrollWheelZoom=false&#038;zoomControl=true&#038;allowEdit=false&#038;moreControl=true&#038;searchControl=null&#038;tilelayersControl=null&#038;embedControl=null&#038;datalayersControl=true&#038;onLoadPanel=undefined&#038;captionBar=false"></iframe></center></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=159938
title: TRON: Our BitTorrent Plan Might Take Two Decades
uri: TRON-Our-BitTorrent-Plan-Might-Take-Two-Decades
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/KO27N-Mw5Y8/
content:
<p><a href="media/5c2b692b.tron-bittorrent.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/tron-bittorrent.png"><img src="media/cbed410f.tron-bittorrent.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/tron-bittorrent.png" alt="" width="270" height="237" class="alignright size-full wp-image-159222"></a>Back in May, TF broke the news that Justin Sun, the entrepreneur behind the popular cryptocurrency <a href="https://tron.network/index?lng=en">TRON</a>, was in the process of <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/tron-founder-plans-to-buy-bittorrent-inc-180525/">acquiring BitTorrent Inc.</p>
<p>Two months later, BitTorrent Inc. and the TRON Foundation <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/bittorrent-inc-confirms-acquisition-by-tron-foundation-180724/">confirmed</a> the acquisition.</p>
<p>“With this acquisition, BitTorrent will continue to provide high quality services for over 100M users around the world. We believe that joining the TRON network will further enhance BitTorrent and accelerate our mission of creating an Internet of options, not rules,” BitTorrent Inc. said.</p>
<p>TRON’s Justin Sun added that the acquisition of BitTorrent supports his foundation&#8217;s goal to decentralize the web but more concrete details beyond this vision have proven elusive. The entrepreneur has mentioned the possibility of <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/tron-wants-to-give-bittorrent-users-financial-incentives-to-seed-180731/">rewarding BitTorrent seeders</a> but that raises <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/bittorrent-tron-partnership-raises-important-questions-for-file-sharers-180805/">even more questions</a>. </p>
<p>This week, in celebration of TRON&#8217;s US and China teams meeting up for the first time, Sun dangled some additional information on why the acquisition took place and what TRON&#8217;s plans are for the future.</p>
<p>&#8220;Contrary to speculation, the main reason for the acquisition isn’t BitTorrent’s more than 100M active users, and it isn’t for an amazing commercial opportunity,&#8221; Sun said.</p>
<p>&#8220;Yes, these things are great perks, but the more important reason is that BitTorrent has always been committed to one value, which is &#8216;Democratize the Internet.&#8217; This is very much in line with TRON’s &#8216;Decentralize the Web.&#8217; The fact that our values are in sync is the driving force behind this acquisition.&#8221;</p>
<p>Following a short history lesson on Web 1.0 through to today&#8217;s Web 3.0, Sun highlighted BitTorrent achievements in the decentralized arena, one which enabled people to envision a totally decentralized Internet in the future. However, &#8220;profit-focused&#8221; companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Netflix eventually stepped in with models that only served to further centralize the Internet.</p>
<p>&#8220;The mistrust in centralization naturally results in a public reaction where people are expecting government intervention to monitor big tech companies. However, history itself has been telling us repeatedly that the involvement of a more centralized power will only worsen the problem,&#8221; Sun said.</p>
<p>According to TRON&#8217;s founder, the solution to the above is his Web 4.0, &#8220;a decentralized, mass-collaborative Internet governed by the community, with highly effective, available, and convenient Internet apps and services.&#8221;</p>
<p>Unlike most standard apps used by people today (such as those used to access Facebook etc), &#8216;DApps&#8217; &#8211; decentralized apps &#8211; are software applications that run on the blockchain. While the former access and provide data for centralized systems, the latter use the decentralized resources of other network users.</p>
<p>Sun wants TRON to become the largest decentralized Internet ecosystem in the world and this week offered four promises in respect of the TRON/BitTorrent partnership.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>1. We will develop the TRON Protocol and make sure it grows to be the largest and the most dynamic blockchain protocol in the world.<br>
2. We will develop the BitTorrent Protocol and its applications to guarantee BitTorrent’s dominance in global decentralized content distribution. We will also work to optimize the BitTorrent Protocol with blockchain technology.<br>
3. We will explore and develop other decentralized Internet protocols, in areas such as decentralized storage and cloud computing.<br>
4. We will develop a series of decentralized apps based on decentralized protocols, so that everyone in the world can enjoy decentralized Internet services.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>But for those wanting a slice of exciting decentralized cake today, it may be wise to put on a pot of coffee &#8211; after first planting and then growing the beans several times over.</p>
<p>&#8220;This is a long-term mission which will take 10 to 20 years to complete. I’m 28 now. I will devote my whole life to the revolution of Internet decentralization,&#8221; Sun says.</p>
<p>&#8220;TRON is committed to rejuvenating the revolution led by BitTorrent at the beginning of the 21st century, saving the Internet from centralized monopolies, and establishing a free, transparent, and decentralized Web 4.0.&#8221;</p>
<p>We&#8217;ll have an update in 2028, see you then.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=159657
title: ISP Has No ‘Safe Harbor’ Defense in Piracy Case, Record Labels Argue
uri: ISP-Has-No-Safe-Harbor-Defense-in-Piracy-Case-Record-Labels-Arg
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/K9ZDSA1gFRM/
content:
<p><img src="media/f2bfe741.pirate-running.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/pirate-running.jpg" alt="" width="222" height="204" class="alignright size-full wp-image-78717">Last year several major record labels, represented by the RIAA, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/riaa-sues-isp-grande-communications-for-failing-to-disconnect-pirates-170422/">filed a lawsuit</a> against ISP Grande Communications accusing it of turning a blind eye to pirating subscribers.</p>
<p>According to the RIAA, the Internet provider knew that some of its subscribers were frequently distributing copyrighted material, but failed to take any meaningful action in response.</p>
<p>Grande refuted the accusations and filed a motion to dismiss the case. The ISP <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/isp-books-partial-victory-against-riaa-in-piracy-lawsuit-180405/">partially succeeded</a> as the claims against its management company Patriot were dropped. The same was true for the vicarious infringement allegations, as the court saw no evidence that the ISP had a direct financial interest in the infringing activity. </p>
<p>The labels were not willing to let go so easily. </p>
<p>They submitted a motion for leave to file an amended complaint including new evidence obtained during discovery. And a few days ago, they upped the pressure with a motion for summary judgment, arguing that Grande has no safe harbor defense. </p>
<p>In order to get safe harbor protection, the DMCA requires ISPs to adopt and reasonably implement a policy for terminating the accounts of repeat copyright infringers. According to the motion, it is clear that Grande failed to do so. As such, the company should be held directly liable.</p>
<p>&#8220;For years, Grande claimed in its online &#8216;Acceptable Use Policy&#8217; that it had a policy of terminating repeat infringers. Grande continued to assert that claim in its pleadings and written discovery responses in this suit. </p>
<p>&#8220;None of that was true. The undisputed record evidence establishes that Grande’s Acceptable Use Policy was a sham,&#8221; the labels&#8217; motion reads.</p>
<p>There can be little dispute over Grande&#8217;s failing policy, the labels state. They point out that corporate paperwork and testimony of Grande&#8217;s senior executives clearly show that there wasn&#8217;t an adequate repeat infringer policy.</p>
<p>&#8220;Indeed, the documents and testimony demonstrate that rather than a policy for terminating repeat infringers, Grande consciously chose the opposite: a policy allowing unlimited infringement by its subscribers,&#8221; the labels write.</p>
<p>At the same time, there was no lack of DMCA notices. The labels note that the ISP received at least 1.2 million notices of alleged copyright infringement between 2011 and 2016. This includes hundreds of thousands of notices from Rightscorp.</p>
<p>Despite these repeated warnings, the company didn&#8217;t terminate a single subscriber from October 2010 until June 2017, the labels allege. This changed after the lawsuit was filed, but even then the number remained minimal, with &#8216;only&#8217; twelve terminations.</p>
<p>Based on the provided information, the record labels ask for a summary judgment in their favor. </p>
<p>&#8220;Grande’s failure to adopt and reasonably implement a repeat infringer policy renders Grande ineligible for the DMCA safe harbor. The Court should grant Plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment and reject Grande’s DMCA safe harbor defense as a matter of law,&#8221; the labels say.</p>
<p>If the court sides with the record labels, Grande will be at a severe disadvantage, to say the least. </p>
<p>Without safe harbor protection, the company can be held liable for the copyright infringements of its users, which could potentially lead to dozens of millions of dollars in damages.</p>
<p><em>&#8212;</p>
<p>A copy of the record labels motion is available <a href="media/36b49c2d.grandesafeharbor.pdf" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/grandesafeharbor.pdf">here (pdf)</a>.</em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=159965
title: TheISOZone: Yet Another Retro Gaming Site Shuts Down
uri: TheISOZone-Yet-Another-Retro-Gaming-Site-Shuts-Down
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/zDnnnNkBrQY/
content:
<p><a href="media/bb468901.retro-game.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/retro-game.png"><img src="media/3bd9c62f.retro-game.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/retro-game.png" alt="" width="250" height="160" class="alignright size-full wp-image-159747"></a>Last month, Nintendo flexed its considerable muscles by targeting two retro-gaming platforms.</p>
<p>The Japanese gaming giant <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/nintendo-sues-console-rom-sites-for-mass-copyright-infringement-180720/">filed a complaint</a> at a federal court in Arizona, targeting LoveROMS.com and LoveRETRO.co for copyright and trademark infringement.</p>
<p>With potentially millions of dollars in damages at stake, both sites quickly shut down, taking libraries of gaming ROMs with them. But for fans of emulators and retro-gaming, the bad news wasn&#8217;t over yet.</p>
<p>In an announcement last week, <a href="https://www.emuparadise.me">EmuParadise</a>, one of the web&#8217;s longest standing emulator and ROM download portals, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/nintendo-rom-fallout-emuparadise-terminates-all-game-downloads-180809/">announced</a> that it will no longer be offering game ROMs for download. After 18 years of service, EmuParadise had fallen, largely because of Nintendo&#8217;s aggressive actions elsewhere.</p>
<p>This chain of events caused shockwaves in the retro-gaming community, waves that are already beginning to widen. A statement just published by fellow gaming site <a href="http://www.theisozone.com/statement.php">TheISOZone</a> indicates that it too will make a sharp exit from the scene.</p>
<p>&#8220;Copyright infringement laws vary from country to country, but the premise in a nutshell is that copyright infringement is the cause of monetary loss or damage to the copyright holder. With retro gaming, there are no ways of purchasing the games &#8211; let alone the systems to play them on &#8211; in a way that would still generate the copyright holders revenue. None whatsoever,&#8221; TiZ from the site said.</p>
<p>&#8220;This is why retro roms have always been a grey area. The distribution of their works, although frowned upon, were never actioned against as in a court of law that is what they would have to prove &#8211; monetary loss or damages. And they couldn&#8217;t &#8211; because it&#8217;s simply not true.&#8221;</p>
<p>While lawyers in various jurisdictions will queue up to dissect his take on the law, TiZ says that times are changing, perhaps in a way that will allow copyright holders to more easily demonstrate monetary losses.</p>
<p>&#8220;There are now growing ways of obtaining these retro titles through avenues which DO benefit the copyright holders and it seems clear due to recent events, that there are a lot more avenues in development,&#8221; TiZ says.</p>
<p>&#8220;This is why we decided to throw in the towel of our own accord. It was a good ride and it was a just ride, however it is clear that in the not so distant future, distributing retro titles could be a serious case of copyright infringement.&#8221;</p>
<p>TiZ isn&#8217;t optimistic that any legal offerings by games companies will get the formula right, so he&#8217;s suggesting that operators of retro sites could team up with copyright holders to target gamers in the right way.</p>
<p>&#8220;We have ideas on how the archiving of retro titles and the pleasing of the copyright holders should be done and would love to pursue it eventually,&#8221; he writes.</p>
<p>&#8220;We think the webmasters of retro rom sites should come together and work with the copyright holders. It does not have to be this hard &#8211; and criminals should not be made out of passionate enthusiasts.&#8221;</p>
<p>In short, TiZ would like to see a Spotify for retro games. However, he also says he&#8217;s aware of a new project, run by retro gaming enthusiasts, that could see TheISOZone&#8217;s ROM archives rebuilt and offered to the public. </p>
<p>So, another life lost perhaps&#8230;&#8230;but it&#8217;s not quite Game Over yet.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=159944
title: RIAA Paid Handsomely for BitTorrent Piracy Evidence
uri: RIAA-Paid-Handsomely-for-BitTorrent-Piracy-Evidence
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/oy7ELH375e4/
content:
<p><img src="media/3ca10933.riaa.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/riaa.png" alt="" width="250" height="134" class="alignright size-full wp-image-108672">Regular Internet providers are being put under increasing pressure for not doing enough to curb copyright infringement.</p>
<p>This has already resulted in several &#8216;repeat infringer&#8217; lawsuits in US federal courts. The major record labels, helped by the RIAA, are the driving force behind most of these cases.</p>
<p>There is another notable party of interest though. Anti-piracy company <a href="https://www.rightscorp.com/">Rightscorp</a>, known for sending <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/rightscorp-plans-to-hijack-pirates-browsers-until-a-fine-is-paid-160402/">settlement requests</a> to alleged pirates through the DMCA notification system, plays a central role as well. </p>
<p>The company&#8217;s notices are used as &#8216;evidence&#8217; to show that ISPs such as Grande and Cox Communications failed to disconnect repeat infringers from their networks. While Rightscorp settlement practices <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/rightscorp-revenue-from-piracy-settlements-down-48-in-2017-171125/">haven&#8217;t been particularly profitable</a>, court records reveal that the company was paid handsomely for its litigation support. </p>
<p>In a recent court filing, which was insufficiently redacted, Grande Communications reveals that the BitTorrent piracy monitoring company was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars.</p>
<p>&#8220;In 2016, Rightscorp approached the Recording Industry Association of America (“RIAA”) and convinced that association to purchase Rightscorp’s Grande-related notices for $700,000,&#8221; Grande&#8217;s legal team writes.</p>
<p>&#8220;Rightscorp also convinced the RIAA to pay Rightscorp’s representatives hourly rates of $350-$500 to testify in this matter,&#8221; they add.</p>
<p>It is no secret that RIAA is a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/the-riaa-is-now-copyright-troll-rightscorps-biggest-customer-170424/">Rightscorp customer</a>, or that Rightscorp <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/rightscorp-prompted-the-riaa-to-sue-internet-provider-180714/">inspired</a> the RIAA to sue ISPs, but this is the first time we&#8217;ve read that the music industry group specifically paid for the notices. Further details on the agreement were not revealed, however.</p>
<p>The information comes from a motion for summary judgment that was denied near instantly, as it relied heavily on redacted elements. While a revised version will likely be submitted later, it&#8217;s quite clear that Grande rejects any attempts to hold it liable for pirating subscribers.  </p>
<p>The company notes that the major record labels want to turn ISPs into de facto copyright enforcement agents, a strategy it clearly rejects.</p>
<p>&#8220;Having given up on actually pursuing direct infringers due to bad publicity, and having decided not to target the software and websites that make online file-sharing possible, the recording industry has shifted its focus to fashioning new forms of copyright liability that would require ISPs to act as the copyright police,&#8221; the denied motion reads.</p>
<p>Although the RIAA is not listed as a plaintiff, it is clear that the music group helped to set out the legal strategy for the labels. This prompted Grande to request information from the RIAA, in particularly its communications with Rightscorp. </p>
<p>The RIAA is refusing to hand over all the requested documents, however, claiming that some are protected work. Grande, therefore, filed a separate motion to compel the RIAA to hand over this information.</p>
<p>&#8220;Plaintiffs and the RIAA are relying on Rightscorp’s work product to support their claims in this case, while at the same time refusing to produce Rightscorp materials, and communications with Rightscorp, that may undermine those claims. The Court should not permit this sort of gamesmanship,&#8221; Grande&#8217;s legal team writes.</p>
<p>It appears that the ISP is trying to use Rightscorp&#8217;s evidence and its role in this case, for its defense. The company already discredited the accuracy of the notices, and described Rightscorp as little more than a &#8220;hired gun,&#8221; albeit one that was handsomely paid. </p>
<p><em>&#8212;</p>
<p>A copy of Grande&#8217;s reply in support of its motion to compel the RIAA to hand over additional information is available <a href="media/19fddeda.replysupport.pdf" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/replysupport.pdf">here (pdf)</a> </em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=159963
title: Stolen Android Anti-Piracy Software Dumped on Github
uri: Stolen-Android-Anti-Piracy-Software-Dumped-on-Github
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/knmYxEqhNT4/
content:
<p><a href="media/8d79d9e5.barcode-pirate.jpg" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/barcode-pirate.jpg"><img src="media/75cdc0c7.barcode-pirate.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/barcode-pirate.jpg" alt="" width="125" height="125" class="alignright size-full wp-image-11328"></a>There are dozens of anti-piracy systems in the world designed to protect everything from music, movies and TV shows through to videogames and software.</p>
<p>In years gone by, many made the mistake of claiming to be impenetrable but as history has shown, most protections now act as mere stumbling blocks, to slow leaks and piracy down. What is more unusual is to hear of an anti-piracy tool itself being leaked online.</p>
<p>That appears to have been the case when code belonging to security company Guardsquare appeared online.</p>
<p>&#8220;We develop premium software for the protection of mobile applications against reverse engineering and hacking,&#8221; the company&#8217;s website reads.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our products are used across the world in a broad range of industries, from financial services, e-commerce and the public sector to telecommunication, gaming and media.&#8221;</p>
<p>One of Guardsquare&#8217;s products is <a href="https://www.guardsquare.com/en/products/dexguard">Dexguard</a>, a tool to protect Android applications from being decompiled, something that can lead to piracy, credential harvesting, tampering and cloning. Unfortunately, a version of Dexguard itself ended up on Github.</p>
<p>In a <a href="https://github.com/github/dmca/commit/c80cf1cd576e3481787d2687d2bf2299cafdb431">takedown notice</a> filed with the Microsoft-owned code platform, Guardsquare explains that the code is unauthorized and was obtained illegally.</p>
<p>&#8220;The listed folders&#8230;.contain an older version of our commercial obfuscation software (DexGuard) for Android applications. The folder is part of a larger code base that was stolen from one of our former customers,&#8221; Guardsquare writes.</p>
<p>While the repository containing the illegal copy of Dexguard was quickly taken down, the leaked code had already spread. Guardsquare found almost 300 &#8216;forks&#8217; of the stolen software on Github and filed a request to have them all taken down.</p>
<p>That has now taken place but the account of the Github user who originally uploaded the content seems to be intact.</p>
<p>Using the name &#8216;HackedTeam&#8217;, the <a href="https://github.com/hackedteam">account</a> contains code dating back several years. Some appears to be linked to Android spyware <a href="https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/hacking-team-rcsandroid-spying-tool-listens-to-calls-roots-devices-to-get-in/">previously described</a> as &#8220;one of the most professionally developed and sophisticated Android malware ever exposed.&#8221;</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160033
title: Prenda Lawyer Pleads Guilty in Pirate Bay Honeypot Case
uri: Prenda-Lawyer-Pleads-Guilty-in-Pirate-Bay-Honeypot-Case
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/sgKA50IAY9c/
content:
<p><img src="media/17a592c8.trollsign.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/trollsign.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="167" class="alignright size-full wp-image-108977">Over the past several years, so-called copyright trolls have been accused of various dubious schemes and actions, with one group as the frontrunner.</p>
<p>The now-defunct <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/?s=prenda">Prenda</a> Law grabbed dozens of headlines, mostly surrounding negative court rulings over <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/prenda-spoofs-identity-wants-case-sealed-130815/">identity theft</a>, misrepresentation and even deception.</p>
<p>Most controversial was the shocking revelation that Prenda <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/the-pirate-bay-helps-to-expose-copyright-troll-honeypot-130604/">uploaded their own torrents</a> to The Pirate Bay, creating a honeypot for the people they later sued over pirated downloads.</p>
<p>The accusation was first published here on TorrentFreak. While some disregarded it as a wild conspiracy theory, the US Department of Justice took it rather seriously.  These and other allegations ultimately resulted in a criminal indictment, which was <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-pleads-guilty-role-multi-million-dollar-scheme-fraudulently-obtain-copyright">filed in 2016</a>. </p>
<p>The US Government accused two of the leading Prenda lawyers of various crimes, including money laundering, perjury, mail and wire fraud. This week one of the defendants, Paul Hansmeier, pleaded guilty to two of the counts. </p>
<p>Hansmeier signed a plea agreement admitting that he is guilty of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering.</p>
<p>The plea agreement comes with a statement of facts which includes a description of the Pirate Bay honeypot scheme. In addition, it describes how Hansmeier and his colleague John Steele generated millions of dollars by threatening BitTorrent users who allegedly downloaded pirated porn videos.</p>
<p>&#8220;Beginning no later than in or about April 2011, HANSMEIER and Steele caused P.H. to upload their clients’ pornographic movies to BitTorrent file-sharing websites, including a website named the Pirate Bay in order to entice people to download the movies and make it easier to catch those who attempted to obtain the movies.  </p>
<p>&#8220;As defendants knew, the BitTorrent websites to which they uploaded their clients’ movies were specifically designed to aid copyright infringement by allowing users to share files, including movies, without paying any fees to the copyright holders,&#8221; the agreement reads.</p>
<p><center><strong>From the plea agreement</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/53ddbbb0.hansadmit.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/hansadmit.png" alt="" width="600" height="291" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160040"></center></p>
<p>After extracting IP-addresses of account holders who allegedly shared the files Prenda created and uploaded, they asked courts for subpoenas to obtain the personal info of their targets from ISPs. This contact information was then used to coerce victims to pay settlements of thousands of dollars.</p>
<p>Prenda Law went to great lengths to hide its direct involvement in the uploading of the material as well as its personal stake in the lawsuits and settlements, according to the plea agreement.</p>
<p>Both attorneys obscured their involvement by creating several companies, which were then used to file lawsuits against alleged pirates. In addition to running a honeypot, Prenda also began creating their own porn movies, which were then shared on file-sharing sites as bait.</p>
<p>&#8220;Shortly after filming the movies, HANSMEIER instructed P.H. to upload the movies to file-sharing websites&#8217;such as the Pirate Bay in order to catch, and filed lawsuits against, people who attempted to download the movies,&#8221; the plea agreement reads.</p>
<p>Hansmeiers&#8217; guilty plea applies to a count of wire fraud and mail fraud, as well as a count of money laundering. Both come with a potential jail sentence of 20 years as well as hundreds of thousands of criminal fines. </p>
<p>Previously, the Prenda attorney filed a motion to dismiss, which was denied. This decision is currently under appeal and the present plea agreement is conditional, meaning that Hansmeier has the right to withdraw it if he wins that. </p>
<p>This please agreement comes after fellow Prenda attorney John Steele agreed to a <a href="media/18d63f0c.steele-plea.pdf" data-original-source="https://torrentfreak.com/images/steele-plea.pdf">similar deal</a> last year.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s rather unique that information provided by The Pirate Bay team is being used to help build a criminal case in the US. And with both lawyers having personally signed a statement of facts that confirm the honeypot scheme, there can be little doubt that Pirate Bay&#8217;s allegations were indeed true.</p>
<p>Finally, there is also some good news for the victims of the Prenda copyright-trolling scheme. The plea agreement specifically states that those who were hurt by the scheme are entitled to get the maximum restitution possible.</p>
<p>&#8220;Defendant understands and agrees that the Mandatory Restitution Act [&#8230;] applies and that the Court is required to order the defendant to pay the maximum restitution to the victims of his crimes as provided by law,&#8221; it reads.</p>
<p><em>&#8212;</p>
<p>A copy of Hansmeier&#8217;s plea agreement is available <a href="media/95acb012.prenda.pdf" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/prenda.pdf">here (pdf)</a>.</em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=159954
title: Labels Have a Right to Be Angry About Piracy But it Probably Won’t Help
uri: Labels-Have-a-Right-to-Be-Angry-About-Piracy-But-it-Probably-Won-t-H
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/eWhgIlFKzMI/
content:
<p><a href="media/3bdfeafa.piratemusiccasset.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/piratemusiccasset.png"><img src="media/a585da8e.piratemusiccasset.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/piratemusiccasset.png" alt="" width="234" height="152" class="alignright size-full wp-image-135510"></a>If entertainment content can be viewed, heard, held or otherwise experienced by humans, it can be copied and shared too. This has been the position for decades and the situation won&#8217;t be changing anytime soon.</p>
<p>These largely unauthorized acts of reproduction and distribution stoke the furnaces of what appear to be endless copyright wars. When DRM and similar measures can&#8217;t prevent sharing, new legislation, increased liabilities, and more severe punishments are pursued by copyright holders. None of it seems to work.</p>
<p>With the majority of corporate-controlled entertainment media persistently supported by a chorus of anti-piracy rhetoric, it&#8217;s unsurprising that equally passionate pro-sharing views proliferate on the &#8216;other&#8217; side. However, there is an increasing middle ground occupied by pirates who are also content buyers. Indeed, pirates are now regularly cited as some of the entertainment industry&#8217;s best customers (<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/surprise-aussie-internet-pirates-are-the-best-customers-161121/">1</a>,<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/pirates-are-valuable-customers-not-the-enemy-180606/">2</a>).</p>
<p>That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s always difficult to see people trying to make an honest living from selling content yet getting frustrated and sidetracked by inevitable online piracy that could potentially be turned around into something more positive.</p>
<p>This week, a small storm blew up on Twitter following a tweet by &#8216;Grim Darkthrone&#8217;, the owner of <a href="https://cultofosiris.bandcamp.com">Cult Of Osiris</a>, a fledgling digital black metal label. He&#8217;d just discovered that his label&#8217;s very first album release from Scandinavian band Uten Håp had been uploaded online.</p>
<p>&#8220;So, the human scum at Metal Tracker have illegally put up a torrent of Uten Håp to download,&#8221; he <a href="https://twitter.com/cultofosirisuk/status/1029451261370884097">wrote</a> on Twitter.</p>
<p>&#8220;I’ve sent them an email asking it be removed and they pay us the amount of revenue those downloads would’ve generated. If they don’t reply, my solicitor will speak to them. Poor show.&#8221;</p>
<p>While some might find themselves immediately offended by a) the piracy or b) the aggressive response, the chorus on Twitter erred towards &#8216;educating&#8217; Grim on the potential benefits of sharing.</p>
<p>&#8220;[P]iracy may support your revenue in the long run. And a download doesn’t equal lost sales,&#8221; one metal fan <a href="https://twitter.com/rcristofrf/status/1029455012898979840">wrote</a> in response. </p>
<p>&#8220;How about they insert links to the official pages and support you this way? Be nice. You can’t win this fighting,&#8221; he added, linking to a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/piracy-can-boost-digital-music-sales-research-shows-160121/">TF article</a> that suggested that piracy could actually boost digital sales.</p>
<p>It didn&#8217;t cut much ice with Grim, who &#8211; as mentioned earlier &#8211; is just starting out with his label.</p>
<p>&#8220;I like you man, but how about I decide what to do when someone is stealing music I release?&#8221; he responded.</p>
<p>&#8220;These people are thieves. You can explain it away how you want. It is stealing.&#8221;</p>
<p>As the tweets were rolling back and forth, we checked the number of downloads on Metal Tracker. As the image below shows, they sat at just over 100.</p>
<p><center><a href="media/9fab74dd.human-scum1-e1534406252881.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/human-scum1-e1534406252881.png"><img src="media/9fab74dd.human-scum1-e1534406252881.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/human-scum1-e1534406252881.png" alt="" width="600" height="534" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-159969"></a></center></p>
<p>While this number of downloads is a drop in the ocean compared to mainstream releases, it&#8217;s important to realize that this is not mainstream content. And, as mentioned already, this appears to be Grim&#8217;s first release for his new label. It&#8217;s likely that a lot hinges on this album being a success so his tone is probably best viewed through that prism.</p>
<p>Indeed, in an email exchange with TF, Grim told us that his label is small. He needs data of who is streaming and downloading the band&#8217;s album and he needs valuable sales. His stuff being distributed on a tracker robs him of all of that, he told us.</p>
<p>We got the impression that the guy is simply trying to make a success of his work and that he finds this situation frustrating. Anyone with the ability to see both sides of an argument should appreciate why the guy feels the way he does, even if they don&#8217;t agree with him. He has a right &#8211; backed up by law &#8211; to be angry but could another approach prove more productive?</p>
<p>&#8220;[I]f you are clever, you use [piracy] to support your bands. If you’re trying to fight it, you’ll lose,&#8221; Grim was <a href="https://twitter.com/rcristofrf/status/1029456591681216513">advised</a> on Twitter.</p>
<p>The big question, of course, is how that can be achieved. From our brief exchange, we could tell that Grim probably won&#8217;t change his stance that piracy is tantamount to theft. However, he also said that Metal Tracker might have done things differently, in a way that could&#8217;ve benefited his label.</p>
<p>We aren&#8217;t going to second guess what might transpire but we&#8217;ll go out on a limb and say that legal action isn&#8217;t going to achieve the desired result. Why? Because it never does.</p>
<p>Legal action is expensive for major labels so for a small outfit it would simply prove to be a corrosive distraction. And, at just £5 for the official Uten Håp release (which seems great value), the label would have to sell dozens of albums to pay for a simple lawyer&#8217;s letter, let alone begin some kind of case.</p>
<p>As we told Grim, we&#8217;re no music industry experts but the whole thing is a probably a bit of a balancing act, with the existing popularity of the act he&#8217;s trying to promote (and their current sales) on one side, and what those sales might be with greater exposure via piracy on the other.</p>
<p>Hopefully, the guy will eventually find some peace and a way to benefit from the situation &#8211; he won&#8217;t be the first or last to try.</p>
<p><em>The album, for those who are interested, can be downloaded <a href="https://cultofosiris.bandcamp.com/releases">here</a>.</em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=159583
title: BitTorrent Inventor Bram Cohen Leaves BitTorrent Behind
uri: BitTorrent-Inventor-Bram-Cohen-Leaves-BitTorrent-Behind
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/Ud0tPQyAMQM/
content:
<p><img src="media/f8a9762e.bramco.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/bramco.jpg" alt="" width="234" height="219" class="alignright size-full wp-image-159590">When Bram Cohen first revealed BitTorrent on a public message board on July 2nd 2001, he never imagined it would quickly become a main driver of Internet traffic. </p>
<p>In the years that followed, hundreds of millions of people embraced the technology and more than seventeen years later, many still are. </p>
<p>As the technology became more popular, Bram Cohen co-founded the company BitTorrent Inc. in 2004. This promising startup raised millions in funding and made millions more through advertising, but financially it never really took off. </p>
<p>Cohen himself was more interested in code than money though. As BitTorrent Inc&#8217;s lead engineer he worked hard on a live streaming implementation of BitTorrent, believing that it could power the future of online live news and entertainment.</p>
<p>Despite the technical achievements, BitTorrent Inc. headed into rough waters. The company tried to reinvent itself under new leadership, but the millions that were spent didn&#8217;t translate to greater success.</p>
<p>BitTorrent&#8217;s inventor lashed out against the company&#8217;s management and it appears that he, slowly but steadily, went his own way. Cohen has recently taken an interest in blockchain technology, and he&#8217;s working on his own environmentally friendly cryptocurrency <a href="https://chia.net/">Chia</a>.</p>
<p>Where the broader public sees crypto as a revenue potential, Cohen is mostly interested by the technological aspects. He&#8217;s been critical of &#8220;<a href="https://twitter.com/bramcohen/status/58235327533416449">goldbuggism</a>&#8221; since the beginning and sees Bitcoin as something that&#8217;s fundamentally <a href="https://twitter.com/bramcohen/status/139853552263766016">flawed</a>, especially the wasteful mining process. </p>
<p><center><strong>&#8220;Goldbuggism&#8221;</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/288e6882.goldbuggis.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/goldbuggis.png" alt="" width="598" height="255" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-159595"></center></p>
<p>Considering Cohen&#8217;s criticism of other cryptocurrencies and the hype surrounding them, there is some irony to the fact that one of the most controversial cryptos, TRON, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/bittorrent-inc-confirms-acquisition-by-tron-foundation-180724/">acquired</a> the company he founded.</p>
<p>TRON&#8217;s founder recently launched the idea to &#8220;improve&#8221; Cohen&#8217;s protocol by integrating it into the TRON network. This will allow users to <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/tron-wants-to-give-bittorrent-users-financial-incentives-to-seed-180731/">earn TRX currency by seeding files</a>. </p>
<p>A controversial idea, for sure. But what does Bram Cohen himself think about all this? When we asked some questions using the regular @bittorrent.com email, we received an auto-response, suggesting that BitTorrent&#8217;s inventor is no longer using that address. </p>
<p>Cohen hasn&#8217;t said anything in public about the TRON deal, and isn&#8217;t very talkative, but when we reached out using an alternative email the response was clear.</p>
<p>&#8220;I have no involvement with Tron,&#8221; Cohen noted. </p>
<p>We followed up by asking whether this means that he no longer has an official role at BitTorrent Inc. The response was again short but clear.</p>
<p>&#8220;That is correct,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>It is no secret that BitTorrent&#8217;s inventor had started to distance himself from the company he founded, but the responses we received suggest that he has moved on permanently, which is a big deal. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, Cohen didn&#8217;t comment any further on the issue. One can imagine, however, that seeing the company he built from the ground up being placed in the hands of a crypto millionaire, isn&#8217;t what he envisioned. </p>
<p>BitTorrent Inc. certainly loses some of its flair, without Bram Cohen. It&#8217;s the end of an era and, at the same time, the start of an uncertain future. </p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160062
title: Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week on BitTorrent – 08/20/18
uri: Top-10-Most-Pirated-Movies-of-The-Week-on-BitTorrent-08-20-18
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/NZfIAXpGUBk/
content:
<p><img src="media/6bcd6a6e.deadpool2.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/deadpool2.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" class="alignright size-full wp-image-156239">This week we have three newcomers in our chart.</p>
<p>Deadpool 2 is the most downloaded movie again.</p>
<p>The data for our weekly download chart is estimated by TorrentFreak, and is for informational and educational reference only. All the movies in the list are Web-DL/Webrip/HDRip/BDrip/DVDrip unless stated otherwise.</p>
<p><a href="http://TorrentFreak.com/category/dvdrip/feed/"><strong>RSS feed</strong></a> for the articles of the recent weekly movie download charts.</p>
<h5>This week&#8217;s most downloaded movies are:</h5>
<table class="css hover">
<thead>
<tr>
<th width="12%"><strong>Movie Rank</strong></th>
<th width="15%"><strong>Rank <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-pirated-movies-week-bittorrent-08-06-18/">last week</a></strong></th>
<th><strong>Movie name</strong></th>
<th width="18%"><strong>IMDb Rating / Trailer</strong></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tfoot>
<tr>
<td colspan="4">Most downloaded movies via torrents</td>
</tr>
</tfoot>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>1</strong></td>
<td>(1)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5463162/">Deadpool 2</a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5463162/">8.0</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D86RtevtfrA">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>2</strong></td>
<td>(2)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">Avengers: Infinity War </a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">8.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZfuNTqbHE8">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>3</strong></td>
<td>(&#8230;)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6499752/">Upgrade</a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6499752/">7.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36PDeN9NRZ0">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>4</strong></td>
<td>(&#8230;)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6306064">Adrift </a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6306064">6.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If2lCD0SQrE">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>5</strong></td>
<td>(3)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5758778/">Skyscraper </a> (subbed HDRip)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5758778/">6.1</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9QePUT-Yt8">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>6</strong></td>
<td>(4)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom </a> (subbed HDRip)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">6.5</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn9mMeWcgoM">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>7</strong></td>
<td>(&#8230;)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2854926/">Tag </a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2854926/">6.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjC1zmZo30U">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>8</strong></td>
<td>(5)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2231461/">Rampage</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2231461/">6.3</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coOKvrsmQiI">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>9</strong></td>
<td>(7)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6513656/">Escape Plan 2: Hades</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6513656/">3.9</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q7vVt-MeXk">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>10</strong></td>
<td>(8)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6452574/">Sanju</a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6452574/">8.8</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J76wN0TPI4">trailer</a></td>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160023
title: Pirate TV Box Seller Sentenced to 16 Months in Jail
uri: Pirate-TV-Box-Seller-Sentenced-to-16-Months-in-Jail
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/zaxijn9tm2w/
content:
<p><a href="media/2dae909e.skylogo.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/skylogo.png"><img src="media/049adc7a.skylogo.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/skylogo.png" alt="" width="222" height="129" class="alignright size-full wp-image-124729" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/skylogo.png 222w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/skylogo-220x129.png 220w" sizes="(max-width: 222px) 100vw, 222px"></a>A few short years ago, sellers of piracy-configured set-top devices were largely left alone but following pressure from rightsholders, the landscape is beginning to change.</p>
<p>While devices are still readily available, it is not the free-for-all it once was. That is partly due to the increase in prosecutions of those who seek to make a business out of selling cheap access to otherwise expensive subscription TV services.</p>
<p>In the UK, one of the most aggressive rightsholders is Sky. The company is regularly involved in anti-piracy actions to protect billions in content investment. This has put it on a collision course with people selling Kodi-based and similar IPTV devices. According to an announcement by the pay-TV company, another of its unofficial rivals has just fallen.</p>
<p>Warren Gleave of Burnley in the north of England sold piracy-configured set-top boxes to the public. It&#8217;s alleged that over a three-year period the 51-year-old made more than £200,000 ($254,754) from selling these products via online marketplaces and his own website.</p>
<p>Gleave&#8217;s business attracted the attention of Sky, which launched an investigation and eventually a private prosecution. On May 4, 2018, Gleave attended Blackburn Magistrates’ Court, pleading guilty to offenses under the Fraud Act 2006. Following a subsequent hearing at Burnley Crown Court, Gleave was handed a 16-month prison sentence.</p>
<p>“This case sends a clear message that piracy, in whatever form it takes, is illegal, and the repercussions for engaging in it can be severe,” said Matthew Hibbert, Head of Litigation at Sky UK.</p>
<p>Private prosecutions of alleged pirates have become a fairly regular feature of copyright infringement cases in the UK. In most of if not all cases, copyright infringement is the cornerstone of such prosecutions. However, it is offenses under the Fraud Act, which are more easily understood by a jury, that put offenders behind bars. </p>
<p>London and New York-based law firm Mishcon de Reya acted in the case on behalf of Sky. Director Gareth Minty, who is part of the firm&#8217;s &#8216;White Collar Crime Group&#8217;, says that those engaging in similar businesses are increasingly at risk of a prosecution.</p>
<p>“More than ever, those who are illegally engaging in piracy are in jeopardy of being detected, prosecuted and convicted. Private prosecutions are being used increasingly by rights holders, which means it is no longer just the police and other state authorities investigating and prosecuting these crimes,&#8221; Minty notes.</p>
<p>&#8220;Private prosecutions are instrumental in cases such as this, where those who break IP law and commit fraud can be held to account.&#8221;</p>
<p>Minty notes that the level of investment the state is prepared to invest in prosecutions is under increasing pressure so companies are turning to private prosecutions to enforce their rights. He believes that the route is effective and, as a result, they&#8217;re on an upward trend.</p>
<p>&#8220;[P]rivate prosecutions have been shown to enhance company reputations, reinforce corporate culture, and to act as a deterrent strategy for future behaviors that are harmful to business. Because they have been so effective in this regard, increased use of them is a trend we are fully expecting to continue,&#8221; he concludes.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160071
title: Court Halts ‘GTA V’ Cheat Maker Over Copyright Claim
uri: Court-Halts-GTA-V-Cheat-Maker-Over-Copyright-Claim
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/zJEmOSA-sB4/
content:
<p><img src="media/4592b5eb.220px-Grand_Theft_Auto_V.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/220px-Grand_Theft_Auto_V.png" alt="" width="220" height="270" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160081">Over the past year there has been a wave of copyright infringement lawsuits against alleged cheaters or cheat makers. </p>
<p>Fortnite&#8217;s developers have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/epic-games-sues-man-over-bitcoin-mining-fortnite-cheat-171019/">launched</a> a few cases in US courts, and so has Take-Two Interactive Software, the company behind &#8216;Grand Theft Auto V&#8217; (GTA V).</p>
<p>The latter managed to score a success last week. The court granted its requested preliminary injunction, ordering David Zipperer to stop working on and distributing the &#8216;Menyoo&#8217; and &#8216;Absolute&#8217; cheats.</p>
<p>The dispute between Zipperer is not new as <a href="https://kotaku.com/take-two-shuts-down-paid-gta-online-cheating-tool-forc-1796195820">Kotaku</a> highlights. Last year the game developer already sent Zipperer a cease and desist notice over the Menyoo cheat, which appeared to work. </p>
<p>The cheat was made unavailable at the website of the developer, who sold it for $10 a piece and said he would donate all the proceeds to a charity. Soon after, however, he began distributing another cheat titled &#8216;Absolute.&#8217;</p>
<p>&#8220;While Mr. Zipperer originally appeared cooperative and disabled access to the Menyoo program, it recently has come to Take-Two’s attention that Mr. Zipperer distributed a new cheating program titled Absolute,&#8221; GTA V&#8217;s developer wrote in its complaint. </p>
<p>This prompted the present lawsuit where Take-Two Interactive accuses the cheat maker of copyright infringement, among other things. Specifically, Zipperer stands accused of creating derivative works of GTA V without Take-Two&#8217;s authorization.</p>
<p>According to a court order issued late last week, the allegations are sufficient to grant a preliminary injunction. This means that, for the time being, Zipperer is ordered to stop creating, producing, and distributing any infringing works.</p>
<p><center><img src="media/97d24063.injun.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/injun.png" alt="" width="590" height="306" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160077"></center></p>
<p>Zipperer opposed the request for an injunction arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction and that the issue was moot. He told the court that he already stopped distributing Menyoo and that he also stopped working on Absolute.</p>
<p>&#8220;I will not be performing any more computer programming for Absolute in the future. I have informed the individuals responsible for Absolute that I will not assist them in the future. I have no intention of working on any other &#8216;cheat menu&#8217; for GTAV,&#8221; Zipperer wrote. </p>
<p>The court, however, concluded that this doesn&#8217;t make the injunction request moot, not least because the defendant previously continued his infringing actions, following a cease and desist order from Take-Two Interactive.</p>
<p>&#8220;Mr. Zipperer agreed to cease his activities and shut down Menyoo. But he then secretly started developing and distributing a different program called Absolute, which like Menyoo, alters GTAV&#8217;s multiplayer feature,&#8221; the court writes. </p>
<p>However, Zipperer&#8217;s comments suggest that he&#8217;s not the only person who has control over the cheats. This means that they may still be available elsewhere. For now, however, the <a href="https://absolutemenu.com/">Absolute website</a> appears to be offline.</p>
<p>In addition to this lawsuit, Take-Two Interactive has a separate case pending against two people who are allegedly connected to “Infamous,” another popular GTA V cheat.</p>
<p>&#8212;</p>
<p>A copy of the preliminary injunction and the associated order is available <a href="media/34caebb5.zipinj.pdf" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/zipinj.pdf">here (pdf)</a>.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160058
title: No Ban for ‘Stealing’ and ‘Theft’ Terms During Cox’s Piracy Liability Trial
uri: No-Ban-for-Stealing-and-Theft-Terms-During-Cox-s-Piracy
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/SwMLQ8U0Zmo/
content:
<p><img src="media/e6de503d.stealacar.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/stealacar.png" alt="" width="278" height="157" class="alignright size-full wp-image-140846">Earlier this year, the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/appeals-court-throws-out-25-million-piracy-verdict-against-cox-doesnt-reinstate-safe-harbor-180201/">overturned</a> the $25 million piracy liability verdict against Internet provider Cox.</p>
<p>The panel of three judges concluded that the district court made an error in its jury instruction and ordered a new trial.</p>
<p>This means that music publisher BMG Rights Management and Cox will go head to head again in a new trial, which starts next week. Both parties are working on the final preparations and have filed a series of motions to preclude certain information from the proceedings. </p>
<p>One request, submitted by the Internet provider, stands out as it deals with terminology used to describe copyright infringement. The entire case revolved around Cox&#8217;s alleged failure to disconnect &#8220;repeat copyright infringers.&#8221;</p>
<p>While Cox doesn&#8217;t deny that copyright infringement is the central issue, it does object to some of the terminologies BMG used during the previous trial.  </p>
<p>During the opening statement, BMG&#8217;s lawyer stated that Cox aided and abetted “stealing,” “illegal conduct,” and “illegal infringement,” among other things. In addition, Cox accuses the lawyer of making other prejudicial statements.</p>
<p>The ISP, therefore, asked the court to ban argumentative statements that prejudice Cox and risk confusing the jury. In addition, terms such as stealing or theft should be prohibited as well.</p>
<p>&#8220;Cox requests a ruling that requires BMG’s counsel to refer to the alleged conduct as an &#8216;alleged violation of the Copyright laws,&#8217; &#8216;alleged infringement of BMG’s Copyright rights,&#8217; or something similar — not stealing, theft, or any other related term,&#8221; the ISP asked. </p>
<p>During the first trial, the court acknowledged that the use of the word “stealing” by BMG&#8217;s counsel was inappropriate. At the time, Cox had no reason to believe that BMG would use these characterizations, but that&#8217;s different now, hence the request.</p>
<p>&#8220;Based on the existing record, however, Cox now has reason to believe that BMG’s counsel will indeed engage in the same improper practice and thus seeks a preemptive order restricting BMG’s counsel from doing so,&#8221; Cox writes.</p>
<p>In an order issued a few days ago, US District Court Judge Liam O&#8217;Grady doesn&#8217;t share Cox&#8217;s concerns. According to the Judge, terms such as &#8220;stealing&#8221; and &#8220;theft&#8221; are not a major problem.</p>
<p>&#8220;Specifically, the Court does not find it appropriate to bar BMG from referring to copyright infringement as stealing, theft, or some other related term, as such language is not unduly prejudicial to Cox,&#8221; the order reads.</p>
<p>Judge O&#8217;Grady expects that both sides will stick to the rules during their opening statements. Should any objectionable issues arise, these can be dealt with during the upcoming trial, which Cox will start without a DMCA safe harbor defense.</p>
<p>While Cox&#8217;s request to exclude the &#8220;stealing&#8221; and &#8220;theft&#8221; terminology may be unusual, it&#8217;s certainly not unique. Previously, the file-hosting service Hotfile submitted a similar request when it went to trial against the MPAA. This request <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/mpaa-banned-from-using-piracy-and-theft-terms-in-hotfile-trial-131129/">was granted</a>. </p>
<p><em>&#8212;</p>
<p>A copy of the relevant order is available <a href="media/bd15e34e.coxsteal.pdf" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/coxsteal.pdf">here (pdf)</a>.</em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160113
title: RIAA Complaint Shuts Down YouTube-Ripper MP3Fiber
uri: RIAA-Complaint-Shuts-Down-YouTube-Ripper-MP3Fiber
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/bQOLYCNzOnI/
content:
<p><a href="media/b9f3b5ba.sadyoutube.jpg" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/sadyoutube.jpg"><img src="media/34e023fb.sadyoutube.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/sadyoutube.jpg" alt="" width="275" height="196" class="alignright size-full wp-image-117196"></a>Every week, millions of Internet users get their musical fix from service like Spotify and iTunes. However, a growing number see YouTube as their preferred content platform.</p>
<p>In theory, labels and artists should get paid for every licensed stream accessed on YouTube but there are ways to disrupt that business model. So-called &#8216;YouTube-ripping&#8217; services allow people to extract MP3 audio files from YouTube videos and store them on their local machines. This is a thorn in the side of recording labels seeking to extract every last penny from their content.</p>
<p>In an effort to bring an end to this activity, the major labels of the RIAA in the US and BPI in the UK have been putting YouTube-ripping sites under pressure. Former market leader YouTube-MP3 was their most significant target, a site that eventually shut down following a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/youtube-mp3-settles-with-riaa-site-will-shut-down-170904/">settlement with the labels</a>. Now there&#8217;s news of fresh action against another player.</p>
<p><a href="http://mp3fiber.com/">MP3Fiber</a> allowed users to download MP3 audio from several platforms including YouTube, SoundCloud and Daily Motion. However, following recent threats from the RIAA, the site has decided to call it a day.</p>
<p><center><a href="media/6129b7f1.mp3fiber-down.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/mp3fiber-down.png"><img src="media/d7c80c22.mp3fiber-down.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/mp3fiber-down.png" alt="" width="600" height="156" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160121"></a></center></p>
<p>After launching an investigation against MP3Fiber, the RIAA asked domain privacy service DomainsByProxy to hand over the personal details of the site&#8217;s operator. TF is informed that the company responded by giving the RIAA what it wanted, in the absence of a court order. It did inform MP3Fiber that it had cooperated with the music group but that will probably be of little comfort to others using this supposed privacy service.</p>
<p>After obtaining his details, the RIAA then contacted the operator of the site, who lives in Canada. TF understands that due to the blank media levy in Canada, which reimburses the labels for private copying, the site believed it was operating legally. However, the RIAA insisted that since the MP3Fiber site was accessible in the US, this defense wouldn&#8217;t apply south of the border.</p>
<p>The operator was also reminded of the YouTube-MP3 case and <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/major-labels-sue-more-youtube-ripper-sites-180806/">another</a> involving a pair of Russian-based ripping sites. With no desire to endure any legal headaches with the RIAA, MP3Fiber&#8217;s operator took the decision to close down the service.</p>
<p>&#8220;This site was actually run as a hobby. We spent more on servers then we ever made so did not want to get into any legal battles. We pretty much gave in to their demands without too many other thoughts,&#8221; he told TF.</p>
<p>Action against YouTube-ripping sites has stepped up in 2018. In addition to the pressure on MP3Fiber and Russian sites FLVTO.biz and 2conv.com, June saw the closure of <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/youtube-download-sites-throw-in-the-towel-under-legal-pressure-180614/">Pickvideo.net, Video-download.co and EasyLoad.co</a>. All three are believed to have ended their activities following threats from the RIAA.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160119
title: Piracy is the Internet’s Canary in the Coal Mine, MPAA Chief Says
uri: Piracy-is-the-Internet-s-Canary-in-the-Coal-Mine-MPAA-Chief-Says
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/gSaQpsE9WeE/
content:
<p><img src="media/aef711a6.mpaa-new.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/mpaa-new.png" alt="" width="252" height="182" class="alignright size-full wp-image-158950">The entertainment industries are growing increasingly frustrated with major Internet platforms that, in their view, are not doing enough to tackle online piracy. </p>
<p>This was also the topic of a speech given by MPAA chief Charles Rivkin, during the TPI Aspen Forum yesterday.</p>
<p>The title of the speech is telling. Rivkin&#8217;s “Declaration of Accountability for Cyberspace” is a play on John Perry Barlow&#8217;s “<a href="https://www.eff.org/cyberspace-independence">Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace</a>,” which was written 22 years ago. </p>
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Perry_Barlow">Barlow</a>, who passed away earlier this year, was an artist, an Internet activist, and one of the founding members of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. As an Internet pioneer, he repeatedly warned against stifling Internet restrictions, to keep cyberspace free and open.</p>
<p>According to the MPAA, however, Barlow&#8217;s vision of a cyberspace where inhabitants right any wrongs themselves has failed. Its chief instead argues that the future of the &#8220;healthy&#8221; Internet is in danger.</p>
<p>&#8220;I want to address one of the most vibrant and interconnected ecosystems in human history. That, of course, is the internet. And as we meet, the healthy and vibrant internet that we all want is in serious jeopardy,&#8221; Rivkin says.</p>
<p>&#8220;The title of this speech is &#8216;a declaration of accountability for cyberspace&#8217; — a reference I’m sure is not lost on this audience,&#8221; he adds.</p>
<p>While the complaints about Internet piracy are not new, the MPAA ties piracy in with more recent debates about fake news, election meddling, and hate speech. From Cambridge Analytica to Infowars.</p>
<p>Rivkin calls for a national conversation on how to return the Internet to a place of vibrant but civil discourse. A place where fake news, hate speech, and piracy are properly dealt with. </p>
<p>Eventually, this leads the MPAA&#8217;s boss to Silicon Valley. Rivkin sees a major role for Internet platforms to do more to stop piracy and other types of abuse. If that doesn&#8217;t happen voluntarily, the US Government could step in, he suggests.</p>
<p>&#8220;The crescendo is rising within our ecosystem. The message is getting louder by the day: Internet platforms must bear responsibility. And they must do more to address the harms that, wittingly or not, they facilitate.</p>
<p>&#8220;Online platforms could increase their voluntary efforts to work with those affected to curb abuse of their services. Or perhaps Congress could recalibrate the online immunities to more explicitly require proactive steps as a condition of those protections,&#8221; Rivkin adds.</p>
<p>The widespread problem of online piracy is a sign of worse to come, the MPAA chief suggests.</p>
<p>&#8220;Online piracy is also the proverbial canary in a coal mine. The same pervasive theft that my industry faces is part of a continuum of toxic developments that harm all of us in this ecosystem – consumers, creators, and commercial operators alike,&#8221; he says.</p>
<p>In his speech, Rivkin refers to the &#8220;broken windows&#8221; theory to illustrate his point. This theory suggests that an atmosphere of lawlessness is created when small crimes are left unpunished. Seeing broken windows in the streets makes it more likely that others will start vandalizing as well. </p>
<p>This is also happening on the Internet today, according to Rivkin. When people continuously cross legal boundaries, by pirating, for example, others are more likely to follow suit. </p>
<p>To fix this problem, the MPAA has already started working with advertising companies, payment processors and other intermediaries. These companies have adopted a strict anti-piracy stance, and it is now time for the Twitters, YouTubes, and Facebooks to follow suit.</p>
<p>&#8220;If we want to bring back the internet we all want, it’s better to work together than cut each other off at the knees,&#8221; Rivkin says. &#8220;There are too many online windows broken and left unfixed for us to do anything but take collective action – and take it now.&#8221; </p>
<p>One of the major gripes of the MPAA and other rightsholder organizations is the fact that current laws shield Internet platforms from direct liability. This should be changed, if these platforms don&#8217;t work along, they argue. </p>
<p>Not everyone agrees that this is the case. Internet Association spokesman Noah Theran told <a href="https://variety.com/2018/politics/news/mpaa-charles-rivkin-responsibility-1202910728/">Variety</a> that the protections provided by laws such as the Communications Decency Act are a good thing.</p>
<p>“Without intermediary liability protections it would be harder, not easier, for online platforms to keep bad actors off the internet,” Theran notes, and many Internet platforms will share this view.</p>
<p><em>&#8212;</p>
<p>Without adding any commentary, we would welcome everyone to contrast Charles Rivkin&#8217;s “<a href="https://www.mpaa.org/speeches_and_op_eds/a-declaration-of-accountability-for-cyberspace/">Declaration of Accountability for Cyberspace</a>” with John Perry Barlow&#8217;s “<a href="https://www.eff.org/cyberspace-independence">Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace</a>.”</em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160171
title: GOG Launches FCKDRM to Promote DRM-Free Art and Media
uri: GOG-Launches-FCKDRM-to-Promote-DRM-Free-Art-and-Media
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/m1aq2sPUNtM/
content:
<p><a href="media/8b5983c3.fckdrm-e1534920396939.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/fckdrm-e1534920396939.png"><img src="media/8b5983c3.fckdrm-e1534920396939.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/fckdrm-e1534920396939.png" alt="" width="250" height="237" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160189"></a>For several decades, video games developers and publishers have been doing everything in their power to prevent unlicensed copying and distribution of their products.</p>
<p>The theory is that if games are easy to copy, people will share them around with non-paying individuals and this will have a detrimental effect on sales for that product.</p>
<p>As a result, customers of companies like <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/?s=denuvo">Denuvo</a> sink significant sums into systems that attempt to protect their games from pirates. And Denuvo <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/voksi-retires-cyberpolice-raid-cracker-after-denuvo-criminal-complaint-180726/">gets tough</a> with anyone who dares to circumvent its systems.</p>
<p>While these kinds of anti-piracy systems can be popular with games makers, they are invariably unpopular with consumers. Games protected by leading anti-piracy systems come with a number of restrictions, meaning that titles cannot easily be backed up and may even lose functionality altogether, should developers make that decision.</p>
<p>Bucking this trend in the gaming marketplace are the folks behind <a href="https://www.gog.com/">GOG</a>, the digital distribution platform for DRM-free video games and video. Brought to life by Poland&#8217;s CD Projekt, GOG has been offering content without DRM for more than eight years. It&#8217;s a strategy that has proven extremely popular with the gaming public and as a result, GOG has become synonymous with content &#8216;freedom&#8217;.</p>
<p>In a fresh move to enhance this reputation, GOG and owners CD Projekt have launched a new portal with the eye-catching title <a href="https://fckdrm.com/">FCKDRM</a>. The platform aims to promote GOG and other companies with a similar ethos, including those offering DRM-free music, books, and video. </p>
<p>&#8220;DRM-free approach in games has been at the heart of GOG.COM from day one. We strongly believe that if you buy a game, it should be yours, and you can play it the way it’s convenient for you, and not how others want you to use it,&#8221; GOG said in a statement.</p>
<p>&#8220;The landscape has changed since 2008, and today many people don’t realize what DRM even means. And still the DRM issue in games remains – you’re never sure when and why you can be blocked from accessing them. And it’s not only games that are affected, but your favorite books, music, movies and apps as well.&#8221;</p>
<p>Through the FCKDRM portal, GOG also hopes to educate people while igniting a discussion about DRM. The company wants to help consumers understand the implications of DRM, how it affects purchased content, and how the absence of DRM in a product leads to various benefits.</p>
<p><center><b>The benefits of DRM</b><a href="media/dcdebf0b.drm-free-benefits.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/drm-free-benefits.png"><img src="media/6f05f2e1.drm-free-benefits.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/drm-free-benefits.png" alt="" width="599" height="680" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160191"></a></center></p>
<p>While the discussion over the negative effects of DRM has been sizzling for many years, the majority of consumers have become used to operating within its boundaries. Most games are protected by DRM but its security measures also extend to music, video, and books purchased from online vendors. Such content is controlled and could be taken away at any time.</p>
<p>&#8220;Games with DRM include a layer of software or code on top of what&#8217;s needed to just play the game. Nowadays DRM will send your information to an online server, it could run checks to see if you touched any files, or outright refuse access unless you&#8217;re logged in somewhere. In other words, DRM is there to question what you&#8217;re doing every step of the way,&#8221; GOG says.</p>
<p>While some DRM does have the ability to be somewhat unintrusive for some consumers, there&#8217;s a darker side, particularly with games. They can be turned off at any point and there isn&#8217;t a thing gamers can do about it.</p>
<p>&#8220;[T]here is a killswitch built into your games. Sure, DRM might not affect you right now, but corporations hold the key and they&#8217;ll only let you in as long as you can repeatedly prove ownership. As long as you&#8217;re connected to the internet. As long as their DRM works without fault. As long they&#8217;re still around,&#8221; GOG adds.</p>
<p>&#8220;So should the burden of proof be on you? Do you place your trust in someone who doesn&#8217;t trust you?&#8221;</p>
<p>The list of DRM-free resources listed on FCKDRM is currently fairly limited, with Bandcamp, 7Digital and emusic on the audio front, Project Gutenberg and OpenLibra on books, and Moving Image Archive and Vimeo on Demand on video. However, GOG is keen to expand the directory and is inviting companies to contact them in order to be included.</p>
<p>The FCKDRM initiative can be found <a href="https://fckdrm.com/">here</a>.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160128
title: Worldwide Torrents Suffers Extended Downtime
uri: Worldwide-Torrents-Suffers-Extended-Downtime
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/siJRxBIoM8I/
content:
<p><img src="media/a4c305de.wwt.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/wwt.png" alt="" width="277" height="168" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160202">As a relative newcomer, Worldwide Torrents (<a href="https://worldwidetorrents.me/">WWT</a>) has managed to secure a loyal userbase of the past two years.</p>
<p>This site, which was started after the KickassTorrents shutdown, is a home to many comic book fans, including the prolific uploader Nemesis43. </p>
<p>However, since the start of this month, there was little to upload or download, as the site has been down the whole time. Instead of the usual homepage, users have been staring at a default hosting software message, which brings little hope. </p>
<p><center><strong>Default hosting software page</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/bf271a11.defaultwebuzo.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/defaultwebuzo.png" alt="" width="600" height="364" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160201"></center></p>
<p>Despite any noticeable progress, sources informed TorrentFreak that the site was moving to a new hosting provider. Initially, this move was expected to complete a week ago, but today there is still no progress. </p>
<p>As one of the site&#8217;s prime uploaders, Nemesis43 has kept a close eye on the situation and <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/torrents/comments/94zu5s/worldwide_torrents/">informed people</a> to the best of his ability. </p>
<p>Nemesis43 informed us yesterday that both users and staff are being kept pretty much in the dark. After some internal issues in the admin team, and a seemingly sabotaged image hosting site, one person is now in charge of bringing the site back online.</p>
<p>&#8220;The whole problem has been a very non-communicative admin &#8211; who was left to deal with everything on his own. There has been zero communication from our admin &#8211; myself and others have mailed him with no response,&#8221; Nemesis43 said.  </p>
<p>Initially, people were told that the site would relaunch on Tuesday 14 August, but nothing happened. The admin in charge wasn&#8217;t responding to messages, causing people to fear for the end of the site</p>
<p>Clearly frustrated with how things were being handled, Nemesis43 started uploading his collections to ETTV, The Pirate Bay and elsewhere, and many users followed his path. </p>
<p>However, just when it seemed like the and was near, another glimmer of hope appeared today. Apparently, a comeback is still in the works. </p>
<p>&#8220;Okay &#8211; this is difficult, but I have to delay once more &#8211; looks like WWT is coming back &#8211; SO we wait once more &#8211; one change this time is that I will have a backup for when WWT goes offline which is ETTV.TV,&#8221; Nemesis43 wrote on Reddit this morning.</p>
<p>According to sources WWT has found a new hosting partner and is planning to be back online within a day. Time will tell whether that&#8217;s indeed the case.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160227
title: After Stopping Pirates, Denuvo Plans to Catch Cheaters Too
uri: After-Stopping-Pirates-Denuvo-Plans-to-Catch-Cheaters-Too
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/KrMx-pKq_eE/
content:
<p><img src="media/fe5f698e.denuvo.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/denuvo.jpg" alt="" width="210" height="109" class="alignright size-full wp-image-116067"><a href="https://denuvo.com/">Denuvo</a>&#8216;s anti-piracy system has been a sworn enemy of many gaming pirates for years. While it is <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/denuvo-crisis-after-total-warhammer-2-gets-pirated-in-hours-170929/">no longer as unbreakable</a> as it once was, the software is still seen as a major roadblock.</p>
<p>Earlier this year the company was <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/denuvo-has-been-sold-to-global-anti-piracy-outfit-irdeto-180123/">acquired by Irdeto</a>, a global anti-piracy company, which has also taken an interest in cheating. </p>
<p>The company recently conducted an extensive survey which revealed that more than half of all gamers felt the negative impact of cheaters. In addition, three-quarters of the gamers agreed that it was important for games to have protection against cheaters.</p>
<p>Game publishers and developers have recognized the problem as well, as is illustrated by <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/court-halts-gta-v-cheat-maker-over-copyright-claim-180820/">recent lawsuits</a>. And according to Irdeto, they&#8217;re taking cheating as seriously as piracy.</p>
<p>&#8220;Thankfully, we are finally seeing the industry taking anti-cheat as seriously as anti-piracy,&#8221; Irdeto&#8217;s Bob Hernandez wrote two months ago.  </p>
<p>&#8220;To succeed, they’ll need to put anti-cheat strategies at the heart of game design, alongside smart technologies for cheat detection, data encryption and behavioral analysis.&#8221;</p>
<p>The cheating research and additional commentary exist for a reason. Today, Iredeto <a href="https://irdeto.com/news/denuvo-joins-esports-integrity-coalition-to-combat-cheating.html">announced</a> that they&#8217;re joining the Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC). And perhaps more importantly, Denuvo will soon launch its own anti-cheat technology to help solve this problem.</p>
<p>&#8220;Denuvo’s Anti-Cheat technology, which is soon to be launched as a full end-to-end solution, will prevent hackers in multiplayer games from manipulating and distorting data and code to gain an advantage over other gamers or bypass in-game micro-transactions,&#8221; the company says.</p>
<p>With its anti-cheating solution, Denuvo hopes to help game companies protect the value of their games. But, unlike their anti-piracy technology, it&#8217;s also good news for gamers, and not just professional E-sporters. </p>
<p>Whether that will be good enough to restore some of Denuvo&#8217;s negative image, which even <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/pirates-punish-denuvo-protected-games-with-poor-ratings-180717/">rubs off on game ratings</a>, has yet to be seen.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160270
title: Nintendo Plugs Leak That Provided Free 3DS Game Downloads
uri: Nintendo-Plugs-Leak-That-Provided-Free-3DS-Game-Downloads
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/L0B3-wHLS6c/
content:
<p><a href="media/ce52c9f2.download.jpg" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/download.jpg"><img src="media/4ffd447e.download.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/download.jpg" alt="" width="251" height="200" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160271"></a>While more recent generations of gaming devices offer some exceptions, the majority of platforms have fallen to pirates over the years.</p>
<p>From the earliest home computers to devices such as the NES, Genesis/MegaDrive, PlayStation and XBoX, all have experienced piracy problems to a greater or lesser extent. </p>
<p>It&#8217;s something that manufacturers and developers alike have been keen to stamp out. Interestingly, however, Nintendo itself has been contributing to 3DS piracy for some time now.</p>
<p>The problem began with the eShop, Nintendo&#8217;s digital distribution service for the 3DS, Wii U, and more recently, Switch. Among other things, the eShop allows users to download games, demos and other applications. However, when the 3DS was hacked, the store&#8217;s servers could be exploited to allow anyone to download games, whether they had previously bought them or not.</p>
<p>Enter &#8216;<a href="https://freeshop.pw/">Freeshop</a>&#8216;, an open-source homebrew eShop alternative for the Nintendo 3DS which allows users to browse and install titles &#8220;they own&#8221; utilizing title keys/tickets. While this isn&#8217;t much a problem in its own right, Freeshop users (if they&#8217;re that way inclined) are able to exploit a weakness in the Nintendo authentication system.</p>
<p>After users have bought content, they&#8217;re able to use the eShop to re-download that content when required. This is made possible by the eShop keeping records of who bought what while placing the necessary credentials (a ticket/key) on the user&#8217;s machine. Freeshop, however, only looks for tickets on a user&#8217;s machine, which is a huge problem when tickets are freely available online for anyone to install.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that Freeshop (and other similar tools) allowed users to fool Nintendo&#8217;s system into believing that they had already purchased games, which then allowed them to download perfect copies directly from Nintendo&#8217;s own servers. In basic terms, Nintendo has been fueling piracy of its own games, and for some time now.</p>
<p>Yesterday, however, all that came to an end. On Twitter, &#8216;Matt&#8217; (aka <a href="http://cheatfreak47.cf/">CheatFreak47</a>) revealed that Nintendo had finally pulled the plug on the free-for-all.</p>
<p><center></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nintendo has enabled download authentication essentially every 3DS title on their CDN. Y&#39;all know what this means&#8230; <a href="https://t.co/Jhhf9PFrZl">pic.twitter.com/Jhhf9PFrZl</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Matt (@Cheatfreak47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cheatfreak47/status/1032179006341373952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center></p>
<p>&#8220;For those seeking some elaboration, at around 1AM EST or so, Nintendo updated over 2800 3DS software titles on their CDN to require a valid ticket be received to download. Otherwise, the server will return a 403 (Forbidden) error when requesting downloads,&#8221; he added.</p>
<p>In a follow-up discussion on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Piracy/comments/99bmqj/nintendo_has_closed_their_cdn_to_over_2800_3ds/">Reddit</a>, CheatFreak47 put yet more meat on the bones.</p>
<p>&#8220;The system they had in place relied on the contents on the eShop server being encrypted with a key that they would send only to consoles that had purchased the software &#8211; however, once the 3DS was completely hacked, this system made widespread piracy easy, since people would simply share the keys,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>&#8220;With this new download authentication system, once you have been issued a ticket, your console must send the eShop server an encrypted copy of it to have it validated before you are authenticated to download.&#8221;</p>
<p>Quite why it has taken Nintendo so long to plug this gaping hole isn&#8217;t clear. The gaming giant has been aware of the problem for years and in 2016 took direct action against Freeshop by targeting its Github repository with a DMCA takedown.</p>
<p>&#8220;The FreeShop application provided at infringes Nintendo’s copyrights, because the application circumvents Nintendo’s technological protection measures in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act,&#8221; the original notice <a href="https://kotaku.com/3ds-software-famed-for-piracy-hit-with-nintendo-takedow-1790570573">read</a>.</p>
<p>The developer of Freeshop, known as TheCruel, wasn&#8217;t impressed with the takedown, noting that his software would only infringe if users chose to introduce their own tickets/keys.</p>
<p>“Fuck Nintendo,” he <a href="https://gbatemp.net/threads/wip-freeshop-open-source-eshop-clone.426573/page-219">wrote</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;[Freeshop] only circumvents protections if people utilize title keys they did not purchase or obtain legally. If people illegally obtain the password/PINs of a person’s bank account, you can’t criticize the banking website for facilitating theft.”</p>
<p>Finally, while Nintendo has now fixed its own issues, that doesn&#8217;t mean that 3DS piracy has been brought to an end. The titles are readily available from many other sources, albeit with a slightly more difficult installation process.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160154
title: Pirate IPTV Seller on Facebook Ordered to Pay £50,000
uri: Pirate-IPTV-Seller-on-Facebook-Ordered-to-Pay-50-000
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/S8yzJIzJ-d4/
content:
<p><img src="media/139ebf81.facebook-pirate-1.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/facebook-pirate-1.jpg" alt="" width="234" height="122" class="alignright size-full wp-image-139520">Online piracy is taking place in all corners of the Internet, Facebook included. </p>
<p>This issue is not limited to users who upload or stream infringing content. It also extends to Facebook&#8217;s marketplace, where vendors sell pirate streaming boxes and IPTV subscriptions. </p>
<p>Facebook is actively cracking down on these activities. Most recently the company updated its commerce policies to make clear that all streaming devices that use Kodi software are now banned, whether they are <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/facebook-bans-the-sale-of-all-kodi-boxes-legal-or-not-180813/">infringing or not</a>. </p>
<p>Copyright holders, meanwhile, are not sitting still either. Earlier this month, Sky booked a success in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, which ordered Facebook seller Luke Skinner to pay £50,000 in damages.</p>
<p>Skinner, a resident of Burntisland, sold pre-loaded Openbox VX and VX2 boxes on the social media network, as well as access to IPTV subscriptions. These allowed his customers to access unauthorized Sky channels for £35 per year, or £75/£85 for a two year deal with the box included.</p>
<p><center><strong>Box advertisement</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/a33b5dfa.Openbox-e1534923103574.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/Openbox-e1534923103574.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="528" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160194"></center></p>
<p>In addition to the damages award, the Court of Session also issued an injunction which prevents the man from selling or advertising any infringing streaming devices or subscriptions going forward. </p>
<p>Sky is pleased with the outcome of the case and hopes that it will deter others from engaging in similar activities.</p>
<p>“Those who infringe copyrighted content do so at their own risk. This case is another example of the heavy price people who facilitate piracy can pay,” Matthew Hibbert, Sky&#8217;s Head of Litigation, <a href="https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2018/08/08/digital-iptv-pirate-pays-50000-in-damages/">told</a> Broadband News TV in a comment.</p>
<p>According to Colin Hulme, a partner at law firm <a href="https://www.burnesspaull.com/home">Burness Paull</a>, which has experience with these cases, there is little doubt that selling pre-loaded devices or pirate subscriptions is against the law. </p>
<p>And misspelling SkySports as SlySports is not going to help much to stay out of trouble, as this case shows. </p>
<p>“Without question, subscription services and pre-loaded devices that give unauthorized access to copyrighted content are illegal. Sellers misspell brand names to avoid the safeguards that protect content from being pirated but this case proves that they can still be detected,” Hulme commented. </p>
<p>The present case is, to our knowledge, the first private prosecution of a UK seller of pirate tools and IPTV services on Facebook. It is not the first IPTV related conviction in the UK though, and it likely won&#8217;t be the last.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160185
title: Copyright Trolls Killed Off in Denmark After Supreme Court Hearing Denied
uri: Copyright-Trolls-Killed-Off-in-Denmark-After-Supreme-Court-Hearing-Den
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/Yg0OeC6b-w8/
content:
<p><a href="media/67ffec03.trollsign.jpg" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/trollsign.jpg"><img src="media/17a592c8.trollsign.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/trollsign.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="167" class="alignright size-full wp-image-108977"></a>All around the world, rightsholders connected to often lower-tier media are generating revenue from people alleged to have pirated their content online.</p>
<p>The system is mostly uniform, with alleged infringers&#8217; IP addresses gathered by the &#8216;copyright trolls&#8217; and taken to court, in the hope that a judge will order ISPs to hand over their personal details. With this information in hand, copyright trolls demand a cash payment to make a supposed lawsuit go away.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s important to note, however, that if rightsholders cannot force ISPs to hand over alleged infringers&#8217; details, their entire project is dead in the water. That&#8217;s now the position in Denmark after copyright trolls&#8217; greed prompted ISPs to dig in their heels and refuse to cooperate.</p>
<p>After receiving demands to expose tens of thousands of their subscribers&#8217; identities, ISP Telenor grew tired of the demands, with the company&#8217;s legal director framing the problem as a battle between the security of the public and law firms’ commercial interests.</p>
<p>Telenor, with the assistance of rival ISP Telia, prepared a case to protect their customers. Last October, however, the District Court ruled against the ISPs, ordering them to provide identities of alleged pirates to the copyright trolls.</p>
<p>Refusing to accept the setback, the providers took their case to the Østre Landsret, one of Denmark’s two High Courts. In May that effort paid off, with a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/isps-win-landmark-case-protect-privacy-alleged-pirates-180508/">resounding victory</a> for the ISPs. The win meant that the personal details of individuals behind approximately 4,000 IP addresses targeted by troll outfit Copyright Collection Ltd (via law firm Njord Law) would remain private.</p>
<p>“In its order based on telecommunications legislation, the Court has weighed subscribers’ rights to confidentiality of information regarding their use of the Internet against the interests of rightsholders to obtain information for the purpose of prosecuting claims against the subscribers,” the Court said in a statement.</p>
<p>“The telecommunications companies are therefore not required to disclose the names and addresses of their subscribers.&#8221;</p>
<p>The decision was met with dismay by the copyright trolls, who framed the defeat as a blow to those who invest in the Danish film and television industries. But the ruling by the Østre Landsret would not be the final roll of the dice if the Supreme Court decided to hear the matter. Hoping that would be the case, Njord Law filed an appeal.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for the trolls, their hopes were shattered this week when the committee responsible for references to the Supreme Court said it would not be putting the case forward.</p>
<p>As a result, the May 7th decision of the Østre Landsret will stand, with Telenor and Telia no longer required to cooperate with parties involved in trolling cases.</p>
<p>Telenor Denmark’s Legal Director, Mette Eistrøm Krüger, welcomed the decision.</p>
<p>&#8220;Both personally and on behalf of our customers, I am really glad that we are being strictly ruled by the National Court&#8217;s decision, and we once again find that logging data should only be handed over to the police to combat serious crime,&#8221; he told <a href="https://www.version2.dk/artikel/copyright-advokaters-droem-at-faa-udleveret-ip-adresser-teleselskaber-bristet-1085987">Version2</a>.</p>
<p>Krüger described the decision not to take the case to the Supreme Court has a victory for customers&#8217; legal certainty, with citizens&#8217; right to privacy trumping the copyright trolls&#8217; commercial interests. </p>
<p>If disclosure is to be granted in future, online offenses will have to be shown to be serious enough to get the police involved, something that appears to rule out most copyright trolling efforts.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160304
title: LoveROMS Owner Hopes to Settle Nintendo’s Copyright Lawsuit
uri: LoveROMS-Owner-Hopes-to-Settle-Nintendo-s-Copyright-Lawsuit
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/VbvM-4FhDyY/
content:
<p><img src="media/f24e33a6.nintendologo.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/nintendologo.png" alt="" width="250" height="139" class="alignright size-full wp-image-121992">Last month, Nintendo made it totally clear that websites offering access to its retro-games and ROMs will not be tolerated.</p>
<p>The Japanese game developer <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/nintendo-sues-console-rom-sites-for-mass-copyright-infringement-180720/">filed a complaint</a> at a federal court in Arizona, accusing LoveROMS.com and LoveRETRO.co of massive copyright and trademark infringement.</p>
<p>Faced with millions of dollars in potential damages, the owner of the sites, Jacob Mathias, swiftly took the platforms offline. While the claims still stand, a new court filing shows that both Mathias and Nintendo are open to resolving the matter without a drawn-out fight.</p>
<p><center><strong>LoveROMS</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/1986cbe3.loveroms1.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/loveroms1.png" alt="" width="459" height="217" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160308"></center></p>
<p>This week Mathias&#8217; attorney asked the court to extend the standard period to respond to the complaint by three weeks, to enable both parties to continue ongoing settlement negotiations.</p>
<p>&#8220;Almost immediately after the complaint was served, the parties began actively discussing and working toward settling the case,&#8221; the defendants&#8217; motion reads. &#8220;The parties believe that a 21-day extension will allow them to make significant progress toward settling the case.&#8221;</p>
<p>Nintendo requested a substantial number of documents as part of the settlement negotiations. The defense provided these and, with the extra time, they hope to get closer to a settlement. </p>
<p>If the case is not settled within the additional three-week period, no further extension will be requested.</p>
<p><center><strong>From the motion</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/b596c551.settle.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/settle.png" alt="" width="505" height="408" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160313"></center></p>
<p>The filing suggests that this case may be over before it gets properly underway, which might be the best option for the site owner and his wife, who Nintendo previously added to the complaint. A lengthy, costly, and difficult to win court battle would then be avoided.</p>
<p>Nintendo, for its part, wouldn&#8217;t mind saving on legal bills too. In addition, with a settlement, they avoid the risk of a &#8216;theoretical&#8217; negative precedent where a court might rule that not all older ROMs are copyright-infringing.  </p>
<p>Most importantly, perhaps, is that filing the complaint alone has already had a sufficient deterrent effect. </p>
<p>In the weeks after the lawsuit was made public, several ROMs sites <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/nintendo-rom-fallout-emuparadise-terminates-all-game-downloads-180809/">ceased their activities</a> voluntarily. Not because they were suddenly in agreement that offering retro-ROMs is wrong, but mostly because they wanted to avoid a legal battle that could end in bankruptcy.</p>
<p>Nintendo&#8217;s actions and the subsequent fallout has left many retro-gamers without their preferred ROMs sources. However, it is unlikely that any type of legal action will completely <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/why-nintendo-will-never-defeat-retro-gamers-180912/">root out their passion</a> for good.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160135
title: Broadcasters Remove Content From Search Engine to Protest Piracy
uri: Broadcasters-Remove-Content-From-Search-Engine-to-Protest-Piracy
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/G0OX1IdTCZA/
content:
<p><a href="media/560a9ef5.searchman.jpg" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/searchman.jpg"><img src="media/e92721d2.searchman.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/searchman.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="156" class="alignright size-full wp-image-135409"></a>Over the years in their neverending fight against piracy, content owners have tried numerous strategies to limit the amount of infringing content reaching the eyes of consumers.</p>
<p>For almost two decades, that has involved targeting &#8216;pirate&#8217; sites themselves but increasingly that tactic is taking a back seat. In vogue today is the move to force intermediaries and platforms to join the battle, hoping these Internet giants will use their influence to disappear unlawful content.</p>
<p>Over in Russia, legislation is already in place to force cooperation. When sites are deemed to be infringers and unresponsive to targeted takedowns, they can find themselves on a national blacklist and blocked by ISPs. Furthermore, sites that persistently refuse to cooperate can be permanently blocked, with additional consequences.</p>
<p>Sites in this category now face the prospect of <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/search-engines-will-open-systems-to-prove-piracy-vpn-blocking-170901/">being removed</a> from search engines altogether. That has been happening in volume, as telecoms watchdog Roscomnadzor reported this week.</p>
<p>&#8220;Since the beginning of the year, search engines Yandex, Mail.ru, Rambler, Sputnik and Google that have been operating in Russia have blocked access to 2,600 pirated Internet resources that were previously blocked on an ongoing basis,&#8221; the government body reported.</p>
<p>&#8220;Decisions on restricting access to pirated Internet resources on an ongoing basis are taken by the Moscow City Court and the Ministry of Communications.&#8221;</p>
<p>Since the search engine exclusion law came into force October 1, 2017, close to 4,000 sites have been permanently excluded from search results. However, this still isn&#8217;t enough for rightsholders who insist that companies like Yandex and Google need to do more.</p>
<p>In a sign of how fractious this battle has become, major broadcasters recently took action against Yandex due to the existence of &#8216;pirate&#8217; resources in search results. In protest, Gazprom-Media, National Media Group (NMG), and others removed their TV channels from Yandex&#8217;s &#8216;TV Online&#8217; service.</p>
<p>According to comments obtained by Russia&#8217;s Kommersant, the media companies will only allow their content to appear again if Yandex &#8220;purges the pirated versions&#8221; from its search results.</p>
<p>&#8220;This is the only way we can influence them to remove pirated content,&#8221; the source <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3719238">said</a>.</p>
<p>Yandex began displaying the content of TV channels on its main pages back in March 2017 and agreements inked since then have allowed it to expand the feature. Now, however, the initiative has been set back, with media companies complaining that the revenue generated pales into insignificance when compared to the losses from piracy.</p>
<p>&#8220;The situation in which broadcasters promote Yandex media services, provide content, but have piracy ignored in search results, is destructive for the media industry,&#8221; a representative from NMG told Kommersant.</p>
<p>&#8220;[The revenues] are insignificant compared to the hundreds of millions of rubles of annual losses associated with the distribution of pirated content from broadcasters.&#8221;</p>
<p>Gazprom Media told the publication that for as long as piracy is a problem, the company won&#8217;t be offering its content via the search engine.</p>
<p>&#8220;Prior to resolving the issue of pirated content on Yandex services, we will not license our content in Yandex,&#8221; a spokesperson said.</p>
<p>With some media players describing Yandex as &#8220;the main pirate site in the country&#8221; it&#8217;s clear that bridges need to be built if progress is to be made. However, the rhetoric is strong right now with no solution in sight.</p>
<p>&#8220;[Yandex] interferes with the work of all and refuses to discuss this topic under far-fetched pretexts, so there will only be more [piracy]. They imagine themselves as an information intermediary, but it&#8217;s not true &#8211; they make money on content, interfere in content, and develop their own sites,&#8221; says producer Alexander Akopov.</p>
<p>Considering the general consensus that access to legal content is the best way to defeat piracy, the decision to remove legal content from Yandex is a little puzzling. The punitive measures used to starve pirate sites of their visitors &#8211; removal from search engine results &#8211; is now being deployed by rightsholders against themselves. Only time will tell how that will turn out.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160286
title: TorrentFreak is Blocked as a Pirate Site and Hacking Resource
uri: TorrentFreak-is-Blocked-as-a-Pirate-Site-and-Hacking-Resource
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/JBWPyfXQ8H0/
content:
<p><img src="media/f6cbbbd7.deniedblocked.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/deniedblocked.jpg" alt="" width="270" height="199" class="alignright size-full wp-image-143825">From Australia to Sweden, all around the world courts have ordered ISPs to block access to pirate sites. </p>
<p>This usually happens after a careful review by a judge, who weighs the arguments from copyright holders and Internet providers before a final decision is made. That&#8217;s a fair process. </p>
<p>However, these court-ordered blockades are only the tip of the iceberg. Much more common are private blocking efforts where local WiFi providers use broad blocklists to shield people from visiting dangerous sites, including the one you&#8217;re on now. </p>
<p>This problem is <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/datavalet-wi-fi-blocks-torrentfreak-over-criminal-hacking-skills-170903/">not new</a> but the lack of improvement has become increasingly frustrating.</p>
<p>Earlier this month a reader informed us that he was unable to read our news while staying at a Premier Inn in Croydon. Apparently, the hotel&#8217;s Virgin WiFi network banned us for our &#8220;Criminal Skills/Hacking, News.&#8221;</p>
<p><center><strong>Hackers</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/0e59a335.virginblocked.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/virginblocked.png" alt="" width="600" height="335" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160290"></center></p>
<p>This is no temporary or local mistake. In recent months we&#8217;ve received several reports of similar Virgin WiFi blockades, including from our colleagues at <a href="https://www.ispreview.co.uk/">ISPreview</a>. They ran into the same TorrentFreak blockade while conducting a study of WiFi performance in UK hotels.</p>
<p>And it&#8217;s not just Virgin that&#8217;s doing the blocking here. </p>
<p>This week another reader alerted us that he was unable to access TorrentFreak on a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/govwifi/govwifi">GovWifi</a> connection. This network is used by many government institutions and managed by the Government Digital Service.</p>
<p>Apparently, they, or their blocklist provider, has classified our news site in the &#8220;Piracy and Copyright infringement&#8221; category, and accessing it would be a violation of the acceptable use policy. </p>
<p><center><strong>No access</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/f457e832.govwifi.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/govwifi.png" alt="" width="600" height="252" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160291" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/govwifi.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/govwifi-500x210.png 500w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></center></p>
<p>These two recent examples are related to the UK, but these broad blocklists are used elsewhere too. We&#8217;ve seen our site blocked in US libraries and airports, Norwegian trains, and even in a Canadian McDonalds. </p>
<p>We have reached out to both Virgin and the Government Digital Service for a comment on the most recent examples. At the time of publication, we have yet to hear back. Perhaps our email is blocked too? </p>
<p>We hope they can eventually shed some light on their motivations. In the meantime, let&#8217;s hope our readers have learned enough from our &#8220;hacking skills&#8221; to know how to <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">bypass these blocks</a>&#8230;.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160255
title: Will Reddit’s /r/Piracy Sub-Reddit Get Shut Down?
uri: Will-Reddit-s-r-Piracy-Sub-Reddit-Get-Shut-Down
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/hoxm8Falf7M/
content:
<p><a href="media/af6fa99d.redditp.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/redditp.png"><img src="media/35045417.redditp.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/redditp.png" alt="" width="250" height="186" class="alignright size-full wp-image-125451" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/redditp.png 250w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/redditp-200x150.png 200w" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px"></a>To millions of loyal users, Reddit is one of the Internet&#8217;s most valuable resources. The platform covers every subject one can think of, plus hundreds that have never entered mainstream consciousness.</p>
<p>Along with fairly benign topics such as news, health, beauty and sport, Reddit caters to those whose hobbies and interests are a little more controversial. Dozens of so-called sub-Reddits are dedicated to most aspects of piracy, for example, something that has landed a few of them in hot water.</p>
<p>Take the /r/megalinks sub-Reddit, for example. Last year the discussion forum was <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/reddit-repeat-infringer-policy-shuts-down-megalinks-piracy-sub-180430/">shut down</a> in a blaze of bad publicity after the site accumulated enough &#8216;strikes&#8217; to trigger Reddit&#8217;s repeat infringer policy.</p>
<p>Megalinks was a very good example of sub-Reddit simply waiting to be closed down. The entire purpose of the community was to post links to infringing content stored on file-hosting site MEGA. No pirated content was off-limits so when Reddit&#8217;s admins decided enough was enough, it was no surprise to see the sub disappear down the drain.</p>
<p>This week, another piracy-focused sub-Reddit found itself disappearing into history. The <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/crackedsoftware">/r/crackedsoftware</a> forum, which (surprise, surprise) dedicated itself to links to pirated software, also found itself banished by Reddit&#8217;s admins. As the image below shows, it too fell foul of Reddit&#8217;s &#8216;repeat infringer&#8217; policy.</p>
<p><center><b>No surprise the banhammer came out for this one</b><a href="media/6a158543.cracked-software.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/cracked-software.png"><img src="media/6c3a04d7.cracked-software.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/cracked-software.png" alt="" width="584" height="353" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160256"></a></center></p>
<p>With news of these bannings filtering through to other sections of Reddit dedicated to piracy, some users have been asking whether they too could be banished to the digital wilderness. The question has been asked several times on /r/piracy, a sub with more than 244,000 subscribers. So, is it at risk?</p>
<p>To answer that question it&#8217;s first necessary to differentiate between sub-Reddits that act as a platform for piracy and those that discuss piracy but do not engage in it, on Reddit itself.</p>
<p>There can be no doubt that /r/megalinks and /r/crackedsoftware fall into the first category. Both sub-Reddits were designed to encourage and then provide access to links to known infringing content. Or, to put it another way, these sub-Reddits acted like The Pirate Bay or any other intentional &#8216;pirate&#8217; linking site.</p>
<p>While this in itself would probably be enough to put the subs on the wrong side of the law, Reddit only appears to take action against subs when they cause documented copyright infringement problems for the platform. If a sub-Reddit receives repeat complaints from copyright holders, Reddit &#8211; as is required under the DMCA &#8211; invokes its repeat infringer policy.</p>
<p>At Reddit&#8217;s discretion, that repeat infringer policy can be acted upon in two ways. Firstly, Reddit could determine that a particular user is at fault and since he or she is continually posting infringing content, they could be banned. However, if the problem &#8220;<a href="https://imgur.com/r3cRlBI">pervades a whole community</a>&#8220;, the entire sub will be banned if it doesn&#8217;t clean up its act. Clearly, both Megalinks and CrackedSoftware fall into this category, hence their demise.</p>
<p>Now, compare these two now-defunct subs to /r/piracy, Reddit&#8217;s flagship piracy forum with close to 245,000 users. While the sub is no doubt inhabited by many thousands of pirates, its moderators have put in place a set of clear rules to ensure that their home isn&#8217;t shut down in the same way as some others.</p>
<p>The sub only has four rules, three of which are dedicated to keeping the discussion both tidy and on topic. However, rule three is the sub&#8217;s most important, despite being a single line long. To be sure, however, the point is repeated and rephrased.</p>
<p>&#8220;No asking or linking pirated/copyrighted content,&#8221; it reads. &#8220;Do not request or link to pirated/copyrighted content,&#8221; notes the reminder.</p>
<p>It is this rule (and its enforcement by the sub&#8217;s moderators) that ensures that /r/piracy does not often find itself mentioned in DMCA notices sent to Reddit. If there are no links to infringing content, copyright holders can&#8217;t send a valid DMCA notice and Reddit will not be required to invoke its repeat infringer policy.</p>
<p><center><b>Advice from Reddit to keep a piracy-focused sub in shape</b><a href="media/a17f7f28.reddit-rules-1-e1534951410278.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/reddit-rules-1-e1534951410278.png"><img src="media/a17f7f28.reddit-rules-1-e1534951410278.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/reddit-rules-1-e1534951410278.png" alt="" width="600" height="93" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160266"></a></center></p>
<p>Of course, even the most fastidious of moderation teams can accidentally let something infringing slip through the net (even mods have to sleep), meaning that it&#8217;s still possible for an infringing post or comment to appear on /r/piracy. However, that is not the forum&#8217;s main aim, something which seems to go a long way with Reddit&#8217;s admins.</p>
<p>There are threats to the sub, however. A minority of users, many of whom simply can&#8217;t be bothered to read the rules and/or stick to them, are the number one concern.</p>
<p>While regular subscribers rarely attempt to post infringing content without being asked, every day people wander in and post questions demanding links for movie X or TV show Y. Other users rarely respond and the mods act quickly, but it&#8217;s not a great look for /r/piracy, especially when the mods work so hard to keep things legal.</p>
<p>In short and as things stand, /r/piracy seems a solid discussion forum that operates well within Reddit&#8217;s rules and is unlikely to be shut down. However, a little common sense in respect of Rule 3 wouldn&#8217;t go amiss and perhaps the threat of a temporary ban here and there would help to focus the minds of the minority of users who play fast and loose with the sub&#8217;s future.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160348
title: TVAddons and Dish Network Settle Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
uri: TVAddons-and-Dish-Network-Settle-Copyright-Infringement-Lawsuit
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/Vu25u9JfIuQ/
content:
<p><img src="media/b1019d68.tvaddonsnew.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/tvaddonsnew.png" alt="" width="277" height="119" class="alignright size-full wp-image-145066">Last year, American satellite and broadcast provider Dish Network targeted <a href="https://www.tvaddons.co/">TVAddons</a>, the largest repository of third-party Kodi add-ons.</p>
<p>In a complaint filed in a federal court in Texas, TVAddons and its Canadian founder Adam Lackman <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/dish-network-sues-zemtv-and-tv-addons-for-copyright-infringement-170605/">were accused</a> of copyright infringement, facing millions of dollars in potential damages.</p>
<p>The site was briefly taken down but returned after a few weeks, albeit without some of the more troubling add-ons. TVAddons and Lackman were planning to put up a fight and maintained that the site had always adhered to the DMCA. </p>
<p>Over the past several months both Dish and TVAddons were getting ready to take the matter to trial, but this weekend it became apparent that this is no longer needed. </p>
<p>The parties have signed a confidential settlement agreement and, as a result, Dish decided to drop the case. While the exact terms of the agreement remain private, a TVAddons representative informs TorrentFreak that they&#8217;re happy with the outcome.</p>
<p>&#8220;Sometimes a settlement can be considered a win for both sides. From an economic perspective, it was the ideal conclusion since the Canadian lawsuit has already destroyed our financial resources. </p>
<p>&#8220;It also respected our morals and promise to protect our users and developers at all cost, since no data nor user/developer information was exchanged as part of the settlement,&#8221; the TVAddons spokesperson adds. </p>
<p>The upside for TVAddons is quite obvious, as the site and its founder had a lot to lose financially. Dish&#8217;s motivations are less obvious. It&#8217;s not clear whether TVAddons agreed to pay damages, but that could be a factor. </p>
<p>TVAddons also agreed to process Dish&#8217;s future copyright claims more swiftly, if any issues arise. </p>
<p>&#8220;As far as our site goes, we maintain that we have always complied with copyright law. We have however agreed to an expedited DMCA process for any complaints DISH Network may have in the future,&#8221; TVAddons tells us.</p>
<p>The settlement agreement was signed by TVAddons founder Adam Lackman and Dish. This is interesting, as Lackman announced just a few weeks ago that he had &#8220;<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/tvaddons-founder-resigns-to-ensure-kodi-addon-platforms-longevity-180622/">resigned</a>&#8221; from all administrative roles at the site to ensure its future. </p>
<p>This suggests that someone else is in charge. However, a representative of the site informs TorrentFreak that there are agreements in place to ensure that the expedited DMCA agreement between Dish and Lackman will be honored. </p>
<p>The settlement does not include Shani, the developer of ZemTV, who was sued in the same case. The UK resident previously chose <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/kodi-addon-developer-gives-up-piracy-defense-due-to-lack-of-funds-180521/">not to defend himself</a> in court, as he lacked the funds to put up a proper defense. </p>
<p>TVAddons and Lackman are not out of trouble either. The Canadian <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/tvaddons-telco-bailiffs-enter-operators-home-over-unpaid-attorneys-fees-180614/">lawsuit</a> filed by an army of Canadian telecoms giants, including Bell Canada and Rogers Communications, is still on.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160390
title: Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week on BitTorrent – 08/27/18
uri: Top-10-Most-Pirated-Movies-of-The-Week-on-BitTorrent-08-27-18
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/9qavX0BXZoA/
content:
<p><img src="media/6bcd6a6e.deadpool2.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/deadpool2.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" class="alignright size-full wp-image-156239">This week we have two newcomers in our chart.</p>
<p>Deadpool 2 is the most downloaded movie again.</p>
<p>The data for our weekly download chart is estimated by TorrentFreak, and is for informational and educational reference only. All the movies in the list are Web-DL/Webrip/HDRip/BDrip/DVDrip unless stated otherwise.</p>
<p><a href="http://TorrentFreak.com/category/dvdrip/feed/"><strong>RSS feed</strong></a> for the articles of the recent weekly movie download charts.</p>
<h5>This week&#8217;s most downloaded movies are:</h5>
<table class="css hover">
<thead>
<tr>
<th width="12%"><strong>Movie Rank</strong></th>
<th width="15%"><strong>Rank <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-pirated-movies-week-bittorrent-08-20-18/">last week</a></strong></th>
<th><strong>Movie name</strong></th>
<th width="18%"><strong>IMDb Rating / Trailer</strong></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tfoot>
<tr>
<td colspan="4">Most downloaded movies via torrents</td>
</tr>
</tfoot>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>1</strong></td>
<td>(1)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5463162/">Deadpool 2</a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5463162/">8.0</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D86RtevtfrA">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>2</strong></td>
<td>(&#8230;)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5164214/">Ocean&#8217;s Eight </a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5164214/">6.3</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZfuNTqbHE8">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>3</strong></td>
<td>(2)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">Avengers: Infinity War </a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">8.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZfuNTqbHE8">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>4</strong></td>
<td>(3)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6499752/">Upgrade</a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6499752/">7.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36PDeN9NRZ0">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>5</strong></td>
<td>(&#8230;)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7784604/">Hereditary </a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7784604/">8.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZfuNTqbHE8">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>6</strong></td>
<td>(7)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2854926/">Tag </a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2854926/">6.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjC1zmZo30U">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>7</strong></td>
<td>(4)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6306064">Adrift </a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6306064">6.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If2lCD0SQrE">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>8</strong></td>
<td>(6)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom </a> (subbed HDRip)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">6.5</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn9mMeWcgoM">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>9</strong></td>
<td>(5)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5758778/">Skyscraper </a> (subbed HDRip)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5758778/">6.1</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9QePUT-Yt8">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>10</strong></td>
<td>(8)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2231461/">Rampage</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2231461/">6.3</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coOKvrsmQiI">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160373
title: Cox Pays Substantial Settlement to End ‘Repeat Infringer’ Piracy Lawsuit
uri: Cox-Pays-Substantial-Settlement-to-End-Repeat-Infringer-Piracy-L
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/mnjlWT1-BL4/
content:
<p><img src="media/a585da8e.piratemusiccasset.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/piratemusiccasset.png" alt="" width="234" height="152" class="alignright size-full wp-image-135510">December 2015, a Virginia federal jury ruled that Internet provider Cox Communications was responsible for the copyright infringements of its subscribers.</p>
<p>The ISP was found guilty of willful contributory copyright infringement and ordered to pay music publisher BMG Rights Management <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/cox-is-liable-for-pirating-subscribers-ordered-to-pay-25-million-151217/">$25 million in damages</a>.</p>
<p>Unhappy with the outcome, Cox filed an appeal, with some success. </p>
<p>Earlier this year the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/appeals-court-throws-out-25-million-piracy-verdict-against-cox-doesnt-reinstate-safe-harbor-180201/">overturned</a> the original verdict due to an erroneous jury instruction and ordered a new trial. However, the ISP would start at a significant disadvantage, without safe harbor protection, because it failed to implement a meaningful repeat infringer policy.</p>
<p>This week would mark the start of the new trial but this can be scrapped, as both parties have chosen to settle the matter out of court instead. </p>
<p>Cox agreed to pay an undisclosed settlement amount to BMG. While the scale of the settlement remains undisclosed the music rights group notes that it is &#8220;extremely happy&#8221; with the &#8220;substantial settlement.&#8221; </p>
<p>In the initial case, Cox was ordered to pay $25 million plus $8.5 million in costs. It would make sense that the settlement amount is lower than that, but it&#8217;s likely still in the millions.</p>
<p>&#8220;While the financial terms of the settlement are confidential, we are happy they reflect the seriousness of this case,” says Keith Hauprich, BMG&#8217;s General Counsel in North America.</p>
<p>“This was a landmark case in which BMG took on the third biggest internet service provider in the United States to defend and establish the principle that in order to benefit from a so-called ‘safe harbor’ defense, an ISP has responsibilities.&#8221;</p>
<p>BMG said it agreed to a settlement because it has already established in court that ISPs are obliged to take action against repeat infringers. If ISPs don&#8217;t take reasonable measures, they can lose their DMCA safe harbor, which opens them up to piracy liability claims. </p>
<p>We reached out to Cox requesting a comment on the outcome but at the time of publication, we have yet to hear back.</p>
<p>The case has caused a lot of uproar in the ISP community. Several companies have taken a good look at their internal policies and likely tightened them where needed. Those who haven&#8217;t should pay attention, BMG&#8217;s General Counsel warns. </p>
<p>“Other ISPs should take note that the law gives protection to the work of artists and songwriters. We will not hesitate to take action where necessary,” Hauprich stresses. </p>
<p>The BMG vs. Cox case was the first of its kind, but it&#8217;s certainly not the last. Several Internet providers have been sued over the repeat infringer issue over the past several years, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/riaa-paid-handsomely-for-bittorrent-piracy-evidence-180817/">including Grande Communications</a>, which was taken to court by the major record labels. </p>
<p>Seizing the opportunity, the same labels also filed a lawsuit against Cox recently. This case lists more than 10,000 works, which means that the potential damages exceed <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/record-labels-file-billion-dollar-piracy-lawsuit-against-isp-cox-180802/">a billion dollars</a>. </p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160395
title: New Campaign Aims to “Save Music” Ahead of EU Copyright Filter Vote
uri: New-Campaign-Aims-to-Save-Music-Ahead-of-EU-Copyright-Filter-Vot
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/4HhqOGn5Vd4/
content:
<p><a href="media/f5431f02.lovemusic.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/lovemusic.png"><img src="media/9d1ecd11.lovemusic.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/lovemusic.png" alt="" width="225" height="122" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160396"></a>In 2016, the European Commission <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/eu-proposes-mandatory-piracy-filters-for-online-services-160914/">announced</a> plans to modernize EU copyright law, something that was to later develop into a worldwide controversy.</p>
<p>A major part of the proposal is Article 13, a text that aims to make online services liable for uploaded content unless they take “effective and proportionate” measures to prevent copyright infringements.</p>
<p>The implication is that platforms such as YouTube would be compelled to implement upload filtering and then pro-actively monitor to prevent future infringing uploads.</p>
<p>Back in June, the Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliament (JURI) <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/eu-parliament-committee-votes-in-favor-of-piracy-upload-filter-proposal-180620/">adopted</a> the proposals but a month later, following a plenary vote in the European Parliament, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/eu-parliament-sends-upload-filters-back-to-the-drawing-board-180705/">opposition mounted</a> with 278 votes in favor and 318 against.</p>
<p>This somewhat unexpected turnaround meant that the proposed legislation was re-opened for amendments and a vote was scheduled for September 12th, just 15 days from today. With the date edging ever closer, groups and individuals on both sides of the debate have been drumming up support. A new campaign just launched by music industry groups in the UK is the latest addition.</p>
<p>&#8220;The UK music industry has united to call on EU Members of Parliament to secure music&#8217;s future,&#8221; the <a href="http://www.love-music.co/">#LOVEMUSIC campaign site</a> reads.</p>
<p><center><b>The heavyweights behind the campaign</b><a href="media/8621270a.uk-music-love.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/uk-music-love.png"><img src="media/fd39bdbd.uk-music-love.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/uk-music-love.png" alt="" width="600" height="494" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160399"></a></center></p>
<p>As the image above shows, the campaign has the support of some of the most powerful music groups in the UK, including the BPI, PRS For Music, and licensing group PPL. They&#8217;re singing with one voice in favor of Article 13 and against companies who they claim abuse artists&#8217; rights.</p>
<p>&#8220;The creative industry is a vibrant ecosystem that supports many creators. Music creators are like butterflies in this rainforest &#8211; beautiful and delicate,&#8221; they write.</p>
<p>&#8220;Yet some of the global tech giants are laying waste to our creative world, threatening music&#8217;s vibrancy and diversity by not fairly compensating creators for the use of their work. Creators need protection or the world of music will suffer.&#8221;</p>
<p>The #LOVEMUSIC campaign site asks visitors to add their signature to the <a href="https://makeinternetfair.eu">Make Internet Fair</a> petition, which calls on EU decision-makers to recognize that &#8220;platforms like YouTube are involved in reproducing and making our works available under copyright laws&#8221; and ensure that the &#8220;safe harbor non-liability regime does not apply to them as it is meant for technical intermediaries only.&#8221;</p>
<p>While most protests are taking place on the Internet, the platform that will be most affected by Article 13, opponents of the proposed legislation have been urged to gather in public too. Julia Reda MEP previously <a href="https://juliareda.eu/2018/08/saveyourinternet-action-day/">published details</a> of a day of action to take place yesterday in various locations around Europe, but that will be just the tip of the protest iceberg as September 12th draws closer.</p>
<p>Aside from the importance of the legislation itself, it will be intriguing to see how this new vote takes shape. Following their shock defeat in July, major players in the music industry called foul, claiming that the protests had been automated and organized by &#8220;big tech&#8221;, something addressed by Reda recently.</p>
<p>&#8220;They’re claiming the protest was all fake, generated by bots and orchestrated by big internet companies. According to them, Europeans don’t actually care about their freedom of expression,&#8221; she wrote.</p>
<p>&#8220;We don’t actually care about EU lawmaking enough to make our voices heard. We will just stand idly by as our internet is restricted to serve corporate interests.&#8221;</p>
<p>To prove these predictions wrong, one of the focal points of the &#8216;NO&#8217; campaign is a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/european-parliament-stop-the-censorship-machinery-save-the-internet">Change.org petition</a>. At the time of writing it has in excess of 951,000 signatories, with the million target probably just a few days away.</p>
<p><center><a href="media/0d90c3e3.reda-petition.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/reda-petition.png"><img src="media/f0b867b1.reda-petition.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/reda-petition.png" alt="" width="600" height="320" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160400"></a></center></p>
<p>Also attracting eyeballs is the <a href="https://savetheinternet.info/">SavetheInternet portal</a>, which provides detail on both Article 13 and Article 11, which is commonly referred to as the “link tax.”</p>
<p>While the music industry has mostly tried to avoid comparisons with the technology versus content industries battle that ignited over the failed SOPA legislation in 2012, it&#8217;s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the similarities in respect of Article 13. On Twitter, in particular, the rhetoric has been particularly bitter, a situation that&#8217;s unlikely to improve any time soon.</p>
<p><center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xDAT2NppLYI" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></center></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160430
title: Pirate Bay Suffers Downtime, Tor Domain is Up
uri: Pirate-Bay-Suffers-Downtime-Tor-Domain-is-Up
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/u1TUoj2nYVU/
content:
<p><img src="media/2a43984f.pirate-bay.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/pirate-bay.jpg" alt="pirate bay" width="200" height="207" class="alignright size-full wp-image-53470">The Pirate Bay has been hard to reach since last weekend.</p>
<p>For most people, the site currently displays a CloudFlare error message across the entire site, with the CDN provider mentioning that a &#8220;bad gateway&#8221; is causing the issue.</p>
<p>As usual, no further details are available to us and there is no known ETA for the site&#8217;s full return. However, judging from past experience, it&#8217;s likely a small technical issue that needs fixing.</p>
<p><center><strong>TPB 502 Cloudflare error</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/f4db1b65.tpb5021.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/tpb5021.png" alt="" width="600" height="407" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-156996"></center></p>
<p>The Pirate Bay has had quite a few stints of downtime in years. The popular torrent site usually returns after several hours, but outages of more than a day have become more common recently.</p>
<p>Amid the downtime, there’s still some good news for those who desperately need to access the notorious torrent site. </p>
<p>TPB is still available via <a href="http://uj3wazyk5u4hnvtk.onion/recent">its .onion address</a> on the Tor network, accessible using the popular Tor Browser, for example. The site’s Tor traffic goes through a separate server and works just fine. Several dedicated TPB proxies are still up as well. </p>
<p>The Pirate Bay team has a <a href="https://pirates-forum.org/misc.php?page=tpbstatus">status page</a> in the forums where people can check to see if an outage is affecting everyone or not. This also shows that the Tor version of the site is working fine, and that new torrents are still coming through. </p>
<p>The main .org domain will probably be back in action soon enough, but seasoned TPB users will probably know the drill by now…</p>
<p><center><strong>TPB Status</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/520a7166.tpbstat.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/tpbstat.png" alt="" width="615" height="469" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160433"></center></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160426
title: IP Address is Not Enough to Identify Pirate, US Court of Appeals Rules
uri: IP-Address-is-Not-Enough-to-Identify-Pirate-US-Court-of-Appeals-Rules
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/f17r4KBC6QA/
content:
<p><a href="media/67ffec03.trollsign.jpg" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/trollsign.jpg"><img src="media/17a592c8.trollsign.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/trollsign.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="167" class="alignright size-full wp-image-108977"></a>Copyright trolling is a messy business with an extremely poor reputation but that hasn&#8217;t stopped dozens of companies trying to profit from it.</p>
<p>Plenty of cases go the trolls&#8217; way, settled privately for large sums before ever reaching a courtroom. But, every now and again, things go bad for them in an extremely big way.</p>
<p>In Oregan during 2016, a case <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/judge-dismisses-movie-piracy-case-ip-address-doesnt-prove-anything-160627/">filed</a> by the makers of the Adam Sandler movie The Cobbler against an alleged pirate received a big set back. A judge dismissed a direct infringement complaint against Thomas Gonzales when it became clear that the defendant probably wasn’t the infringer.</p>
<p>Gonzales&#8217; case is an interesting one. Rather being targeted in his home as many alleged infringers are, his alleged wrongdoing took place in the adult foster care home he runs. His Comcast account, which was connected to an open WiFi network, had allegedly been used to download and share the movie. Due to the network&#8217;s open nature, anyone could&#8217;ve carried out the infringement.</p>
<p>Due to concerns over privacy, Gonzales refused to hand over the names of other individuals with access to the WiFi network unless Cobbler obtained a court order. The district court subsequently granted leave to depose Gonzales but the process did not reveal the identity of the infringer.</p>
<p>This important set of circumstances didn&#8217;t deter the trolls, who pushed ahead with the case regardless. The decision was a poor one. Early 2017, District Judge Michael Simon <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/wrongly-accused-movie-pirate-gets-17000-in-compensation-170106/">ruled</a> that the plaintiffs could not claim direct or indirect infringement and should pay Gonzales&#8217; legal fees of $17,222.</p>
<p>“The Court will issue a Judgment dismissing with prejudice Plaintiff’s indirect infringement claim and without prejudice Plaintiff’s direct infringement claim against Mr. Gonzales,” the Judge wrote.</p>
<p>By shifting the costs onto the rightsholders, the Court hoped to <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/court-falsely-accused-movie-pirate-deserves-17k-compensation-161206/">send the message</a> that bringing cases without solid evidence can prove costly. However, that message must&#8217;ve got lost in translation as the trolls doubled down and took the case to appeal. That decision also proved to be a poor one.</p>
<p>In a ruling handed down yesterday by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Margaret McKeown makes it crystal clear that Cobbler Nevada LLC, the owner of the copyright in question, has no case against Gonzales.</p>
<p>&#8220;In this copyright action, we consider whether a bare allegation that a defendant is the registered subscriber of an Internet Protocol (&#8216;IP&#8217;) address associated with infringing activity is sufficient to state a claim for direct or contributory infringement,&#8221; the Judge writes.</p>
<p>&#8220;We conclude that it is not.&#8221;</p>
<p>Cobbler Nevada claimed that Gonzales had directly infringed their rights or, in the alternative, contributed to another person&#8217;s infringement by failing to secure his open WiFi. The district court, which previously heard the case, dismissed these claims. The Ninth Circuit agreed that was the correct decision.</p>
<p>&#8220;The direct infringement claim fails because Gonzales’s status as the registered subscriber of an infringing IP address, standing alone, does not create a reasonable inference that he is also the infringer,&#8221; the Judge notes.</p>
<p>&#8220;Because multiple devices and individuals may be able to connect via an IP address, simply identifying the IP subscriber solves only part of the puzzle. A plaintiff must allege something more to create a reasonable inference that a subscriber is also an infringer.&#8221;</p>
<p>Cobbler&#8217;s backup plan, that failing a direct infringement claim it could claim contributory infringement, also crashed and burned. Since the rightsholder couldn&#8217;t show that Gonzales had done anything to encourage the downloading and sharing of the movie, the claim was dismissed.</p>
<p>&#8220;[W]ithout allegations of intentional encouragement or inducement of infringement, an individual’s failure to take affirmative steps to police his internet connection is insufficient to state a claim,&#8221; the decision reads.</p>
<p>In an additional analysis, Judge McKeown notes that while finding an infringing IP address is usually pretty straightforward, it&#8217;s not always easy for copyright holders to find out who was behind the address at the relevant times. </p>
<p>&#8220;The reasons are obvious — simply establishing an account does not mean the subscriber is even accessing the internet, and multiple devices can access the internet under the same IP address,&#8221; the Judge writes.</p>
<p>&#8220;Identifying an infringer becomes even more difficult in instances like this one, where numerous people live in and visit a facility that uses the same internet service. While we recognize this obstacle to naming the correct defendant, this complication does not change the plaintiff’s burden to plead factual allegations that create a reasonable inference that the defendant is the infringer.&#8221;</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see how this ruling affects other similar cases moving forward. Many homes and businesses have WiFi that is accessible to several residents, workers, or visitors. Identifying who was at the helm at the time of an alleged infringement will be challenging at best, impossible at worst.</p>
<p><em>The Ninth Circuit ruling is available here (<a href="media/75344cb2.17-35041.pdf" data-original-source="http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2018/08/27/17-35041.pdf">pdf</a>)</em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160445
title: US and Mexico Modernize Copyright Protection in New Trade Deal
uri: US-and-Mexico-Modernize-Copyright-Protection-in-New-Trade-Deal
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/SeAJyJjZ6So/
content:
<p><img src="media/bd0abf4c.copyright-blood.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/copyright-blood.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="151" class="alignright size-full wp-image-120567">The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the United States, Canada, and Mexico was negotiated a quarter century ago.</p>
<p>Over the past twenty-five years, trade has changed drastically, especially online, so the United States planned to modernize the international deal.</p>
<p>Several negotiation rounds have taken place with all three parties. However, it appears that things are now moving ahead without Canada, which hasn&#8217;t been happy with some of the previous US proposals. </p>
<p>Yesterday the US and Mexico <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-keeping-promise-renegotiate-nafta/">confirmed</a> that they had reached agreement on key elements of a new trade deal. While everything has yet to be finalized, the US Trade Representative (USTR) frames it as a major improvement. </p>
<p>&#8220;The United States and Mexico have reached a preliminary agreement in principle, subject to finalization and implementation, to update the 24-year-old NAFTA with modern provisions representing a 21st century, high-standard agreement,&#8221; the USTR notes.</p>
<p>One of the key achievements, according to the US, is that the new deal includes the most comprehensive enforcement provisions of any trade agreement. The final wording has yet to be released, but a summary of the Intellectual Property chapter shows what&#8217;s in store.</p>
<p>Among other things, both parties agree to implement criminal measures against camcording in movie theaters, as well as cable and signal piracy. This, on top of a general agreement to enforce against piracy and counterfeiting that takes place on a commercial scale.</p>
<p><center><strong>On of the key achievements</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/2e429b60.keyachieve.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/keyachieve.png" alt="" width="547" height="199" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160463"></center></p>
<p>While these terms remain vague without the full context, they&#8217;re not as confusing as the USTR&#8217;s statement on an &#8216;extension&#8217; of the current copyright term. </p>
<p>&#8220;Extend the minimum copyright term to 75 years for works like song performances and ensure that works such as digital music, movies, and books can be protected through current technologies such as technological protection measures and rights management information,&#8221; it reads.</p>
<p>Some understood this as an extension of the current US term, which for individuals is life plus 70 years. This is also the case with digital rights group Public Knowledge, which branded it as an <a href="https://www.publicknowledge.org/press-release/public-knowledge-responds-to-president-trumps-outrageous-copyright-giveaway/">outrageous copyright giveaway</a>.</p>
<p>“The inclusion of a copyright term extension in the trade agreement announced today is a staggeringly brazen attempt by the entertainment industries to launder unpopular policies through international agreements,&#8221; the group wrote.</p>
<p>Journalists also jumped on this unusual issue. The USTR initially told reporters that it was indeed the plan to extend the copyright term to life plus 75 years, but according to Techdirt, this was later <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20180827/13585840514/us-trade-rep-appears-to-misreport-own-trade-agreement-to-include-copyright-extension.shtml">changed</a> to a 75-year floor. In other words, a minimum that includes the author&#8217;s life.</p>
<p>This floor would not change much in either country, except for very young creators in US kindergartens, perhaps. </p>
<p>One of the hottest topics during the previous negotiations was the &#8220;safe harbor&#8221; issue. Content industry groups stressed that these should be tightened, while Internet law experts and advocacy groups proposed an expansion of US-style safe harbors to Mexico and Canada.</p>
<p>The fact sheet released by the USTR makes it clear that safe harbors are included and that rightsholders will be protected as well, but how this will be implemented remains a question.</p>
<p>&#8220;Establish a notice-and-takedown system for copyright safe harbors for Internet service providers (ISPs) that provides protection for IP and predictability for legitimate technology enterprises who do not directly benefit from the infringement, consistent with United States law,&#8221; it reads.</p>
<p>Responding to the announcement, a group of prominent music industry players including ASCAP, BMI, and the RIAA, again <a href="https://www.riaa.com/joint-statement-united-states-music-community-regarding-u-s-mexico-agreement-nafta/">called</a> for strong copyright protections.</p>
<p>&#8220;We are deeply concerned by the efforts of some to use the agreement to lock in flawed interpretations of pre-Internet ‘safe harbors’ perpetuating the theft of American music, creating safe havens preventing successful enforcement efforts within our trading partner nations..,&#8221; the music groups write.</p>
<p>A more detailed summary of what to expect in the new trade deal is available on the <a href="https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2018/august/modernizing-nafta-be-21st-century#">USTR&#8217;s website</a>. Without the full agreement, it&#8217;s hard to draw any strong conclusions, but no matter to which side the scale tips, this isn&#8217;t the last we&#8217;ve heard of it.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160493
title: Columbia Pictures Nukes “Holmes and Watson” Posters Off The Internet
uri: Columbia-Pictures-Nukes-Holmes-and-Watson-Posters-Off-The-Intern
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/Qx3jmT82-AM/
content:
<p><img src="media/31765cd4.holmeswatson.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/holmeswatson.jpg" alt="" width="277" height="265" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160502">The DMCA is a particularly useful tool for copyright holders who want to make sure that infringing copies of their work are not widely distributed. </p>
<p>Whether it&#8217;s a copy of a pirated song, an ebook, or a photo, the DMCA covers it all. </p>
<p>The majority of the takedown requests filed on an average day are fairly mundane. However, there are those that raise eyebrows, which includes the recent efforts of Columbia Pictures. </p>
<p>The movie studio is planning to distribute the upcoming &#8216;<a href="https://ww.imdb.com/title/tt1255919/">Holmes and Watson</a>&#8216; movie, a highly anticipated release among Sherlock fans. So, when the first promotional poster appeared online a few days ago, they jumped all over it. </p>
<p>The poster, featuring Will Ferrell and John Reilly as Holmes and Watson, shows both men signaling their initials. On top of that is a large red title that reads &#8220;Holmies,&#8221; as shown in <a href="media/23ff64ba.reddithol.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/reddithol.png">this</a> Reddit post.</p>
<p>Following a series of news articles, the poster was shared on Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter. This isn&#8217;t something out of the ordinary, as the same happens with other prominent movies. What&#8217;s unusual, however, is that the posters have begun to &#8216;disappear.&#8217;</p>
<p>Several news sites that reported on and linked to the poster have <a href="https://movieweb.com/holmes-watson-movie-poster-2018-will-ferrell-john-c-reilly/">removed the image</a> and Slashfilm even took the entire article <a href="https://www.slashfilm.com/holmes-and-watson-poster/">down</a>. Around the same time, several copies shared on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/carmenFashionCr/status/1032893840049537024">disappeared too</a>.</p>
<p><center><strong>Gone</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/42f34a35.slothtweet.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/slothtweet.png" alt="" width="486" height="386" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160514"></center></p>
<p>As it turns out, Twitter removed the promotional posters following a DMCA notice. TorrentFreak received a copy of a takedown request which anti-piracy company Entura sent to Twitter on behalf of Columbia Pictures. </p>
<p><center><strong>Some of the reported uploads</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/40a7f929.reported.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/reported.png" alt="" width="450" height="418" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160517"></center></p>
<p>The unusual takedowns haven&#8217;t gone unnoticed. Twitter user Sloth Mom has been particularly vocal after one of her <a href="https://twitter.com/CaseyExplosion/status/1032801736979824641">tweets</a> was targeted. </p>
<p>&#8220;Apparently Columbia Pictures didn&#8217;t like me tweeting the poster of the upcoming Holmes and Watson movie with the comment &#8216;I&#8217;m here for it&#8217; for&#8230; Reasons? Good going Columbia, now anyone seeing that tweet won&#8217;t know what I&#8217;m here for,&#8221; she Tweeted.</p>
<p>This sparked a lively debate with people condemning Columbia Pictures. But, while it&#8217;s clear that Columbia Pictures doesn&#8217;t want the poster to be promoted, the question that remains is why?</p>
<p>TorrentFreak reached out to Entura for more details on the matter. At the time of writing we have yet to hear back, leaving us with little more than speculation. </p>
<p>There are of course many possible explanations. The most likely option we&#8217;ve seen thus far refers to the &#8220;Holmies&#8221; title that&#8217;s on the original poster. Apparently, that term is also used for &#8216;<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/users/2015/07/james_holmes_fandom_years_after_the_aurora_movie_theater_shooting_holmies.html">groupies</a>&#8216; of the Aurora shooter James Holmes.</p>
<p>&#8220;Err, &#8216;Holmies&#8217; also means &#8216;fans of the kid who shot up that DARK KNIGHT theater&#8217; so they might be freaking out and try to scrub the poster from existence,&#8221; Twitter user Standing Leaf <a href="https://twitter.com/StandingLeaf/status/1034494198278500353">writes</a>.</p>
<p><center><strong>Holmies&#8230;</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/659066a4.holllm.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/holllm.png" alt="" width="537" height="418" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160523"></center></p>
<p>If that&#8217;s the case, Paramount Pictures is using the DMCA requests with an ulterior motive. Understandable, perhaps, but the affected recipients who risk losing their account over too many strikes won&#8217;t like that. </p>
<p>&#8220;Even if that&#8217;s true, it&#8217;s a disgusting overreach to threaten people&#8217;s social media accounts over sharing a promotional poster,&#8221; Sloth Mom puts it.</p>
<p>Again, without an official explanation, this all remains guesswork. Perhaps a good detective can get to the bottom of it though. </p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160464
title: Yandex Has Less Than 48 Hours to Tackle Piracy or Get Blocked
uri: Yandex-Has-Less-Than-48-Hours-to-Tackle-Piracy-or-Get-Blocked
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/-AjIObniE2M/
content:
<p><a href="media/560a9ef5.searchman.jpg" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/searchman.jpg"><img src="media/e92721d2.searchman.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/searchman.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="156" class="alignright size-full wp-image-135409"></a>Despite having some of the toughest laws on the planet for tackling the appearance of pirate content, the copyright infringement wars in Russia appear to be intensifying.</p>
<p>Last week, to protest the existence of ‘pirate’ content in search results, major broadcasters Gazprom-Media, National Media Group (NMG), and others removed their TV channels from Yandex’s ‘TV Online’ service. The media companies said that they would only allow their content to appear again if Yandex removes pirated content completely.</p>
<p>With no clear sign of removals underway, it was later revealed that Gazprom-Media had filed a copyright infringement complaint with the Moscow City Court, the entity responsible for handling ISP blocking requests.</p>
<p>According to the media giant, the Court subsequently handed down a decision which now compels Yandex to remove links to pirated TV shows belonging to Gazprom-Media.</p>
<p>In a follow-up, telecoms watchdog Roscomnadzor, which is responsible for ordering ISPs to block sites, contacted Yandex with an instruction to remove infringing content from its <a href="https://yandex.ru/video/">Yandex.video</a> service.</p>
<p>While mostly unknown to Western Internet users, the index is heavily populated with pirated content, especially TV shows and movies. As the image below shows, its &#8216;featured&#8217; content section (which appears without any prompting) is populated by pirate content of recent movies.</p>
<p><center><a href="media/63c1045a.yandex-video-e1535463088481.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/yandex-video-e1535463088481.png"><img src="media/63c1045a.yandex-video-e1535463088481.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/yandex-video-e1535463088481.png" alt="" width="600" height="300" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160480"></a></center></p>
<p>According to <a href="http://www.interfax.ru/russia/626741">Interfax</a>, Yandex was informed that under the relevant anti-piracy legislation, it needs to remove content owned by Gazprom-Media channels including TNT, TV-3, 2×2, and Super, as instructed by the Moscow City Court. Yandex did not respond to a request for comment.</p>
<p>In a statement to <a href="http://www.interfax.ru/russia/626814">Interfax</a> Tuesday, Deputy Head of Roskomnadzor Vadim Subbotin warned that Yandex.video (which is also available under Yandex.ru/video/) will be blocked Thursday night (August 30) if the pirate links aren&#8217;t removed. </p>
<p>&#8220;If Yandex does not take measures, then according to the law, the Yandex.Video service must be blocked. There&#8217;s nowhere to go,&#8221; Subbotin said. &#8220;Let&#8217;s wait for the execution of the decision, we will hold consultations with them.&#8221;</p>
<p>Sites accused of copyright infringement are given three days to respond to a notice ordering them to take action. Time runs out for Yandex tomorrow night.</p>
<p>&#8220;On Thursday evening, these three days will expire,&#8221; Subbotin added.</p>
<p>It isn&#8217;t clear why Yandex didn&#8217;t immediately respond to the orders of the Moscow City Court but despite its standing as a prominent service, it appears it won&#8217;t be allowed any extra room for maneuver.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160546
title: NordVPN Responds to Privacy Sensitive Allegations
uri: NordVPN-Responds-to-Privacy-Sensitive-Allegations
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/Xp0ct4bpfRo/
content:
<p><img src="media/feb32266.nordvpn-1.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/nordvpn-1.png" alt="" width="195" height="82" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160551">The VPN industry is highly competitive. Combined with a userbase which tends to be more suspicious than the average Internet user, this is a volatile mix. </p>
<p>In recent weeks there have been a series of allegations lodged against <a href="https://nordvpn.com/">NordVPN</a>. The company is being linked to Lithuanian tech company <a href="https://tesonet.com/">Tesonet</a>, which offers a wide range of services and products. According to the allegations, Tesonet owns NordVPN, a claim the latter denies.</p>
<p>This turns out to be problematic for some, as Tesonet is involved in data mining practices, and the company also <a href="https://oxylabs.io/">runs</a> a residential proxy network. While there is no evidence that NordVPN is involved in any of that, it&#8217;s enough to feed conspiracies. </p>
<p>The situation didn&#8217;t improve when Tesonet was sued by Luminati, the company behind the &#8220;<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/hola-vpn-sells-users-bandwidth-150528/">not so private</a>&#8221; VPN service Hola. The complaint accuses Tesonet of infringing Luminati&#8217;s proxy patents and NordVPN is listed is the suit as well, with the claim that it had a business relationship with Hola. </p>
<p>TorrentFreak previously asked NordVPN about the allegations and the company said that they are operated by the Panamese company Tefincom, which also has the NordVPN trademark. Tesonet is closely related to the company, but it doesn&#8217;t legally own and never owned NordVPN.</p>
<p>NordVPN initially opted not to comment publicly but that changed when a new storm of mostly &#8216;fake&#8217; Twitter accounts (many of which were created years ago but have only tweeted on this particular issue) made themselves heard over the past days. </p>
<p>&#8220;We realized that remaining silent is no longer an option and we must respond for the sake of our reputation,&#8221; NordVPN wrote in a recent blog post. </p>
<p>NordVPN responds to several claims including that they are operating the same way as Hola, by selling users&#8217; bandwidth. This is something anyone can verify independently, they say, by monitoring their traffic via a network monitoring application.</p>
<p>&#8220;Anyone with Wireshark (or any other similar app) and some networking knowledge can perform a network scan, check all requests made by the NordVPN application, and verify their destinations. The results will prove that the web scraping accusations are false,&#8221; the company writes. </p>
<p>The patent infringement lawsuit, which these allegations can be traced back to, doesn&#8217;t mention NordVPN as one of the proxying apps. However, it does claim that HolaVPN and NordVPN had a business relationship. This is &#8220;misleading,&#8221; the VPN states in its response. </p>
<p>&#8220;HolaVPN was one of many minor affiliate partners and would refer users who canceled Hola to NordVPN. We would pay a small commission for the referral,&#8221; NordVPN writes.</p>
<p>While NordVPN admits that Tesonet is a partner, it stresses that they were never in any way been related to other projects developed by Tesonet.</p>
<p>The company describes the allegations as an organized smear campaign and points out that this was in large part driven by competitors. To back up its position and address any doubt, they are also taking concrete action. </p>
<p>&#8220;We understand that these facts alone may not be enough to clear our name,&#8221; NordVPN writes. </p>
<p>&#8220;Therefore, we are hiring one of the largest professional service firms in the world to run an independent audit and verify our ‘no logs’ claim. The audit is expected to be completed within 2 months and will independently verify that the accusations are false.&#8221;</p>
<p>NordVPN&#8217;s full response is available on the <a href="https://nordvpn.com/blog/nordvpn-false-allegations/">company&#8217;s blog</a>. A copy of the aforementioned patent infringement complaint can be found <a href="media/156beffa.Luminati-Networks-LTD-vs-UAB-Tesonet.pdf" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/Luminati-Networks-LTD-vs-UAB-Tesonet.pdf">here (pdf)</a>. </p>
<p>&#8212;</p>
<p><em><br>
TF note: We do not make a habit of reporting on these type of issues but felt that since NordVPN is one of our sponsors, we should address it. This article was written independently, as per standard TF policy. We trust that people can make up their own minds. </em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160397
title: Pirate Site Taunts Nintendo With a New Retro Games Section
uri: Pirate-Site-Taunts-Nintendo-With-a-New-Retro-Games-Section
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/uH8oybWPF8E/
content:
<p><img src="media/f24e33a6.nintendologo.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/nintendologo.png" alt="" width="250" height="139" class="alignright size-full wp-image-121992">Playing retro games is a popular pastime of some of the most avid game fanatics, who can&#8217;t always feed their urge through official channels. </p>
<p>Some titles are more than two decades old and no longer legally available. This gap has always been filled by emulators and ROMs sites. However, these have come under fire recently. </p>
<p>Last month Nintendo filed a complaint at a federal court in Arizona, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/nintendo-sues-console-rom-sites-for-mass-copyright-infringement-180720/">accusing LoveROMS.com and LoveRETRO.co </a>of massive copyright and trademark infringement.</p>
<p>This case <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/loveroms-owner-hopes-to-settle-nintendos-copyright-lawsuit-180824/">might</a> soon be settled, but not without causing <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/nintendo-rom-fallout-emuparadise-terminates-all-game-downloads-180809/">collateral damage</a>. Following the legal campaign, several sites stopped offering ROMs, to avoid millions of dollars in potential damages. </p>
<p>While these decisions are understandable, not everyone is equally impressed by the show of legal force. The niche pirate site &#8216;<a href="https://goodolddownloads.com/enter">Good Old Downloads</a>,&#8217; for example, sees the ROMs controversy as a good opportunity to expand its catalog. With retro games.</p>
<p><center><strong>Coming soon&#8230;</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/b2eea282.goodold.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/goodold.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="342" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160412"></center></p>
<p>The new section is &#8220;coming soon&#8221; according to the site&#8217;s homepage. While no further details are listed, it is now linked to a Tweet which makes it rather clear what motivated &#8216;Good Old Downloads&#8217; to add retro-titles. </p>
<p>The tweet embeds a video showing recent press coverage of the Nintendo lawsuit and the related shutdowns. Towards the end, it shows a clip from &#8220;Age of Ultron&#8221; where Thanos&#8217; face is replaced by the site&#8217;s logo.</p>
<p>&#8220;Fine, I&#8217;ll do it myself,&#8221; he says.</p>
<p><center><strong>The head..</strong><br></br></center><center></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Should&#39;ve gone for the head.</p>
<p>Video Credit: MnSXx <a href="https://t.co/iteEfXpNkp">pic.twitter.com/iteEfXpNkp</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Good Old Downloads (@goddownloads) <a href="https://twitter.com/goddownloads/status/1032641572246933504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center></p>
<p>In recent weeks, thousands of gamers have been deprived of their favorite ROM sources. They will surely welcome Good Old Download&#8217;s most recent expansion plans. </p>
<p>That said, ROMs haven&#8217;t been particularly hard to find through traditional pirate sources. For example, shortly after Nintendo announced its lawsuit, one Demonoid user uploaded torrents featuring <a href="media/2db9aa2d.demonrom.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/demonrom.png">thousands</a> of ROMs to the site, including tiles belonging to the Japanese game giant. </p>
<p>Nintendo is obviously not going to like this public deviance. But whether they will act on it is another matter.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160631
title: Yandex Refuses to Remove Pirate Content: Blocking Imminent, Despite Appeal
uri: Yandex-Refuses-to-Remove-Pirate-Content-Blocking-Imminent-Despite-Ap
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/CJenTGwkj24/
content:
<p><a href="media/8aa5b3fb.yandex-video-e1535463088481.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/yandex-video-e1535463088481.png"><img src="media/63c1045a.yandex-video-e1535463088481.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/yandex-video-e1535463088481.png" alt="" width="300" height="150" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160480"></a>A dramatic situation is developing around billion dollar Internet company Yandex and several major Russian broadcasters.</p>
<p>Gazprom-Media and others claim that Yandex isn&#8217;t doing enough to keep &#8216;pirate&#8217; content out of its search results. After reaching a brick wall with the search company, the broadcasters filed a copyright infringement complaint with the Moscow City Court, the entity responsible for handling ISP blocking requests.</p>
<p>Late last week, the Court handed down a decision compelling Yandex to remove links to pirated TV shows belonging to Gazprom-Media outlets including TNT, TV-3, 2×2, and Super. The Court gave Yandex <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/yandex-has-less-than-48-hours-to-tackle-piracy-or-get-blocked-180829/">until the end of today</a> to remove the content or find itself blocked throughout Russia. It&#8217;s now clear that Yandex will not comply.</p>
<p>According to a statement from the company, Yandex believes that the law is being misinterpreted. While under current legislation pirate content must be removed from sites hosting it, the removal of links to such content on search engines falls outside its scope.</p>
<p>&#8220;In accordance with the Federal Law On Information, Information Technologies, and Information Protection, the mechanics are as follows: pirated content should be blocked by site owners and on the so-called mirrors of these sites,&#8221; Yandex says.</p>
<p>&#8220;We consider the claims against us to be unreasonable and not in accordance with the law and we will appeal the decision of the Moscow City Court.&#8221;</p>
<p>A Yandex spokesperson told Interfax that the company works in &#8220;full compliance&#8221; with the law and is open to finding a cooperative solution.</p>
<p>&#8220;We will work with market participants to find a solution within the existing legal framework,&#8221; Yandex <a href="https://www.interfax.ru/russia/626966">said</a>.</p>
<p>In the midst of this serious situation, Yandex insists that it stands for an &#8220;honest Internet&#8221; in which legal content is made available and rightsholders earn their rightful share from it. Now, however, the action by the TV companies and the Court has undermined that.</p>
<p>&#8220;In response to the TV channels&#8217; complaint, the Moscow City Court has passed rulings that are fundamentally contrary to its own previous practice on this issue. Worse still, they do not solve the problem of unauthorized content, since resources with such content will be available in other search systems, social networks and so on,&#8221; Yandex says.</p>
<p>But despite Yandex filing an appeal against the Court&#8217;s decision, there appears to be no escape from it being wiped from the Russian Internet in a matter of hours. Telecoms watchdog Roscomnadzor says that it is obliged to act on the instructions of the Court and will instruct ISPs around the country to disabled access to Yandex. </p>
<p>&#8220;Roskomnadzor is required to comply with the court&#8217;s decision, which introduced preliminary provisional [blocking] measures against Yandex&#8217;s resource, regardless of the company&#8217;s appeal against this decision,&#8221; a spokesperson <a href="https://www.interfax.ru/russia/627002">said</a>.</p>
<p>But while executing a potentially devastating block on the one hand, Roscomnadzor is also offering to help mediate a peaceful solution to this growing dispute.</p>
<p>&#8220;We are ready to assist in finding points of interaction between companies,&#8221; Deputy Head of Roskomnadzor Vadim Subbotin told <a href="https://www.interfax.ru/russia/627014">Interfax</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;I hope that in the pre-trial procedure, Yandex will take steps to resolve this conflict before the blockade, I very much hope that this will be done in cooperation with the rights holders,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>Absent some last-minute miracle, it seems Yandex is doomed to preliminary blocking measures sometime today. While these usually last for an initial 15 days, the big question is how they will be carried out.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s unclear if a precise element of the service can or will be targeted (i.e Yandex.ru/video/ and/or Yandex.video) or whether Roscomnadzor will go down the <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/russias-encryption-war-1-8m-google-amazon-ips-blocked-to-silence-telegram-180417/">Telegram route and block everything</a>. </p>
<p>Ominously, Rosomnadzor is already warning that it doesn&#8217;t know what effect the blocks will have on Yandex&#8217;s other services.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160648
title: BREIN Shuts Down Usenet Indexing Community, Settles With Operators
uri: BREIN-Shuts-Down-Usenet-Indexing-Community-Settles-With-Operators
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/RLGRUx4gU1g/
content:
<p><a href="media/8878c0e1.breinlogo.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/breinlogo.png"><img src="media/62cd6b40.breinlogo.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/breinlogo.png" alt="" width="204" height="72" class="alignright size-full wp-image-130823" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/breinlogo.png 204w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/breinlogo-200x72.png 200w" sizes="(max-width: 204px) 100vw, 204px"></a>Based in the Netherlands, anti-piracy group BREIN has been fighting copyright infringement of all kinds since it was founded around 20 years ago.</p>
<p>One of its key activities in more recent years has been tackling file-sharing sites. BREIN has taken on the very largest of platforms, such as The Pirate Bay, and has been a major player in testing EU legislation in key areas, particularly in relation to the &#8216;making available&#8217; right.</p>
<p>But while BREIN has tackled some of the largest issues, it hasn&#8217;t shied away from dealing with sites of all size. Its latest victim, it seems, is the (now former) leading Dutch Usenet indexing community Place2Home.net.</p>
<p>With roots reaching back more than half a decade, Place2Home.net was a community of mainly Dutch file-sharers focused on content available on the worldwide Usenet (newsgroup) system. Its members shared links to content including movies, TV shows, music and books, which attracted the negative attention of BREIN, as visitors to the site now discover.</p>
<p>&#8220;This site has been closed by order of the BREIN foundation,&#8221; a notice there now reads.</p>
<p>&#8220;Over the past few years thousands of (recent) films, TV series, music, games and e-books have been made available on this website. The making available of copyright-protected works infringes the copyrights and neighboring rights of the copyright holders to those works.&#8221;</p>
<p>For many years, pure downloading of pirate content was allowed in the Netherlands. However, that <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/the-netherlands-must-outlaw-downloading-eu-court-rules-140410/">all changed in 2014</a> when the European Court of Justice ruled that the &#8220;piracy levy&#8221; used to compensate rightsholders was unlawful. Almost immediately, the Dutch government outlawed downloading. Uploading has always been illegal.</p>
<p>&#8220;Downloading from unauthorized sources is also prohibited in the Netherlands, just like unauthorized uploading,&#8221; the notice on Place2Home correctly adds.</p>
<p>The details of when and how the operators of Place2Home were discovered have not yet been announced but we do know that they have reached some kind of settlement with BREIN. If past cases are anything to go by, a cash sum is likely to be due to BREIN, in an amount relevant to the activities of the site balanced with its operators&#8217; ability to pay.</p>
<p>Back in May, Place2Home.<em>org</em>, which acted as the sister site to the .net variant, also disappeared after being targeted by BREIN. While .net was focusing on Usenet, .org focused on torrents, becoming the largest private site in the Netherlands. It too was forced into a settlement agreement with BREIN and hasn&#8217;t been seen since.</p>
<p>Back in September 2017, it became clear that both variants of Place2Home were on BREIN&#8217;s radar. The anti-piracy group <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/brein-tracks-down-and-settles-with-libra-release-team-170916/">revealed</a> it had tracked down and settled with prolific uploaders connected to the Libra Release Team who had uploaded content to both sites.</p>
<p>At the time of publication, BREIN hadn&#8217;t yet responded to our request for comment.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160649
title: Steal This Show S04E04: ‘Solarpunk Social’, with Scuttlebutt
uri: Steal-This-Show-S04E04-Solarpunk-Social-with-Scuttlebutt
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/RXuRKG8v3X8/
content:
<p><img src="media/d01749d9.stslogo180.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/stslogo180.png" alt="" width="180" height="180" class="alignright size-full wp-image-113928">In this episode we meet Zenna, Andre and Zack from <a href="https://www.scuttlebutt.nz/">Scuttlebutt</a>, a P2P-based social ‘network of networks’ based around a BitTorrent-like distribution technology. </p>
<p>After figuring out what Scuttlebutt is (and is not) we discuss: the roots of Scuttlebutt in New Zealand, the system’s politically anarchist/libertarian ethos, how Scuttlebutt survived (or shrugged off) a right-wing deluge; and how SSB’s technical architecture eliminates the need for moderators.</p>
<p>&#8212;</p>
<p><a href="https://stealthisshow.com">Steal This Show</a> aims to release bi-weekly episodes featuring insiders discussing crypto, privacy, copyright and file-sharing developments. It complements our regular reporting by adding more room for opinion, commentary, and analysis. </p>
<p><strong>Host:</strong> Jamie King</p>
<p><strong>Guest:</strong> Zenna, Andre and Zack</p>
<p><center><iframe width="100%" height="180px" src="//stealthisshow.com/?lpe-frame=1&#038;lpe-season=4&#038;lpe-episode=04" frameborder="0"></iframe></center></p>
<p><strong><sup><em>If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming a patron and getting involved with the show. <a href="https://patreon.com/user?u=4275705">Check out Steal This Show&#8217;s Patreon campaign</a>: support us and get all kinds of&nbsp;fantastic benefits!</em></sup></strong></p>
<p><strong>Produced </strong> <em>by </em>Jamie King<br>
<strong>Edited &#038; Mixed</strong> <em>by</em> Lucas Marston<br>
<strong>Original Music</strong> <em>by</em> David Triana<br>
<strong>Web Production</strong> <em>by</em> Eric Barch</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160320
title: US Supreme Court Petitioned to Fix Repeat Infringer ‘DMCA Disarray’
uri: 2018-08-31-
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/5L8JE4ragsY/
content:
<p><img src="media/0a6858fb.piratkeyb-e1476968827887.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/piratkeyb-e1476968827887.png" alt="" width="222" height="157" class="alignright size-full wp-image-108110">The DMCA&#8217;s “repeat infringer” issue is a hot topic in US courts, leading to much uncertainty among various Internet services.</p>
<p>Under the DMCA, companies are required to implement a reasonable policy to deal with frequent offenders.</p>
<p>This applies to residential ISPs but also to websites that host user-uploaded content, such as video and image hosting platforms. Services that fail to implement a repeat infringer policy risk being held liable for the piracy activities of their users. </p>
<p>This is what happened to Cox previously. While the ISP <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/cox-pays-substantial-settlement-to-end-repeat-infringer-piracy-lawsuit-180827/">settled</a> its case last week, the issue is not off the agenda. In fact, a related matter is currently before the US Supreme Court.</p>
<p>The petition was submitted by adult content producer Ventura Content. The company previously <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/repeat-infringer-policy-doesnt-have-to-be-spelled-out-appeals-court-rules-180324/">lost its case</a> against the video upload site Motherless.com, through which hundreds of thousands of copyright infringing videos were made public. </p>
<p>Ventura argued that the sole operator of the site was liable, as he failed to write down the details of the site’s repeat infringer termination policy. However, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit disagreed. </p>
<p>The fact that the details of the policy were not spelled out doesn’t mean that Motherless has no safe harbor protection, the Court concluded, noting that this may be different for large companies. In addition, Motherless was not required to keep a log of all infringements, as long as the operator keeps track of these in his head.  </p>
<p>The adult company was obviously not happy with this outcome. It requested an &#8216;en banc&#8217; rehearing review of the published opinion, but that was denied as well. The next logical step, therefore, was to take the matter to the Supreme Court.  </p>
<p>&#8220;Plain and simple, the lower courts are in a state of DMCA disarray,&#8221; Ventura writes in its recent Supreme Court petition.</p>
<p>&#8220;The result of the DMCA disarray is that abject bootlegging in the offline, brick-and-mortar world remains unlawful, but the same conduct online by an OSP-turned publisher garners absolute summary judgment immunity.&#8221;</p>
<p><center><strong>From the petition</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/cc934a42.venturapet.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/venturapet.jpg" alt="" width="550" height="350" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160543"></center></p>
<p>The adult company is asking the Supreme Court to take on the case, noting that various circuit courts have issued conflicting decisions. For example, in the present case an “I Know It When I See It” policy was good enough for a summary judgment in its favor, while MP3tunes was previously denied the same because it <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/repeat-infringers-can-be-mere-downloaders-court-rules-161026/">failed to monitor users</a>.</p>
<p>Ventura asks the Supreme Court to clearly define a standard which can be uniformly applied by lower courts. At the moment it appears that there is too much room for interpretation, which causes confusion and seemingly conflicting decisions. </p>
<p>This vagueness has been recognized in previous &#8220;repeat infringer&#8221; cases. To illustrate this, even judges themselves are not clear what a repeat infringer actually is, as the DMCA doesn&#8217;t clearly define it. </p>
<p>“How does somebody know a third party is an infringer? ‘Cause you say so?” Judge Shedd <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/appeals-court-grills-cox-and-bmg-in-piracy-liability-case-171027/">previously said</a> in a BMG vs. Cox hearing.</p>
<p>The adult producer obviously hopes that if the Supreme Court takes on the case, which is far from certain, it will work out in its favor. If not, they fear that things will only get worse.</p>
<p>&#8220;The lower courts, acting out of a fear of derailing the internet’s development have instead given birth to a new monster: the OSP publisher that is brazenly rich only from others’ content, never pays for any content it publishes, knows the content is infringing, has full control over what is published on its platform, does not have to terminate known repeat infringers because unwritten &#8216;I Know Repeat Infringement When I See It&#8217; policies suffice, and thus enjoys full immunity from copyright law,&#8221; Ventura writes.</p>
<p>&#8220;It is time for this Court to bring balance to the DMCA, which never intended, nor facially permits, such staggering dissonance between online and offline liability standards,&#8221; the company concludes.</p>
<p><em>&#8212;</p>
<p>A copy of Ventura Content&#8217;s petition to the US Supreme Court is available <a href="media/5aebec61.20180820151250495_36787-pdf-Ventura-cert-petition-br.pdf" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/20180820151250495_36787-pdf-Ventura-cert-petition-br.pdf">here (pdf)</a>. </em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160448
title: Pirate IPTV Provider Might “Offload” Premier League Matches
uri: Pirate-IPTV-Provider-Might-Offload-Premier-League-Matches
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/k9L68T3_Ohk/
content:
<p><a href="media/43cda600.premierleague.jpg" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/premierleague.jpg"><img src="media/7be95e09.premierleague.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/premierleague.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="199" class="alignright size-full wp-image-116272"></a>In March 2017, the Premier League obtained a blocking injunction from the High Court which compelled UK ISPs including BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media to <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/new-uk-kodi-piracy-blocking-injunction-is-a-pretty-scary-beast-170314/">block &#8216;pirate&#8217; streams in real-time</a>.</p>
<p>The order, granted under Section 97a of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/premier-league-obtains-intriguing-injunction-to-tackle-pirate-streams-170309/">allowed</a> the Premier League to target illegal streams including those consumed by Kodi users and premium IPTV subscribers.</p>
<p>Encouraged by the success of this pioneering action, the football organization obtained a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/premier-league-wins-new-stream-blocking-injunction-to-fight-piracy-170727/">second order</a> in July 2017, one which quickly began <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/new-premier-league-blocking-disrupts-pirate-iptv-providers-170814/">causing disruption</a> for unauthorzied providers.</p>
<p>This July, the Premier League <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/premier-league-obtains-piracy-blocking-order-for-2018-19-season-180719/">obtained an extension</a> from the Hight Court and as soon as the new season began, a new wave of blocking was launched. Judging by the number of complaints being aired online, the negative effects of the scheme are widespread.</p>
<p>Sources familiar with the IPTV landscape inform TF that the Premier League and its anti-piracy partners wasted no time, with stream interference reported within minutes of the opening match of the season getting underway. The problems are persisting too, with IPTV providers previously unaffected by the measures now being blocked by UK-based ISPs.</p>
<p>The solution to most of these problems is for IPTV subscribers to get themselves a VPN, which hides their traffic from their ISPs and bypasses all of the Premier League&#8217;s blocking measures. However, this is not always as straightforward as one might think.</p>
<p>While experienced torrent and streaming site users are familiar with VPNs, it appears that large numbers of more casual fans &#8220;who just want to watch the footy&#8221; are struggling with the learning curve. We&#8217;re told that huge numbers of blocked users are filing support tickets with providers when streams go off, only to balk at the notion of buying another service (a VPN) on top of their IPTV subscription.</p>
<p>For those prepared to fork out a bit more cash, the VPN solution is just a few minutes away. However, it seems clear that large numbers of people don&#8217;t really understand VPNs and don&#8217;t know how to set them up, particularly those trying to watch on set-top devices that require much more effort to configure than a desktop PC, mobile phone, or tablet.</p>
<p>Also causing problems is the decision by some IPTV providers not to enable VPN access to their service by default. Although their customers are being blocked from accessing their service in the UK, some still refuse to allow VPN access, until the customer opens a support ticket asking for it. This is causing frustration.</p>
<p>All that being said, some IPTV providers are finding ways to avoid the measures. None wish to speak about them publicly but there appears to be a mix of technical solutions combined with the ability to remain under the radar.</p>
<p>One source told us that some smaller IPTV outfits are getting through unhindered by being more obscure. However, this means they&#8217;re risking their heads appearing above the parapet when they try to grow their customer bases. This makes any form of advertising an accident waiting to happen since &#8220;one bad subscriber [an anti-piracy operative] ruins it for everyone.&#8221; </p>
<p>Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects to the disruption is how widespread it is, considering how targeted it&#8217;s supposed to be.</p>
<p>The Premier League&#8217;s action is supposedly designed to prevent unauthorized streams of Premier League copyrighted content, i.e football matches, reaching the public. However, it is crystal clear that it is actually blocking all or most streams of the services it targets, meaning that people who use IPTV services to watch any other content are being affected as well.</p>
<p>A source with experience of this problem told us that discussions aimed at countering the blocks are always taking place but there is a growing feeling that Premier League content is a golden goose drinking from a poisoned chalice.</p>
<p>Football is some of the most popular content on IPTV services as far as UK subscribers are concerned but transmitting it ensures that all of a provider&#8217;s content gets blocked, something which upsets all users, no matter what they&#8217;re watching.</p>
<p>This situation has prompted at least one supplier to consider moving away from Premier League matches in order to safeguard the rest of its service.</p>
<p>While this will definitely be bad for business short term, we&#8217;re told that extra effort could be put into trying to attract more customers from outside the UK, since they&#8217;re less likely to be buying the service with the primary aim of watching Premiership football. Another option is to segregate football content &#8220;in other ways&#8221; but TF&#8217;s questions on what that might mean went unanswered.</p>
<p>Whatever the outcome, it seems clear that as planned, the Premier League is having an overall negative effect on the illegal streaming market. Of course, that only happens when live football is underway, which may be a sacrifice some providers and subscribers will be prepared to endure. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, providing and streaming live football is not the cakewalk it once was.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160318
title: GTA V’s Take-Two Wants ‘Lying Cheat Maker’ to Pay Up
uri: GTA-V-s-Take-Two-Wants-Lying-Cheat-Maker-to-Pay-Up
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/FI7BTw4f4Bc/
content:
<p><img src="media/4592b5eb.220px-Grand_Theft_Auto_V.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/220px-Grand_Theft_Auto_V.png" alt="" width="220" height="270" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160081">There&#8217;s a bit of a trend emerging in which gaming companies use copyright legislation against cheaters. </p>
<p>Take-Two Interactive Software, the company behind ‘Grand Theft Auto V’ (GTA V), is one of the players. The company has filed several lawsuits in the US targeting alleged cheaters.</p>
<p>In one case, a New York court recently issued a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/court-halts-gta-v-cheat-maker-over-copyright-claim-180820/">preliminary injunction</a> ordering a man to stop working on and distributing the ‘Menyoo’ and ‘Absolute’ cheats. </p>
<p>The defendant, Georgia resident David Zipperer, didn&#8217;t deny his involvement and said he had already ceased working on the cheats. However, he had to find a lawyer as Take-Two was not letting the case go easily.</p>
<p>Following a referral from the EFF, Zipperer received &#8220;pro bono&#8221; help from attorney Joel Rothman. That didn&#8217;t last long. After a failed attempt to transfer the case to another district or otherwise resolve the case, the attorney is withdrawing from the case. </p>
<p>According to the attorney, Take-Two is increasing the costs and time for Zipperer’s defense, to &#8220;shake him free&#8221; of his pro bono counsel.</p>
<p>&#8220;I do not have the resources to go up against Kirkland &#038; Ellis in scorched-earth discovery in a pro bono case. I cannot afford the time and money to fly around the country taking the depositions of Take-Two employees,&#8221; Rothman wrote to the court. </p>
<p>The attorney discussed a possible settlement with Take-Two, but the &#8220;tens of thousands&#8221; of dollars the company wants is not something his client can pay, he says. </p>
<p>&#8220;My client has no money. He swore to this Court that the money he earned from selling &#8216;cheat menus&#8217; was used to support his family, that the money is gone, and that he has none left. </p>
<p>&#8220;He is an unemployed day laborer with a ninth-grade education who taught himself to write code. I have told this over and over to Take-Two’s lawyers, but they continue to demand a pound of flesh from Zipperer.&#8221;</p>
<p>Rothman, therefore, asked the Court to halt the discovery proceedings for thirty days so his client can find a new attorney, or prepare to represent himself. </p>
<p>Take-Two clearly sees things differently. A day after the attorney&#8217;s request was filed the company submitted a scathing reply, painting an opposing picture. According to the company, Zipperer has repeatedly misled the Court regarding his financial situation.</p>
<p>Through a subpoena, they learned that the defendant&#8217;s profits exceed $100,000 and that the most recent payment only dates a few months back. Some of the profits were spent on expensive electronic equipment and other personal purchases.</p>
<p>&#8220;Mr. Zipperer clearly has significantly more resources than he has repeatedly represented to this Court. We believe that these PayPal records reflect only a small fraction of the proceeds Mr. Zipperer has received from his illegal businesses,&#8221; the company writes. </p>
<p>Take-Two says that the case should not be delayed any further, also because there&#8217;s a chance that this will help the defendant to hide his assets. </p>
<p>&#8220;There are many litigants who need legal services and who legitimately do not have the means to pay for them. Mr. Zipperer is not one of them,&#8221; the company informs the Court. </p>
<p>&#8220;He is a man that has collected over a hundred thousand dollars by distributing an infringing work that harmed Take-Two and its customers who wanted to play Take-Two’s game without being &#8216;griefed&#8217;.&#8221;</p>
<p>After reviewing the submissions from both sides the Court sided with Take-Two (<a href="media/725b0a77.zipped.pdf" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/zipped.pdf">pdf</a>), which means that the case won&#8217;t be delayed.</p>
<p>While Take-Two&#8217;s approach, in this case, may seem aggressive, it&#8217;s not always that way. Earlier this week it settled its case with Christopher Pei, who worked on the Infamous and Menyoo cheats. While Pei admits the infringing activities, both parties agreed to pay their own costs. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, Take-Two also filed a new lawsuit late last week. The company sued (<a href="media/84139724.taketwoperez.pdf" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/taketwoperez.pdf">pdf</a>) Florida resident Jhonny Perez, accusing him of copyright infringement by creating and distributing the cheating tool &#8220;Elusive.&#8221;</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160126
title: ISP: Piracy Extortion Letters Are Easy to Thwart Without Logs
uri: ISP-Piracy-Extortion-Letters-Are-Easy-to-Thwart-Without-Logs
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/z2VapKMIoEE/
content:
<p><img src="media/0439e552.bahnhof.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/bahnhof.png" alt="" width="222" height="150" class="alignright size-full wp-image-128056">In recent years file-sharers around the world have been threatened with lawsuits, if they don’t pay a significant settlement fee.</p>
<p>These so-called &#8220;copyright trolling&#8221; efforts have been a common occurrence in countries such as Germany and the United States, and in recent years they <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/attention-swedish-pirate-bay-users-copyright-trolls-have-arrived-160902/">have conquered Sweden</a> as well. </p>
<p>The process is fairly simple. Copyright holders ask local courts for a subpoena so they can demand the personal details of the subscribers that are connected to allegedly pirating IP-addresses.</p>
<p>The ISPs are then required to look these up in their databases and hand over the relevant personal information. The rightsholders use this to send a settlement claim to the subscribers, asking them to pay up, or else. </p>
<p>Most providers are not happy with this practice, but they see no other option than to cooperate. However, Swedish ISP <a href="https://www.bahnhof.se/">Bahnhof</a> is <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/bahnhof-trolls-copyright-trolls-160922/">different</a>. It is yet to hand over any data to copyright holders and publicly despises the copyright-trolling business model.</p>
<p>In recent comments on the matter, Bahnhof CEO Jon Karlung <a href="https://www.bahnhof.se/press/press-releases/2018/08/21/jon-karlung-tackar-donald-trump">says</a> that subscribers of many of its competitors, including Comhem, Telia, and Bredbandsbolaget, have received a letter of formal notice in recent months.</p>
<p>&#8220;Many Swedes have been innocently accused of downloading a movie from the web. It is not just a legal scandal that this will happen. The letters also appear to be based on false information, but the individuals who get them still have difficulty defending against unfair bills of thousands of dollars,&#8221; he notes.</p>
<p>The CEO says that Bahnhof is the only major ISP to consistently refuse to disclose any data to these copyright holders, which the company describes as &#8220;blackmailers.&#8221; </p>
<p>There&#8217;s no magic involved really. Not keeping any extensive log files does the trick.</p>
<p>&#8220;How? The ingeniously simple solution is that we do not save log files. There is, therefore, nothing to share. The question, however, is why all the other operators save sensitive data about their customers,&#8221; Karlung adds. </p>
<p>Bahnhof&#8217;s solution is not new. When the first wave of copyright trolls came to Sweden the company severely <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/isp-deletes-ip-address-logs-fend-off-piracy-extortion-letters-160908/">limited</a> the logs it kept. The company also urged other ISPs to follow suit, but most didn&#8217;t. </p>
<p>The question, is why? Karlung urges subscribers of the affected ISPs to ask about their logging policies, and in particular, the motivation behind them.</p>
<p>&#8220;There is something not right here. Why do the other broadband operators save as much information about you as a customer, when they are not technically in need of it to deliver a contracted service? Ask them about it!&#8221;</p>
<p>Bahnhof itself says that it keeps IP-address logs for a maximum of 24 hours. They base this practice on a European Court of Justice ruling which concluded that the Swedish adoption of the data retention directive is invalid.</p>
<p>&#8220;To our knowledge, it&#8217;s Bahnhof and Tele2 who operate their IP logs in this manner, other Swedish ISPs are likely to follow the data retention directive and keep IP logs over the last six months,&#8221; Bahnhof Communicator Carolina Lindahl tells TF.</p>
<p>This issue isn&#8217;t only limited to Sweden of course. It also applies to the United States and other countries where some providers keep logs <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/how-long-does-your-isp-store-ip-address-logs-120629/">for months, or years</a>, without a legal requirement. </p>
<p>How long the other ISPs in Sweden keep their logs is unclear. If any readers get an answer from their ISP, they are welcome to share it below. </p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160496
title: CreativeFuture Launches Withering Attack on Google Over Copyright
uri: CreativeFuture-Launches-Withering-Attack-on-Google-Over-Copyright
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/iJ-CuzjI5Dg/
content:
<p><a href="media/ebe343ca.googlepiratebay.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/googlepiratebay.png"><img src="media/3c5b1a66.googlepiratebay.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/googlepiratebay.png" alt="" width="267" height="257" class="alignright size-full wp-image-128445"></a>Before getting hired by Google back in 2010, lawyer Fred von Lohmann was a senior attorney at the EFF dealing with intellectual property matters.</p>
<p>In March 2018, after serving as Google&#8217;s legal director for copyright issues, von Lohmann <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/google-copyright-director-has-retired-2018-4?r=US&#038;IR=T">left the company</a>, having fought many battles in favor of Google&#8217;s right to use third-party content on its services.</p>
<p>This led to Google advertising for a new Head of Copyright, highlighting all the great qualities a candidate must possess to qualify for such a lofty position. While it&#8217;s unclear if the role has been filled, the posting has since been removed &#8211; but not before pro-copyright group CreativeFuture got its hands on it. </p>
<p>The coalition, which claims to <a href="https://creativefuture.org/who-we-are/coalition/">represent</a> more than 520 companies and organizations and over 160,000 creative individuals, published a &#8220;corrected&#8221; version this week, in which it highlights the qualities <em>it</em> believes a person will need to get the job. It pulls no punches.</p>
<p>&#8220;Following a thorough analysis by our in-house team of creativity defenders, we at CreativeFuture have determined that certain key details of the posting may be in need of revision – so as to present a more accurate portrayal of what the position truly entails,&#8221; CreativeFuture begins.</p>
<p>&#8220;We have taken the liberty of making these edits for you, presented below as red-lined corrections to the original document. Though the job posting has since been closed online, we trust you will make whomever steps into the role aware of the suggested changes, so that they may conduct their work with Google’s usual high regard for creative professionals and the security of their works in the digital space.&#8221;</p>
<p>In case it&#8217;s not entirely obvious already, that&#8217;s a pretty sarcastic hors d&#8217;oeuvre. The main course, resplendent in its bright red edits, fills up the consumer with anti-Google rhetoric so rich, there&#8217;s no room left for dessert.</p>
<p><center><b>Head of Anti-Copyright, interested?</b><a href="media/8215c261.google-job-edit-e1535483482826.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/google-job-edit-e1535483482826.png"><img src="media/8215c261.google-job-edit-e1535483482826.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/google-job-edit-e1535483482826.png" alt="" width="600" height="324" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160510"></a></center></p>
<p>The full &#8216;revised&#8217; posting, which can be found <a href="https://creativefuture.org/google-job/">here</a>, goes on to accuse Google of manipulating Members of Congress, conspiracy, nurturing a corrosive business, evading liability, failing to implement a repeat infringer policy, and displaying a &#8220;willingness to turn a blind eye to pirated content being uploaded to [its] servers on an overwhelming scale.&#8221;</p>
<p>Finally, CreativeFuture determines that the successful candidate for Head of Anti-Copyright should have &#8220;strong bullshitting skills&#8221;, &#8220;low self-respect,&#8221; and &#8220;questionable judgment.&#8221; Oh, and a passion for playing Whack-a-Mole.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s worth reiterating that CreativeFuture speaks for dozens of industry giants. All the big Hollywood and TV studios are involved, not to mention companies like Warner Music Group and even Microsoft. Of course, they&#8217;re entitled to argue as passionately as they see fit, but one has to go back a long way to find this level of bitterness in the copyright wars. </p>
<p>Indeed, this brand of half-joking-yet-serious insult approach hasn&#8217;t been seen since Anakata of the Pirate Bay <a href="http://static.thepiratebay.org/dreamworks_response.txt">demanded</a> the strategic placement of a retractable baton inside a person of importance at Dreamworks. It&#8217;s a real surprise that we&#8217;re back on that level again many years later, not least since it&#8217;s now billion dollar companies hurling the insults. </p>
<p>While this is clearly a great time to be alive, something is missing from this battle of the barbs. Google, it seems, doesn&#8217;t want to get sucked in.</p>
<p>Every single day the company finds itself lambasted over its supposed anti-copyright practices but until now has managed to avoid rolling round in the mud with its accusers. That&#8217;s a real shame, not least since public shit-flinging contests on this scale tend to get a lot of views on YouTube, if both sides can be bothered to put in the effort. Ask Logan Paul and KSI.</p>
<p>If a public conflict does indeed come to pass, there&#8217;s always the option of monetization. YouTube might not pay the going rate but it&#8217;s better than the big fat nothing being offered by Twitter, where <a href="media/0a74dfa0.twitter-war.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/twitter-war.png">most of the war drums</a> are being banged at the moment.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=159836
title: Hollywood Studios Flag Their IMDb Listings as “Pirate” Links
uri: Hollywood-Studios-Flag-Their-IMDb-Listings-as-Pirate-Links
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/vPq8iOweAH4/
content:
<p><img src="media/0ad772c2.columbia.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/columbia.jpg" alt="" width="275" height="234" class="alignright size-full wp-image-96747">Every single day, largely automated bots scour the web for references to pirated content. </p>
<p>These links are then reported to various online services, such as Google, requesting the operators to remove the allegedly infringing content. </p>
<p>This works fine, most of the time. But, in common with their human counterparts, these bots aren&#8217;t perfect. This was made painfully visible last month when Topple Track had to disable its reporting tool after it <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/bizarre-dmca-takedown-requests-censor-eu-censorship-news-181011/">triggered a wave of faulty takedown notices</a>. </p>
<p>That was not an isolated incident though. None of these takedown tools are perfect. </p>
<p>Over the past few weeks, we noticed another worrying trend. Suddenly, Google started to receive a lot of DMCA notices for the Internet Movie Database, with the majority of <a href="https://transparencyreport.google.com/copyright/domains/imdb.com?request_by_org=size:10;domain:imdb.com">these requests</a> coming from the UK-based reporting agency <a href="http://entura.co.uk/">Entura International</a>.</p>
<p>Since it&#8217;s unlikely that the <a href="https://www.imdb.com/">movie site</a>, which has been operating legally for 27 years, had suddenly gone rogue, something else must be up.</p>
<p>We decided to take a closer look at the reports in question, which were sent on behalf of well-known companies including Columbia Pictures, National Geographic, and Sony Pictures Television. Most of the links in these notices indeed reference classic pirate sites. </p>
<p><center><strong>Good notice</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/f5ca7630.enturok.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/enturok.png" alt="" width="600" height="265" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-159873"></center></p>
<p>The IMDB links are mostly used as a reference to the original content. However, it appears that due to a bug in the system the IMDb links move to the &#8220;infringing content&#8221; field when there are no pirate links to report, as shown below. </p>
<p><center><strong>Bad notice</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/4274564e.enturerror.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/enturerror.png" alt="" width="600" height="209" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-159874"></center></p>
<p>This is a rather obvious bug. However, after several weeks it has yet to be corrected. As a result, Google has been asked dozens of times to remove legitimate IMDb URLs from its search results. </p>
<p>TorrentFreak reached out to Entura to report this issue, and request a comment, but at the time of writing, we have yet to hear back. </p>
<p>Google, meanwhile, has widely put IMDb on its whitelist. This means that none of the inaccurately reported links have been removed. However, a smaller or relatively unknown site may not be that lucky, when it comes to these type of mistakes.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160677
title: Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week on BitTorrent – 09/03/18
uri: Top-10-Most-Pirated-Movies-of-The-Week-on-BitTorrent-09-03-18
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/6cfozGfd5hY/
content:
<p><img src="media/659dd161.oceans.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/oceans.png" alt="" width="298" height="247" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160679">This week we have two newcomers in our chart.</p>
<p>Ocean&#8217;s Eight is the most downloaded movie.</p>
<p>The data for our weekly download chart is estimated by TorrentFreak, and is for informational and educational reference only. All the movies in the list are Web-DL/Webrip/HDRip/BDrip/DVDrip unless stated otherwise.</p>
<p><a href="http://TorrentFreak.com/category/dvdrip/feed/"><strong>RSS feed</strong></a> for the articles of the recent weekly movie download charts.</p>
<h5>This week&#8217;s most downloaded movies are:</h5>
<table class="css hover">
<thead>
<tr>
<th width="12%"><strong>Movie Rank</strong></th>
<th width="15%"><strong>Rank <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-pirated-movies-week-bittorrent-08-27-18/">last week</a></strong></th>
<th><strong>Movie name</strong></th>
<th width="18%"><strong>IMDb Rating / Trailer</strong></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tfoot>
<tr>
<td colspan="4">Most downloaded movies via torrents</td>
</tr>
</tfoot>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>1</strong></td>
<td>(2)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5164214/">Ocean&#8217;s Eight </a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5164214/">6.3</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5LoVcVsiSQ">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>2</strong></td>
<td>(1)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5463162/">Deadpool 2</a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5463162/">8.0</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D86RtevtfrA">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>3</strong></td>
<td>(5)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7784604/">Hereditary </a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7784604/">8.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6wWKNij_1M">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>4</strong></td>
<td>(3)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">Avengers: Infinity War </a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">8.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZfuNTqbHE8">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>5</strong></td>
<td>(&#8230;)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6547170/">Reprisal</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6547170/">4.4</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzO9OCAW_7c">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>6</strong></td>
<td>(4)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6499752/">Upgrade</a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6499752/">7.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36PDeN9NRZ0">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>7</strong></td>
<td>(8)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom </a> (subbed HDRip)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">6.5</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn9mMeWcgoM">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>8</strong></td>
<td>(&#8230;)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7690670/">Superfly</a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7690670/">4.9</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQIvV800Atk">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>9</strong></td>
<td>(10)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2231461/">Rampage</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2231461/">6.3</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coOKvrsmQiI">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>10</strong></td>
<td>(9)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5758778/">Skyscraper </a> (subbed HDRip)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5758778/">6.1</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9QePUT-Yt8">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160664
title: Supreme Court to Rule Whether Pirate Streaming Damages Are Fair
uri: Supreme-Court-to-Rule-Whether-Pirate-Streaming-Damages-Are-Fair
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/ZMlF473jY9I/
content:
<p><img src="media/bba34cbf.smallclaimsfinepenaltycourt.jpg" data-original-source="https://torrentfreak.com/images/smallclaimsfinepenaltycourt.jpg" width="250" height="176" class="alignright size-large">Running alongside the incredibly popular torrent site The Pirate Bay, Dreamfilm was a Swedish portal that offered content in the increasingly popular streaming format.</p>
<p>With no fancy software needed, the site enjoyed considerable growth, particularly among locals seeking quick and easy access to the latest local and Hollywood movies.</p>
<p>In January 2015 and after capturing millions of visitors, Dreamfilm announced it would <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/torrent-sites-shut-down-after-swedish-police-arrest-five-150213/">close down</a> after one of its administrators was detained by the authorities.</p>
<p>A month later, apparently in response to the upheaval at Dreamfilm, several other sites fell including the country’s second largest torrent site Tankefetast, torrent site PirateHub, and streaming portal Tankefetast Play (TFPlay). Anti-piracy group Rights Alliance described the four linked sites as Europe&#8217;s leading players in file-sharing and streaming.</p>
<p>Four men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were eventually hauled to court, with each admitting involvement but confessing no crimes.</p>
<p>The Linköping District Court found them all guilty of copyright infringement offenses and <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/four-men-jailed-running-pirate-movie-sites-170510/">sentenced</a> them to between six to 10 months in jail. They were also ordered to pay a fine of SEK 1,000,0000 (US$109,500) to plaintiffs including the Swedish Film Industry, Nordisk Film, and Walt Disney.</p>
<p>With all parties dissatisfied with the outcome &#8211; sentences too harsh for the defendants and not aggressive enough for the plaintiffs &#8211; the case went to appeal. Citing recent clarifications of EU law, the defendants argued that the content offered on the sites was already online and could be accessed in other ways. This, they said, meant the content had not been &#8220;made available to a new audience&#8221;. </p>
<p>The Court of Appeal, however, sided with the District Court, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/pirate-site-operators-jail-sentences-overturned-by-court-of-appeal-180226/">agreeing</a> that the links on the site targeted a new and unauthorized audience and therefore amounted to copyright infringement. The samples detailed in the case meant that the men committed between 45 and 188 infringements each and were motivated by profit, as determined by the advertising present on the platforms.</p>
<p>Where the Court of Appeal differed in its opinion was on the punishments that should be handed down. The financial penalty was more than quadrupled from SEK 1,000,000 to SEK 4,250,000 (US$465,500) but the immediate jail sentences pressed for and then obtained by the plaintiffs were removed.</p>
<p>Due to the fact that the men were all relatively young, had never been in trouble with the authorities, and were unlikely to offend again, the Court of Appeal wiped out their custodial sentences, replacing them with conditional ones instead.</p>
<p>While this was welcomed by the defendants, the hugely increased damages bill was hard to swallow, despite the movie companies in question originally demanding more than SEK 9,000,000 (US$985,800). The four million damages award, the Court of Appeal ruled, was the amount a hypothetical license to distribute would have cost.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.dagensjuridik.se/2018/08/hd-provar-mangmiljonskadestand-maria-wern-film-spreds-pa-piratsajter">DagensJuridik</a> reports that two out of the four men have now taken their case to the highest court in the land, the Högsta Domstolen (Supreme Court).</p>
<p>Unlike the lower court, the Supreme Court will not determine the guilt or otherwise of the defendants. The hearing will only concern whether the damages award and compensation for the film industry was reasonable when it was set at SEK 4,250,000 (US$465,500).</p>
<p>The Supreme Court will also have no involvement in the conditional sentences previously handed down by the Göta Hovrätt (Court of Appeal). They will stand as previously ordered, with two of the defendants paying daily fines, penalties based on the offender’s daily personal income.</p>
<p>Also under consideration by the Supreme Court is the ruling handed down in the Swefilmer case. In March this year, two men had their <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/major-pirate-site-operators-sentences-increased-on-appeal-180330/">sentences increased</a> by the Court of Appeal in Sweden.</p>
<p>After originally being told to serve three years in prison, the main operator of the site had his sentence increased to four years with additional damages on top. The second man&#8217;s conditional sentence was augmented with a fine.</p>
<p>Swedish anti-piracy outfit Rights Alliance has long campaigned for harsher sentences for copyright infringement offenses in Sweden, particularly those handed down in connection with file-sharing platforms. It argues that when courts go soft on offenders, it only encourages others to set up similar operations in what is then perceived as a safe(r) haven.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160722
title: YouTube Takes Down Music Prof’s Public Domain Beethoven and Wagner Uploads
uri: YouTube-Takes-Down-Music-Prof-s-Public-Domain-Beethoven-and-Wagner-U
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/Ms7D-kLCX2o/
content:
<p><img src="media/34e023fb.sadyoutube.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/sadyoutube.jpg" alt="" width="275" height="196" class="alignright size-full wp-image-117196">To protect copyright holders, YouTube uses an advanced piracy recognition system that flags and disables videos which are used without permission. </p>
<p>This system, known as Content ID, works well most of the time, but it is far from perfect. </p>
<p>It&#8217;s not well equipped to determine whether certain uploads are in the public domain or protected under &#8216;fair use.&#8217; While mistakes are bound to happen with automated processes, it becomes problematic when there&#8217;s a clear pattern. Especially when it clearly interferes with the public interest.</p>
<p>This issue was highlighted once again by German music professor Dr. Ulrich Kaiser. In an article written for <a href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/2018/08/27/can-beethoven-send-takedown-requests-a-first-hand-account-of-one-german-professors-experience-with-overly-broad-upload-filters/">Wikimedia</a>, <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/09/how-contentid-knocked-down-decades-old-recordings-of-beethoven/">republished</a> by Ars Technica, he explains how <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_YMpEhXT0I">one of his</a> educational videos was flagged as copyrighted content by YouTube. </p>
<p>&#8220;In this video, I explained my project, while examples of the music played in the background. Less than three minutes after uploading, I received a notification that there was a ContentID claim against my video,&#8221; Kaiser writes. </p>
<p>The music used in the video wasn&#8217;t infringing, however. The performance of a 17th century Biber composition was first published in 1962 and therefore in the public domain, according to German law. When the professor contested the claim the video was swiftly restored, but that wasn&#8217;t the end of the matter. </p>
<p>Curious about the accuracy of the Content ID process, Kaiser created a test account to find out whether this was a one-off or not. </p>
<p>&#8220;I decided to open a different YouTube account “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRaCWjXOhMTJ2Er2tHSmqGg">Labeltest</a>” to share additional excerpts of copyright-free music. I quickly received ContentID notifications for copyright-free music by Bartok, Schubert, Puccini and Wagner. </p>
<p>&#8220;Again and again, YouTube told me that I was violating the copyright of these long-dead composers, despite all of my uploads existing in the public domain.&#8221; </p>
<p>Kaiser contested all the claims stressing that the recordings of these old composers were not copyright-infringing. The creators have been dead for years, and the recordings were all pre-1963, so in the public domain under German law.</p>
<p>Undeterred, YouTube&#8217;s Content ID system went after Beethoven, although that recording could stay online without ads. </p>
<p>&#8220;I only received more notices, this time about a recording of Beethoven’s Symphony No.5, which was accompanied by the message: &#8216;Copyrighted content was found in your video. The claimant allows its content to be used in your YouTube video. However, advertisements may be displayed&#8217;.&#8221; </p>
<p>In the end, Kaiser managed to restore much of the public domain content. However, he notes that even when the claims were released, the videos were not converted to a free license, which he intended. This makes it harder for others to share the works, which was the goal all along.</p>
<p>All in all, the professor concludes that upload filters such as Content ID can seriously harm the distribution of cultural and educational content. </p>
<p>&#8220;Filters like ContentID can be useful for platforms that host large amounts of user-generated content, but as my story exposes, they have significant flaws which can lead to the diminishment of educational and cultural resources online,&#8221; Kaiser says. </p>
<p>The professor cautions lawmakers to keep this in mind before they mandate broad upload filters. And with the EU&#8217;s upload filter vote <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/new-campaign-aims-to-save-music-ahead-of-eu-copyright-filter-vote-180827/">just a few days away</a>, this message will be music to the ears of Article 13 opponents.</p>
<p>While it&#8217;s easy to blame YouTube, the real problem, in this case, is that some publishers have apparently claimed public domain works. Perhaps YouTube may want to come up with a strike system for false claims too?</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160533
title: ‘Collaboration is Key to Disrupting Video Streaming Piracy’
uri: Collaboration-is-Key-to-Disrupting-Video-Streaming-Piracy
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/8_E_9FZ_Dik/
content:
<p><img src="media/e98fa5e3.avia.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/avia.png" alt="" width="209" height="128" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160686">Over the past decade, online video streaming has become the preferred media consumption tool for many, and more and more people are getting on board.</p>
<p>While legal streaming tools such as Netflix and YouTube have a massive reach, unauthorized streaming sites and services have grown alongside. </p>
<p>To curb this trend several new anti-piracy initiatives have popped up. These include the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP). The group launched last year as CASBAA&#8217;s anti-piracy arm and is now backed by its successor, the Asia Video Industry Association (<a href="https://asiavia.org/">AVIA</a>). </p>
<p>To get an overview of the latest developments TorrentFreak reached out to AVIA&#8217;s Neil Gane, who works as the <a href="https://asiavia.org/anti-piracy/cap/">Coalition Against Piracy</a>&#8216;s General Manager. While he prefers not to mention any specific piracy targets, Gane emphasizes that pirate streaming boxes remain a top enforcement priority.</p>
<p>&#8220;I can say that CAP&#8217;s immediate focus is on infringing applications and its associated ecosystem, including the preloaded illicit streaming devices (ISD) used to access infringing content,&#8221; Gane informs TF.</p>
<p>These illicit streaming devices are boxes pre-configured to stream pirated content. This allows users to watch free movies and TV-shows, or live broadcasts including sports games, which millions do. </p>
<p>The streaming box problem isn&#8217;t an easy one to solve. However, Gane hopes that a lot of progress can be made when various industry players and organizations work together.</p>
<p>&#8220;There is no one silver bullet to streaming piracy and the infringing APK ecosystem. And there will always be a small number of consumers who prefer to free-ride,&#8221; Gane says. </p>
<p>&#8220;What is required is a holistic solution with all stakeholders including content producers, distributors and industry associations working together to address this serious and growing problem.&#8221; </p>
<p>AVIA already works closely together with similar-minded groups. This includes the <a href="https://www.alliance4creativity.com/">Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment</a>, which is very active <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/netflix-amazon-and-hollywood-sue-set-tv-over-iptv-piracy-180422/">in the US</a>, with which it shares intelligence and resources. This results in more efficient and effective investigations, Gane notes.</p>
<p>While the entertainment industry has a similar goal, AVIA would also like various governments to work together. By providing the rights enforcement tool and updating copyright law, where needed. Thus far, progress on this front has been slow.  </p>
<p>&#8220;The impact that intellectual property crimes can have on a country&#8217;s economy is now widely accepted. But this recognition does not always result in legislative change and meaningful solutions,&#8221; Gane tells TF.  </p>
<p>&#8220;Unfortunately, some policymakers in Asia have chosen to delay any action on ISDs and the APK infringing ecosystem, whilst the problem grows and enters the consumer mainstream.&#8221;</p>
<p>But even when the entertainment industries and governments are aligned, more collaboration is required. In particular from Internet services such as online shopping platforms and payment providers. </p>
<p>There is some progress on this front. For example, PayPal and Mastercard are helping to address the piracy problem in Asia, and so are local e-commerce platforms such as Lazada.</p>
<p>&#8220;Working alongside e-market platforms and social media sites where ISDs are commonly traded, as well as disrupting illicit commercial transactions at the point of sale are key components of any anti-piracy strategy,&#8221; Gane notes. </p>
<p>&#8220;Over the last 8 months CAP has been working closely with popular e-markets in SE Asia as well as local and international payment processors including PayPal and Mastercard.&#8221;</p>
<p>Overall, the key term is collaboration. According to Gane, things are going well between local and international industry associations.</p>
<p>AVIA and the Coalition Against Piracy itself are a good example of collaboration too. The latter protects the interests of many major players in the region, including Disney, Fox, HBO Asia, NBCUniversal, Premier League, Turner Asia-Pacific, BBC Worldwide, National Basketball Association, TV5MONDE, Viacom International, and others.</p>
<p>More progress can be made against streaming piracy if governments and Internet services work along as well. That, however, is more easily said than done.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160739
title: TNTVillage, Italy’s Famous “Ethical” Torrent Site, Under Intense Legal Pressure
uri: TNTVillage-Italy-s-Famous-Ethical-Torrent-Site-Under-Intense
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/QIoDQN-aMRo/
content:
<p><a href="media/d38ec1cb.tntvillage-logo-e1536047230942.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/tntvillage-logo-e1536047230942.png"><img src="media/d38ec1cb.tntvillage-logo-e1536047230942.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/tntvillage-logo-e1536047230942.png" alt="" width="250" height="193" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160753"></a>While dozens of torrents sites have come and gone over the years, TNTVillage has managed to stay online for more than a decade. Focused on the Italian market, the site had a clear mission.</p>
<p>TNTVillage was created in 2005 to offer Italians, especially those living abroad, an opportunity to maintain access to &#8220;culture, art and intellectual works&#8221; via non-profit sharing using peer-to-peer networks.</p>
<p>&#8220;The main aim of this site was to highlight the now obsolete copyright law, which, due to the long duration of the protection of these rights, turns out to be a brake on culture and the spread of knowledge,&#8221; an early statement from its operators reads.</p>
<p>&#8220;Therefore, a drastic reduction of these &#8216;guarantee times&#8217; is essential to ensure that some works can be freely disseminated, both for cultural purposes but also more simply for hedonistic purposes.&#8221; </p>
<p>TNTVillage&#8217;s operators sought a change in the law to free up access to content, particularly material that may have been forgotten or not made available at all, yet still subject to restrictions due to copyright terms.</p>
<p>However, TNTVillage set its own boundaries, ones which prevented the site from making content available in the months following its initial release, in order to respect the right of creators to make a living. </p>
<p>Now, however, TNTVillage is under intense legal pressure after a group of media and publishing companies filed a complaint against the platform at the Tribunale di Milano (Court of Milan). </p>
<p>Among the complainants are the Italian Publishers Association, Federation for the Protection of Audiovisual and Multimedia Content (FAPAV), Edi. Ermes (scientific publisher), Eagle Pictures (Italian film distribution and production company), plus at least eight other companies and groups.</p>
<p>Their complaint targets Associazione Scambio Etico (Ethical Exchange Association), the Italian association connected to TNTVillage that has long campaigned for the freedom to share knowledge. It also names Luigi Di Liberto, the operator of TNTVillage, who is believed to be around 65-years-old.</p>
<p>Di Liberto posted the complaint himself on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/tntvillage/permalink/1765584646850638/?__tn__=-UC-R">Facebook</a> some weeks ago but since TNTVillage has seemingly <a href="http://forum.tntvillage.scambioetico.org/?showtopic=33856">remained up</a> without significant interruption, the news is only now <a href="https://www.dday.it/redazione/27829/tnt-village-chiudera-un-gruppo-di-editori-denuncia-il-sito-per-pirateria">filtering through</a>.</p>
<p><center><b>The complaint against TNTVillage</b><a href="media/0d501e14.tnt-complaint.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/tnt-complaint.png"><img src="media/5a438500.tnt-complaint.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/tnt-complaint.png" alt="" width="554" height="776" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160754"></a></center></p>
<p>The heavyweight companies behind the complaint claim that TNTVillage uses BitTorrent technology to spread their copyrighted works between members of the site, something which infringes their rights and damages their business.</p>
<p>According to photographs posted by Di Liberto to Facebook, authorities visited what appears to be Di Liberto&#8217;s home, carrying out a search and examining and copying the contents of his computer hard drive.</p>
<p><center><b>Search underway</b><a href="media/77946aea.tnt-liberto.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/tnt-liberto.png"><img src="media/39f40905.tnt-liberto.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/tnt-liberto.png" alt="" width="600" height="450" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160755" srcset="https://torrentfreak.com/images/tnt-liberto.png 600w, https://torrentfreak.com/images/tnt-liberto-200x150.png 200w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a></center></p>
<p>Quite how this situation will now play out isn&#8217;t yet clear. Legal wheels can turn slowly and in some cases, don&#8217;t actually result in any progress, as the history of TNTVillage shows.</p>
<p>Back in 2006, authorities seized the site&#8217;s server but more than a year later it was returned, with no legal action taken against its operators. Only time will tell if this action in 2018 will have a different outcome but meanwhile, there is some fallout.</p>
<p>On August 31, fellow Italian platform TNTRip <a href="https://tntrip.pw/">announced</a> that following TNTVillage&#8217;s problems, it would be closing its doors.</p>
<p>&#8220;As a precautionary measure, given the bad time TNTVillage is passing, TNTRip will remain offline until further notice,&#8221; its statement reads.</p>
<p>&#8220;At the moment we can not provide a service that guarantees complete safety for both the provider and those who use it. We trust that you the users will understand why, while we are all waiting for new developments.&#8221;</p>
<p>Finally, while TNTVillage is undoubtedly involved in the spread of copyrighted content, nine years ago the site itself experienced its own data being shared in public.</p>
<p>In July 2009, around 50,000 usernames, passwords and email addresses belonging to site members were uploaded to various torrent sites after the <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/italys-most-prominent-bittorrent-site-hacked-090729/">site was hacked</a>.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160182
title: Movie Outfits Are ‘Quietly’ Targeting Canadian File-Sharers in Court
uri: Movie-Outfits-Are-Quietly-Targeting-Canadian-File-Sharers-in-Cou
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/A2lmfoyL0lo/
content:
<p><img src="media/af081baa.canada-pirate.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/canada-pirate.png" alt="" width="225" height="113" class="alignright size-full wp-image-83641">For more than a decade, alleged file-sharers around the world have been pressured to pay significant settlement fees.</p>
<p>These so-called copyright trolling efforts are pretty straightforward. Copyright holders obtain a list of &#8216;pirating&#8217; IP-addresses and then request a subpoena from the court, compelling ISPs to hand over the associated customer data.</p>
<p>In recent years several news reports have appeared on these cases in the US, Sweden, Denmark and elsewhere. In Canada, things have remained quiet, but that doesn&#8217;t mean that these cases don&#8217;t exist there. </p>
<p>While the volume of lawsuits is relatively modest, thousands of Canadians have been targeted since 2016. The lawsuits <a href="http://www.ippractice.ca/tools/browser.php?fileno=T-265-17">in question</a> are filed by the rightsholders of films such as The Hitman&#8217;s Bodyguard, Mechanic: Resurrection, Criminal, London Has Fallen, and Dallas Buyers Club, </p>
<p>These outfits are also active in other countries and many have a connection to Voltage Pictures, another familiar name. Voltage sued over 50,000 Canadian John Does in a reverse class action in 2011. This &#8216;<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/hurt-locker-lawsuits-hit-canada-isps-ordered-to-reveal-bittorrent-users-110909/">Hurt Locker</a>&#8216; case is still ongoing. </p>
<p>After the initial lawsuit, things went quiet, however. In the courts at least. </p>
<p>Initially, the movie companies focused their efforts on the so-called &#8220;notice-and-notice&#8221; scheme. This allows rightsholders to send <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/canadian-piracy-notices-from-benign-to-ridiculous-150109/">settlement requests</a> to alleged pirates through their ISPs. However, no personal details would be exposed. That meant that these could be easily ignored by the accused. </p>
<p>In recent years more than 300,000 of these &#8220;notice-and-notice&#8221; warnings were sent out by just one law firm, but the total could be over a million. This even <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/experts-urge-canada-to-stop-threatening-piracy-notices-150426/">grabbed the attention</a> of lawmakers and legal experts.</p>
<p>What&#8217;s less known, however, is that in 2016 these movie companies and other rightsholders started taking cases to court again. Court records reveal that at least 16 separate lawsuits were filed since, with some targeting hundreds of people at once.</p>
<p>These cases are similar to the &#8220;copyright troll&#8221; efforts we see in other countries. They are litigated by the law firm Aird &#038; Berlis and have fewer defendants than the initial Hurt Locker suit. Perhaps that&#8217;s why they remained largely under the radar. </p>
<p>The fallout is very real though. While none of the cases have gone to trial yet, some defendants have settled their cases for thousands of dollars.</p>
<p>TorrentFreak reached out to <a href="http://www.plaideurs.ca/en/the-firm/james-plotkin/">James Plotkin</a> of law firm CazaSaikaley, who represented two defendants. He warns that from a consumer protection standpoint, the biggest problem is ignorance.</p>
<p>For example, many defendants may not realize that these cases are filed against John Does. This means that they are technically not being sued yet unless their name is added to the suit, which rarely happens. But it gets worse.</p>
<p>&#8220;I have also seen a number of consent judgments for $5,000. This is the maximum liability under the Copyright Act for non-commercial infringement. I am therefore puzzled as to why individuals would agree to settle for their likely maximum liability at trial,&#8221; Plotkin adds. </p>
<p>The latter is a particularly worrisome issue. It means that accused file-sharers admit guilt and agree to pay $5,000, which is the maximum damages amount they could get in court. </p>
<p>&#8220;I see no rational basis for paying that amount,&#8221; Plotkin notes, suggesting that some defendants are not represented by attorneys who know the ins and outs of IP law.</p>
<p>In most other countries the legal pressure is used to get Internet subscribers to pay a settlement fee. The matter rarely goes to trial. According to Plotkin, the same is likely to happen in Canada.</p>
<p>&#8220;It is difficult to say for certain, but I do not think any of these cases will go all the way,&#8221; Plotkin tells us. </p>
<p>&#8220;The business model so far seems to have been lifting off as many claims and letters as possible in the hopes of scaring out settlements. It has worked. I don’t see why the plaintiffs would jeopardize that by actually litigating one of these claims.&#8221; </p>
<p>Thus far the cases have been ongoing for years, without much resistance. Those who are unfortunate enough to get caught up in this should carefully research their options. Unlike the &#8220;notice-and-notice&#8221; emails, ignoring the legal paperwork is not a good option. </p>
<p>According to Plotkin, it would be wise to consult an attorney instead. </p>
<p>&#8220;Get competent legal advice. It is important to understand the legal playing field. Defendants are not helpless in these actions, so ignoring the claim and allowing the plaintiff to proceed in obtaining a default judgment is probably not the best option for most people,&#8221; Plotkin notes. </p>
<p>That is the type of advice one would expect from an attorney of course. However, in this case, it is certainly warranted. And the outcome could be positive as well, as Plotkin has already helped one defendant to get rid of the claim, without a settlement.   </p>
<p>TorrentFreak also reached out to attorney Ken Clark of the law firm Aird &#038; Berlis, which represents the movie outfits. He couldn&#8217;t provide any further details on how many people have been sued thus far and preferred not to disclose any further information.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160802
title: Rogue MEGA Chrome Extension Stole Passwords and Crypto Keys
uri: Rogue-MEGA-Chrome-Extension-Stole-Passwords-and-Crypto-Keys
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/tHCQyO6H03A/
content:
<p><a href="media/bd98da73.mega_logo.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/mega_logo.png"><img src="media/7bd905c6.mega_logo.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/mega_logo.png" alt="" width="200" height="109" class="alignright size-full wp-image-102194"></a>Founded by Kim Dotcom in 2013, the MEGA file-hosting site was an overnight success, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/dotcoms-mega-launches-to-unprecedented-demand-130120/">attracting hundreds of thousands of users</a> in a matter of hours.</p>
<p>The platform launched on a wave of concerns over Internet snooping so with tight encryption and privacy as a policy, it went on to become a roaring success. Now, however, it&#8217;s reporting a serious breach that affects a currently unknown number of users.</p>
<p>&#8220;On 4 September 2018 at 14:30 UTC, an unknown attacker uploaded a trojaned version of MEGA&#8217;s Chrome extension, version 3.39.4, to the Google Chrome webstore,&#8221; the company reports.</p>
<p>MEGA says that whenever a user installed or auto-updated to the rogue extension, it sought permissions that the official extension does not. That included the ability to read and change ALL data on websites the user visits. While for experienced users that should&#8217;ve set alarm bells ringing, many people would not have understood the risks. As it turns out, they were huge.</p>
<p>The rogue extension was programmed to steal user credentials for a range of sites including Amazon, Live (Microsoft), Github, and Google&#8217;s webstore, meaning that anyone with accounts on these sites could&#8217;ve had their usernames and passwords stolen. Things got worse, however.</p>
<p>According to a <a href="https://np.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/9cx7cc/dont_use_mega_chrome_extension_version_3394/">user posting on Reddit</a>, the extension also has the ability to steal private keys to cryptocurrency wallets affecting MyEtherWallet, MyMonero, and Idex.market utilizing the following code.:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;content_scripts&#8221;: [ {<br>
      &#8220;js&#8221;: [ &#8220;mega/jquery.js&#8221;, &#8220;mega/content.js&#8221; ],<br>
      &#8220;matches&#8221;: [ &#8220;file:///*&#8221;, &#8220;https://www.myetherwallet.com/*&#8221;, &#8220;https://mymonero.com/*&#8221;, &#8220;https://idex.market/*&#8221; ],<br>
      &#8220;run_at&#8221;: &#8220;document_end&#8221;<br>
   } ]</em></p></blockquote>
<p>In a security update, MEGA confirmed the findings, noting that the extension had been sending credentials to a server located in Ukraine, previously <a href="https://twitter.com/serhack_/status/1037026672787304450">identified</a> by Monero developer <a href="https://serhack.me/about">SerHack</a> as www.megaopac.host.</p>
<p><center></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/MyMonero?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MyMonero</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/myetherwallet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@myetherwallet</a>  <a href="https://twitter.com/Aurora_dao?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aurora_dao</a> keys will be logged too! PLEASE UNINSTALL MEGA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. <a href="https://twitter.com/fluffypony?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fluffypony</a> <a href="https://t.co/V8T6NVV8rO">pic.twitter.com/V8T6NVV8rO</a></p>
<p>&mdash; SerHack (@serhack_) <a href="https://twitter.com/serhack_/status/1037028897752264704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center></p>
<p>MEGA says it is currently investigating how its Chrome webstore account was compromised to allow the attacker to upload the malicious code. However, as soon as it became aware of the problems, the company took immediate action.</p>
<p>&#8220;Four hours after the breach occurred, the trojaned extension was updated by MEGA with a clean version (3.39.5), autoupdating affected installations. Google removed the extension from the Chrome webstore five hours after the breach,&#8221; the company reports.</p>
<p>This serious breach affects two sets of people; those who had the MEGA Chrome extension installed at the time of the incident, had auto-update enabled (and accepted the new elevated permissions), plus anyone who freshly installed version 3.39.4 of the extension.</p>
<p>While credentials for the sites detailed above were specifically targeted, MEGA says that these could be the tip of the iceberg due to the extension attempting to capture information destined for other platforms.</p>
<p>&#8220;Please note that if you visited any site or made use of another extension that sends plain-text credentials through POST requests, either by direct form submission or through a background XMLHttpRequest process (MEGA is not one of them) while the trojaned extension was active, consider that your credentials were compromised on these sites and/or applications,&#8221; the company warns. <em>(see note below)</em></p>
<p>TorrentFreak contacted MEGA for comment and company chairman Stephen Hall pointed us to <a href="https://mega.nz/blog_47">technical advice</a> and an apology from the company. MEGA says it has strict release procedures with multi-party code review. However, limitations in place at Google means that security isn&#8217;t as tight as it could be.</p>
<p>&#8220;Google decided to disallow publisher signatures on Chrome extensions and is now relying solely on signing them automatically after upload to the Chrome webstore, which removes an important barrier to external compromise,&#8221; the company notes.</p>
<p>Since MEGAsync and MEGA&#8217;s Firefox extension are both signed and hosted by the company, they are unaffected by this attack. MEGA&#8217;s mobile apps, which are hosted by Apple, Google, and Microsoft are also unaffected.</p>
<p>Also in the clear is MEGA itself. The extension didn&#8217;t have the ability to steal users&#8217; MEGA credentials and any users accessing MEGA without the Chrome extension remain unaffected.</p>
<p><em>Note: TorrentFreak has asked MEGA for additional clarification on the &#8220;plain-text credentials through POST requests&#8221; statement and details on why MEGA itself isn&#8217;t at risk. We&#8217;ll update when we receive a response.</em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160800
title: BitTorrent Launches uTorrent Web’s First Full Release
uri: BitTorrent-Launches-uTorrent-Web-s-First-Full-Release
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/XbseYGeaTtE/
content:
<p><img src="media/7520bcbc.uweb.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/uweb.png" alt="" width="255" height="113" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160806">While the desktop client of uTorrent hasn&#8217;t been updated much in recent years, there is a new uTorrent product that brings plenty of change.</p>
<p>Earlier this year BitTorrent Inc. <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/new-utorrent-web-streams-and-downloads-torrents-in-your-browser-180223/">quietly released</a> uTorrent web, a piece of software that allows users to download and stream torrents directly in their default web browser.</p>
<p>The project was first teased by BitTorrent inventor Bran Cohen, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/utorrent-will-move-to-the-web-browser-170421/">who said</a> that browser-based torrenting is &#8220;just a nicer experience.&#8221;</p>
<p>The leap to the browser is a large one for die-hard torrenters who&#8217;ve been using desktop applications for well over a decade. However, with browser-based streaming being so familiar now, it will likely feel more intuitive to newcomers. </p>
<p>This week, BitTorrent Inc. announced that uTorrent Web is now <a href="https://www.utorrent.com/utweb-index">out of beta</a>. And with the first full release, the company hopes to better meet the streaming demands of today’s users.</p>
<p>&#8220;When we first started the project, our vision was to build a torrent client with simplicity and quick playability,&#8221; BitTorrent Inc. notes. </p>
<p>&#8220;With a simple download to play experience as the focal point of µTorrent Web, we see more users successfully downloading and playing torrents than with any other product in BitTorrent’s history.&#8221;</p>
<p>Currently, uTorrent Web is only available for Windows, but there are plans to release a Mac version in the future. The application works across all major browsers including Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.</p>
<p>As noted previously, uTorrent Web works pretty well for its intended use. In terms of features, it&#8217;s not as advanced as the regular desktop version, but the intuitive streaming interface works out of the box. </p>
<p>Those who prefer to tinker a bit more with their client can still use the classic uTorrent, BitTorrent assures its 100 million+ users.</p>
<p>&#8220;As µTorrent Web now comes out of Beta and into full release, we know that millions of our users are familiar with and love the desktop version of µTorrent, also known as µTorrent Classic.  Our long term plan is to continue development across both products and make them available on utorrent.com,&#8221; the company notes.</p>
<p>More details on the new release are provided in a YouTube video by uTorrent Web Product Designer Cory Keller, which is <a href="http://blog.bittorrent.com/2018/09/04/proud-to-announce-that-%C2%B5torrent-web-is-now-in-full-release/">embedded</a> in the news release. </p>
<p>Bizarrely, there&#8217;s no torrent link for the video available. A head-scratching omission, as that would be a prime opportunity to show what uTorrent Web can do as a video streaming tool. </p>
<p><center><strong>uTorrent Web</strong><br></br></center><center></p>
<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }</style>
<div class='embed-container'><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/pShr9UZULXk' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p></center></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160784
title: Neo Cryptocurrency Bid $170 Million for BitTorrent
uri: Neo-Cryptocurrency-Bid-170-Million-for-BitTorrent
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/EQ2VWVxnE8M/
content:
<p><img src="media/c75627b4.neocrypto.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/neocrypto.png" alt="" width="277" height="201" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160790">In May, TF broke the news that Justin Sun, the entrepreneur behind the popular cryptocurrency <a href="https://tron.network/index?lng=en">Tron</a>, was in the process of <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/tron-founder-plans-to-buy-bittorrent-inc-180525/">acquiring BitTorrent Inc</a>. </p>
<p>The San-Francisco based file-sharing company confirmed the interest from Sun, but it took until July before the deal was officially confirmed. </p>
<p>While no formal figures have been publicly released, the deal was reportedly worth <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/bittorrent-is-reportedly-selling-for-140-million-180619/">$140 million</a>. This figure was later corrected to roughly <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/bittorrent-says-no-plans-to-change-in-light-of-tron-acquisition/">$120 million</a> by BitTorrent co-founder Ashwin Navin.</p>
<p>While that is still a substantial amount, Tron was not the only company bidding. In fact, there was another cryptocurrency with a desire to take over BitTorrent. The startup Neo, often referred to as the Ethereum of China, put in a higher bid as well.</p>
<p>New details revealed by <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/not-just-tron-neos-failed-170-million-bid-to-buy-bittorrent-revealed/">Coindesk</a> show that Neo Global Capital (NGC), the cryptocurrency&#8217;s venture capital firm, was willing to pay $170 million for BitTorrent. This was made up of $115 million for all preferred stock and $55 million of common stock.</p>
<p>This revelation was shared by Neo Blockchain&#8217;s head of investment, Weiyu &#8220;Wayne&#8221; Zhu. Neo planned to use BitTorrent to create a decentralized file-storage system which could be used for blockchain related projects. Despite the higher offer, however, no deal was made.</p>
<p>According to BitTorrent and venture capital firm DCM, which owned most of the preferred stock, Neo&#8217;s bid was seen as less favorable. It involved more risk and included a clause that would nullify the entire agreement if the acquisition was not completed in six months.</p>
<p>Documents, seen by Coindesk, state that &#8220;the risk of the transaction not being consummated due to the projected closing of such proposed transaction being late in 2018 and [NGC&#8217;s] primary assets being cryptocurrency holdings, which required an additional foreign currency conversion prior to the closing of the proposed transaction.&#8221;</p>
<p>Neo, for its part, was concerned about the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which could interfere with the acquisition. </p>
<p>In addition, BitTorrent inventor Bram Cohen&#8217;s plans to leave the company probably didn&#8217;t help, as Neo wasn&#8217;t sure whether BitTorrent could deliver what it envisioned without him. As first reported here last month, Cohen <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/bittorrent-inventor-bram-cohen-leaves-bittorrent-behind-180819/">moved away from BitTorrent</a>, which means that the company lost its original technical visionary.</p>
<p>&#8220;We were not so sure that BitTorrent is technically advanced enough to become the decentralized file project we had hoped it would be,&#8221; Zhu said. </p>
<p>In the end, BitTorrent and Tron reached an agreement in February where the latter would pay $90 million for the preferred stock and $30 million for the stock. After finalizing the paperwork, the deal was eventually made public a few weeks ago. </p>
<p>It remains to be seen whether current BitTorrent users will notice any change following the shift in ownership. While the BitTorrent protocol will remain free and open to anyone, Tron now controls the popular uTorrent clients, including the new web version. </p>
<p>The company previously announced that nothing will significantly change in the short term. However, Tron&#8217;s founder Justin Sun also said that he plans to add <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/tron-wants-to-give-bittorrent-users-financial-incentives-to-seed-180731/">financial incentives</a> for those who seed content, which could, in theory, come to uTorrent as well. </p>
<p>Whatever direction Tron will go in, the core BitTorrent protocol remains open and cryptocurrency free. </p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160909
title: YouTube Chief Says Article 13 “Undermines Creative Economy”
uri: YouTube-Chief-Says-Article-13-Undermines-Creative-Economy
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/UNeg309GQwM/
content:
<p><a href="media/c0ea239b.youtubeface.jpg" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/youtubeface.jpg"><img src="media/a5365da2.youtubeface.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/youtubeface.jpg" alt="" width="222" height="158" class="alignright size-full wp-image-107705"></a>Next week, MEPs will again vote on the controversial copyright proposals of Article 13.</p>
<p>Critics say the proposed legislation would see platforms such as YouTube compelled to introduce strict upload filters, to prevent unlicensed content being offered to the public. These systems, they say, would stifle creativity and lack the ability to differentiate in situations of fair use.</p>
<p>Those in favor say that YouTube has enjoyed the free ride long enough and must now play fair with other people&#8217;s content.</p>
<p>The theory in the music industry is that the enhanced liability regime of Article 13 will force YouTube, their main target, to properly license the music it hosts, at rates more in line with those being charged elsewhere in the industry. Removing safe harbors, insiders say, is the only way YouTube can be forced to compensate artists fairly.</p>
<p>The debate has raged for months &#8211; years even &#8211; with the music industry on one side and tech companies and proponents of Internet freedom on the other. However, YouTube and owners Google have remained relatively quiet, a little unusual given that they&#8217;re the prime targets of the legislation.</p>
<p>Now, however, YouTube Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl has weighed in on the proposals, warning of a new, more restrictive creative environment should Article 13 pass into law.</p>
<p>&#8220;The open internet eliminated the barriers of traditional media gatekeepers and ignited a new global creative economy for creators and artists. It has given anyone with an idea the ability to share their passion, find fans all over the world and build a business,&#8221; Kyncl <a href="https://youtube-creators.googleblog.com/2018/09/why-creators-should-care-about-european.html">writes</a> on the YouTube Creator Blog.  </p>
<p>&#8220;Despite best intentions, I believe this may now be at risk as European policymakers prepare to vote on a new European Copyright Directive on September 12. In fact, some parts of the proposal under consideration – and in particular the part known as &#8216;Article 13&#8217; &#8212; potentially undermine this creative economy, discouraging or even prohibiting platforms from hosting user-generated content.&#8221;</p>
<p>Kyncl warns that passing the controversial proposal would lead to a stifling of creativity and a negative effect on YouTube users of all kinds.</p>
<p>YouTube creators, in particular, could find their revenues at risk, if the platform is held to higher standards of liability. Critics have long warned that erring on the side of caution would become the standard for sites like YouTube, potentially leading to censorship (filtering) of difficult or questionable content.</p>
<p>YouTube&#8217;s Chief Business Officer reiterates once again that his platform has invested in several technologies designed to assist copyright owners. Its Content ID and more recent <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/youtube-launches-copyright-match-tool-protect-initial-uploaders-180712/">Content Match</a> systems can identify content for monetization purposes or remove it, at copyright holders&#8217; request.</p>
<p>&#8220;Copyright holders have control over their content: they can use our tools to block or remove their works, or they can keep them on YouTube and earn advertising revenue. In over 90% of cases, they choose to leave the content up,&#8221; he writes.</p>
<p>&#8220;Enabling this new form of creativity and engagement with fans can lead to mass global promotion and even more revenue for the artist. For instance, a growing list of global artists have seen their songs go viral in fan-made dance videos, such as Drake’s &#8216;In My Feelings&#8217; and Maître Gims’ Sapés Comme Jamais. Dua Lipa got her start singing covers and Alan Walker allowed his track Fade to be used in user generated content and video games, which helped him build a massive global fanbase.&#8221;</p>
<p>In informal discussions with music industry insiders this week, TF also questioned why tools like Content ID and Content Match aren&#8217;t able to solve the problem of infringing music content being made available on YouTube. We were told that while these systems have their uses, only the enhanced liabilities offered by Article 13 can address the undervaluation of content and ensure that YouTube pays a fair licensing rate for the content it offers.</p>
<p>But while the music industry seeks to render YouTube ineligible for safe harbor protections under the e-Commerce Directive, YouTube is warning that the effects of Article 13 will be felt far beyond the Internet&#8217;s most popular video site.</p>
<p>&#8220;The Copyright Directive won’t just affect creators and artists on YouTube. It will also apply to many forms of user generated content across the Internet. And that’s why so many other people are raising concerns too,&#8221; Kyncl writes.</p>
<p>&#8220;Individuals, organizations (like European Digital Rights and the Internet Archive), companies (like Patreon, WordPress, and Medium), the Internet’s original architects and pioneers (like <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/eu-parliament-committee-votes-in-favor-of-piracy-upload-filter-proposal-180620/">Sir Tim Berners Lee</a>), and the UN Special Rapporteur for free expression have spoken out. Creators across the Internet are standing up for their right to create and express themselves, including Phil DeFranco, LeFloid, and TO JUZ Jutro.&#8221;</p>
<p>With that, Kyncl signs off by urging opponents of Article 13 to air their opinions on social media (#SaveYourInternet) and with policymakers via <a href="https://changecopyright.org/en-US/">ChangeCopyright.org</a>. The all-important EU vote is set to take place September 12, so expect a crescendo of <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/creativefuture-launches-withering-attack-on-google-over-copyright-180902/">often acidic debate</a> over the next few days.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160845
title: Court: Dutch Government is Liable For Controversial Piracy Claims
uri: Court-Dutch-Government-is-Liable-For-Controversial-Piracy-Claims
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/y42wF4PcEpM/
content:
<p><img src="media/c579e316.pirate-card.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/pirate-card.jpg" alt="pirate-card" width="250" height="210" class="alignright size-full wp-image-86520">The Netherlands has long been a relaive safe haven for pirating consumers. </p>
<p>Downloading movies without permission, regardless of the source, was not punishable by law according to Government officials. </p>
<p>This eventually changed in 2014 when the European Court of Justice <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/the-netherlands-must-outlaw-downloading-eu-court-rules-140410/">spoke out against</a> the tolerant stance.</p>
<p>As a result, the Dutch Government quickly outlawed unauthorized downloading. However, breaking the habits of a large section of the population proved difficult and until this day, local piracy rates have remained high.</p>
<p>In 2015, this prompted Dutch filmmakers&#8217; association <a href="http://www.filmproducenten.nl/">SEKAM</a> to hold the Government responsible, demanding compensation for the piracy losses they suffered. This week, Court of The Hague ruled on the matter, partially agreeing with the filmmakers. </p>
<p>In its <a href="https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/inziendocument?id=ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2018:10645&#038;showbutton=true&#038;keyword=Sekam">verdict</a>, the Court reviewed statements made by several Government officials made prior to the downloading ban, including those from former State Secretary for Security and Justice Fred Teeven.</p>
<p>In these statements, the Government made it clear that downloading pirated content was allowed, something that runs contrary to EU law. The Court specifically highlights a press release from 2011 where this was made apparent.</p>
<p>Looking ahead at future policy, the press release noted that &#8220;downloading of copyright-protected works from evidently illegal sources will become unlawful, but not punishable.&#8221;</p>
<p>This clearly suggests that it was fine until then, according to the Court.</p>
<p>&#8220;The unmistakable message that is sent is that, at that moment, downloading from illegal sources in the Netherlands is absolutely allowed,&#8221; the Court writes in its verdict.</p>
<p>This is particularly problematic since these and other statements were made in the public domain with the goal to inform the public.</p>
<p>&#8220;Based on this message, expressed by the responsible Government official in the public domain and in the media, there will have been downloaders who assumed that downloading from illegal sources was permitted, whereas this was generally known to be forbidden in other EU member states,&#8221; the verdict reads.</p>
<p>As a result, the Government is liable for the statements, which opens the door to a damages claim.</p>
<p>While the Court sides with the filmmakers on this issue, <a href="https://tweakers.net/nieuws/143019/nederlandse-staat-is-aansprakelijk-voor-uitlatingen-over-illegaal-downloaden.html">Tweakers</a> highlights that the Court doesn&#8217;t rule on whether the Government can also be held responsible for its lack of enforcement after the download ban in 2014. That would have to be determined in a civil case. </p>
<p>The filmmakers&#8217; organization Sekam sees the verdict as a &#8220;strong signal,&#8221; NOS <a href="https://nos.nl/artikel/2249081-nederlandse-staat-aansprakelijk-voor-uitlatingen-over-illegaal-downloaden.html">reports</a>. The group now plans to enter into negotiations with the Government about possible compensation. </p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160874
title: FMovies Loses Control of Swedish Domain, Moves to Iceland
uri: FMovies-Loses-Control-of-Swedish-Domain-Moves-to-Iceland
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/GiCYyIhQGG0/
content:
<p><img src="media/e83705f4.fmovieslogo.jpg" data-original-source="https://torrentfreak.com/images/fmovieslogo.jpg" width="234" height="162" class="alignright size-large">Over the past several years, dozens of streaming sites have sprung up to service users looking for a torrent-style fix, without having to deal with the relative complications of torrent sites.</p>
<p>With colorful and intuitive interfaces, these streaming platforms look much more like Netflix than The Pirate Bay, while offering much of the same video content. Visitors simply find the title they like and press play, with the action taking place right inside the browser.</p>
<p>Born just a couple of years ago, FMovies (also known as BMovies) is one such site. From a standing start the site grew exponentially, largely due to offering tens of thousands of mainstream movies and TV shows to an audience of millions, for free.</p>
<p>This popularity caused problems, however. With copyright holders always looking to throw a wrench in the works, FMovies has been forced to skip from domain to domain, to circumvent ISP blockades in various countries and to avoid the kind of search engine downgrading that comes with having a lot of infringing content indexed by Google.</p>
<p>Despite operating a number of ancillary domains, FMovies spent most of its time using the Tonga-based domain FMovies.to. However, sometime during the past few months the site decided to move to the Sweden-based FMovies.se but that hasn&#8217;t gone to plan. </p>
<p>According to an <a href="https://twitter.com/fmoviesdotto">announcement</a> on the site&#8217;s official Twitter account, the registrar has just deactivated the domain.</p>
<p><center></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hi folks. We&#39;ve switched to <a href="https://t.co/FUn1yyZmqY">https://t.co/FUn1yyZmqY</a> again due previous registrar deactived our .se domain. Now please use <a href="https://t.co/FUn1yyZmqY">https://t.co/FUn1yyZmqY</a> for enjyoing also please help us spread this world. Thanks!</p>
<p>&mdash; Fmovies.to (@fmoviesdotto) <a href="https://twitter.com/fmoviesdotto/status/1037305141177802752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br>
</center></p>
<p>Indeed, checking the WHOIS details of FMovies.se reveals that despite an official expiry date of November 29, 2018, the domain was deactivated September 4, 2018 by Sweden-based registrar SE Direkt.</p>
<p>It now features the familiar &#8216;red flag&#8217; warning signs of a domain in peril with serverRenewProhibited, serverHold, and pendingDelete status messages.</p>
<p><center><a href="media/2e4ab529.fmovies-deact.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/fmovies-deact.png"><img src="media/d7ef9a4e.fmovies-deact.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/fmovies-deact.png" alt="" width="500" height="548" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160876"></a></center></p>
<p>FMovies did not immediately respond to TorrentFreak&#8217;s request for comment so it&#8217;s unclear why the site lost control of its domain. It might be logical to presume that copyright issues are at the root of the problem but it took an <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/swedish-police-set-to-take-over-pirate-bay-domains-171222/">awfully long time</a> for The Pirate Bay to lose control of its .SE domain in similar circumstances.</p>
<p>That being said, FMovies is definitely on the radar of rightsholders.</p>
<p>In the summer of 2017, the operators of FMovies were <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/us-court-orders-pirate-streaming-site-fmovies-to-pay-210000-170609/">ordered to pay</a> $210,000 in damages after losing a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/major-pirate-movie-streaming-site-fmovies-sued-in-us-court-161026/">case</a> filed by media conglomerate ABS-CBN in the United States.</p>
<p>FMovies was found guilty on six counts; federal trademark infringement, false designation of origin, direct copyright infringement, contributory copyright infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising. The ruling also allowed ABS-CBN to take over the FMovies.to domain name, although that did not happen immediately.</p>
<p>The site is also being monitored by the United States Trade Representative. Along with GoStream (Vietnam), Movie4K.tv (Russia) and PrimeWire, the site was listed in the USTR&#8217;s &#8216;Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets&#8217; <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/us-govt-brands-torrent-streaming-cyberlocker-sites-as-notorious-markets-180115/">report</a> back in January.</p>
<p>But, despite the loss of its .SE domain, a pretty big court ruling against it, and the US Government sniffing around, FMovies rolls on. The site says it will now operate from the Iceland-based <a href="https://www3.fmovies.is/">FMovies.is</a> domain.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160152
title: OpenPGP Keyservers Now Store ‘Irremovable’ Torrent Magnet Links
uri: OpenPGP-Keyservers-Now-Store-Irremovable-Torrent-Magnet-Links
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/QYO8U3ufbHE/
content:
<p><img src="media/db050fdd.cat-hiding.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/cat-hiding.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="192" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160837">BitTorrent is often praised for its decentralized nature. The file-transfers take place between users and there&#8217;s no central service required. </p>
<p>That&#8217;s also one of the main reasons why pirates embraced it.</p>
<p>There is a weak spot though. In order to download something, you need a torrent or magnet link. These are available through torrent sites which, as history has shown, can disappear overnight. </p>
<p>While it&#8217;s unlikely that all torrent sites will be eradicated at once, we recently spotted a rather novel approach to this &#8216;problem.&#8217; A few weeks ago OpenPGP keys with magnet links were added to SKS keyservers.</p>
<p>These keyservers are computers which store and index OpenPGP keys over the Internet. This helps users who rely on encrypted email, for example. The servers generally share the keys amongst each other in a pool and uploaded keys generally can&#8217;t be removed. </p>
<p>The permanent storage of keys generally isn&#8217;t an issue. However, when the system is used as a stealth resource to store magnet links to pirated content, this resilience is put in a different light.</p>
<p>This is exactly what happened. </p>
<p>A few weeks ago a series of rather odd, but valid, PGP keys were uploaded to SKS keyservers. These keys were not meant to encrypt email though, but as a safe storage for torrent magnet links. </p>
<p>As a result, popular keyservers, including the ones hosted by research university<a href="https://pgp.mit.edu/"> MIT</a> and <a href="https://pgp.surfnet.nl/">Surfnet</a>, have transformed into pirate sites. </p>
<p>The magnet links, most of which point to pirated content, were added in the UID field. In examples we&#8217;ve seen, sometimes there were a hundred magnet links added to a single key entry. And with the search functionality of the keyservers, these are easy to find.</p>
<p><center><strong>Magnet links..</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/074f72e3.hdrip.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/hdrip.png" alt="" width="600" height="413" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160994"></center></p>
<p>While there are over a thousand magnet links on these keyservers now, there are a lot of duplicate entries. That makes it more of a gimmick than a usable tool for pirates, but still. </p>
<p>While keyservers are not really an alternative to pirate sites yet, these magnet links have not gone unnoticed. We received the first tip weeks ago and others <a href="https://medium.com/@mdrahony/sks-keyservers-being-used-as-piracy-sites-59ce5144101f">spotted</a> it too. The irremovable nature of these links is particularly intriguing. </p>
<p>MIT, for example, clearly states <a href="https://pgp.mit.edu/faq.html">in its FAQ</a> that it is impossible to remove keys once they&#8217;re up. </p>
<p>TorrentFreak spoke about the issue with Kristian Fiskerstrand, who operates the <a href="https://sks-keyservers.net/">sks-keyservers</a> website. He notes that removing keys is not possible due to the nature of these servers. </p>
<p>&#8220;The keyserver network is intended as an add-by-anyone key store, and structurally these are valid OpenPGP keyblocks,&#8221; Fiskerstrand says. </p>
<p>Only the owner of a private key can remove an entry. Keyservers <a href="https://blog.sumptuouscapital.com/2016/03/openpgp-certificates-can-not-be-deleted-from-keyservers/">are designed</a> to keep their data online and share it with other servers. Similar to the blockchain, nothing is removed. </p>
<p>Fiskerstrand confirms that if copyright holders want these keys removed, they&#8217;re out of luck.</p>
<p>&#8220;[E}ven if the copyright holders were having issues with it they should focus on removing the underlying data not any pointer that is far off the original data,&#8221; Fiskerstrand notes.</p>
<p>That, however, brings us back to the beginning of this article. </p>
<p>Since BitTorrent transfers are decentralized there is no single source to go after. Copyright holders will have to go after each and every pirating torrent user individually&#8230;</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160777
title: Italy Wants to Upgrade Movie “Camming” Piracy to a Criminal Offense
uri: Italy-Wants-to-Upgrade-Movie-Camming-Piracy-to-a-Criminal-Offens
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/Cd6_9xx_DXI/
content:
<p><a href="media/3f34000a.cammer1.jpg" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/cammer1.jpg"><img src="media/bfbc3855.cammer1.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/cammer1.jpg" alt="" width="210" height="122" class="alignright size-full wp-image-65828"></a>When the vast majority of movies are released to the public, viewings take place exclusively in cinemas. The industry is extremely protective of this initial window, which is seen as both lucrative and protective of the theater industry.</p>
<p>This strict and exclusive window also causes problems, however. While huge marketing budgets are mostly successful in luring large numbers of people to the big screen, millions sit at home waiting for a cable, DVD, or VOD release. Or, alternatively, a pirate copy to appear either online or through physical piracy channels.</p>
<p>These illicit copies are obtained by people taking camcorders or similar devices into cinemas and recording the screen. Quality is notoriously suspect but for large numbers of impatient movie fans, a &#8216;cammed&#8217; copy with blurry video and unwanted audio interruptions is still desirable.</p>
<p>Some countries have legislation to deal with the problem. In the US, for example, &#8216;camming&#8217; is a serious offense, one that can see offenders hauled off to prison. In other regions, however, the activity isn&#8217;t viewed so seriously, something which movie companies are keen to change.</p>
<p>In Italy, &#8216;camming&#8217; is currently considered an administrative wrongdoing, i.e something which is technically wrong to be handled in ways other than prison. It&#8217;s a position the movie industry hopes will change if new legislation under consideration is placed on the books.</p>
<p>According to an <a href="http://www.adnkronos.com/fatti/politica/2018/09/02/guerra-film-pirata-arriva-proposta-legge_tACwXLExpulKWFckgOJLDI.html">Adnkronos</a> report, a new bill has just been presented by the Forza Italia party which proposes upgrading the offense significantly.</p>
<p>The proposal, signed by Member of Parliament Marzia Ferraioli, would transform camcording from a &#8220;mere administrative wrongdoing&#8221; to a &#8220;criminal offense punishable like other illegal acts of piracy.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;The law proposal by Mrs. Ferraioli, whom we thank for the attention given to the issue of piracy, represents an important signal at a time, like the current one, in which the protection of audiovisual works is severely tested,&#8221; Federico Bagnoli Rossi of anti-piracy group FAPAV <a href="https://www.key4biz.it/pirateria-la-proposta-di-legge-di-forza-italia-contro-il-camcording/230710/">told</a> Key4Biz.</p>
<p>&#8220;Specifically, the problem of camcording has often been underestimated or considered to be in decline but it still represents the apex of the illicit supply chain of pirated content.</p>
<p>&#8220;This aspect is also aggravated by the fact that these recordings are made in the very first days of the presence of films in cinemas, when the works are in their initial phase of exploitation, creating significant economic damage to the exhibitors and to the entire audiovisual industry,&#8221; Rossi said.</p>
<p>In common with opponents of camming around the world, Italian authorities believe that illegally-recorded first-run titles not only undermine the investment made in films and the livelihoods of those who make them, but also serve as a profit center for criminals involved in other crime.</p>
<p>&#8220;The profits of the illegal activity of camcording finances criminal organizations, they create huge damage to the entire chain of film, and undermine the work of the workers and professionals involved in making a film,&#8221; the legislative proposals read.</p>
<p>To combat the threat, it&#8217;s also envisioned that cinema owners will be able to install video surveillance systems to &#8220;monitor the introduction, installation or other abusive use of devices with camcorder functionality.&#8221;</p>
<p>A <a href="http://www.fapav.it/news/193/i-nuovi-dati-2017-sulla-pirateria-audiovisiva-in-italia.html">report</a> published by FAPAV in July, which revealed a two percent fall in piracy overall, stated that dealing with illicit camcording was one of the anti-piracy group&#8217;s most pressing goals.</p>
<p>&#8220;Our priorities, at the moment, are represented by a tightening of the regulation that regulates camcording, that is the illicit video or audio recording of a film in the theater, and overcoming the problems arising from those services that hide the real owners of the websites and hosting providers that host them,&#8221; FAPAV wrote.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160924
title: Dish is Hiring an Investigator to Research and Monitor Pirates
uri: Dish-is-Hiring-an-Investigator-to-Research-and-Monitor-Pirates
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/BjbnCErBcGY/
content:
<p><img src="media/5559745f.dishc.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/dishc.jpg" alt="" width="244" height="150" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160937">With $15 billion in annual revenue, American satellite and broadcast provider <a href="https://www.dish.com/">Dish Network</a> is a force to be reckoned with.</p>
<p>The company has been on a pirate crusade in recent years, filing several lawsuits against alleged pirate sources, including the popular Kodi-addon repository TVAddons. </p>
<p>TVAddons previously <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/tvaddons-and-dish-network-settle-copyright-infringement-lawsuit-180826/">announced</a> that it had reached a confidential settlement and this week the case was indeed dismissed (<a href="media/641141bd.dismissed.pdf" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/dismissed.pdf">pdf</a>). Dish, however, maintains dedicated to the piracy problem on other fronts. </p>
<p>In a new job listing the Fortune 200 company is looking for a fraud investigator with a special focus on researching and monitoring online piracy activities.</p>
<p>&#8220;DISH in Englewood, Colorado, is looking for an Investigator II to work on multiple projects with topics ranging from satellite piracy, IPTV violations, Intellectual Property violations, forum monitoring, Internet monitoring, and end-user cases,&#8221; the posting reads. </p>
<p>One of the primary responsibilities of this position is to keep an eye on businesses and individuals that offer Dish content illegally. This covers streaming sites, IPTV services, and also Kodi-addons. </p>
<p>In addition, <a href="https://job-openings.monster.com/fraud-investigator-ii-englewood-co-us-dish-purchasing-corporation/31/e72f3a21-be1d-4cb3-952c-8a4c8b2c72b3">the job</a> also requires daily monitoring of specific &#8220;targeted websites&#8221; and forums, and a summary of the activity on these platforms in daily reports.</p>
<p><center><strong>Dish&#8217;s vacancy</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/ad32263e.dishjob.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/dishjob.png" alt="" width="625" height="195" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-160940"></center></p>
<p>Dish stresses that prospective candidates should be able to handle confidential information with discretion. They must also work with outside counsel, likely because their research could be used as the basis for future lawsuits. </p>
<p>Finally, the position demands that candidates help implement various takedown procedures, with Dish specifically highlighting eBay, Craigslist, and YouTube as services of interest. </p>
<p>While the job application reveals no groundbreaking details or plans, it&#8217;s clear that Dish is taking piracy rather seriously. The company&#8217;s efforts are clearly not limited to the occasional lawsuit. </p>
<p>And for those who like spending time trawling through piracy forums, it&#8217;s good to know that Dish, and likely others, are reading along.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160573
title: La Liga Purges Pirate IPTV Providers From Google
uri: La-Liga-Purges-Pirate-IPTV-Providers-From-Google
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/S0J5r5nkXJE/
content:
<p><a href="media/c6391b17.destroy-delete-remove.jpg" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/destroy-delete-remove.jpg"><img src="media/194856e0.destroy-delete-remove.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/destroy-delete-remove.jpg" alt="" width="275" height="200" class="alignright size-full wp-image-141816"></a>According to a recent report published by Forbes, Europe’s top five football (soccer) leagues have deals in place that generate $8.2 billion per year in media rights.</p>
<p>Without a doubt, England&#8217;s Premier League is the most lucrative, with Germany&#8217;s Bundesliga, Italy&#8217;s Serie A, and Spain&#8217;s La Liga in hot pursuit. Due to the high cost of licensing rights, TV broadcasters charge subscribers large sums to watch the action.</p>
<p>As a result, piracy of live matches is a growing industry, with regular websites streaming unauthorized content for free and premium IPTV providers charging relatively modest amounts for access to all of the major games.</p>
<p>One of the most visible anti-piracy mechanisms is that operated by the Premier League. It has the backing of a High Court injunction in the UK which allows it to <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/premier-league-obtains-piracy-blocking-order-for-2018-19-season-180719/">block streams in real-time</a>. However, there are other techniques in place, ones that tippy-toe around the DMCA in an effort to restrict access to illegal suppliers.</p>
<p>La Liga is the premier division of the Spanish football league. It has no fancy blocking authority but has been enjoying a level of success against unlicensed IPTV providers by sending somewhat questionable DMCA notices to Google.</p>
<p>While most DMCA notices target specific content on a specific web page, those sent by La Liga try a much broader tactic. Instead of targeting the precise URLs from where their content is being broadcast (as the law requires), La Liga has been asking Google to remove ancillary administrative pages operated by IPTV providers.</p>
<p>In dozens of notices sent to Google recently, La Liga states the following case;</p>
<p>&#8220;The reported website sells payment channel services in an unauthorized manner,&#8221; La Liga begins.</p>
<p>&#8220;Among the channels they offer, we can find audiovisual content of the football competitions corresponding to the National First and Second Division League Championships, and / or the SM King of Spain Cup, competitions organized by the entity complaining here, the National Professional Soccer League.&#8221;</p>
<p><center><b>An unconventional La Liga takedown notice</b><a href="media/5b4542b2.la-liga-1-e1535555401925.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/la-liga-1-e1535555401925.png"><img src="media/5b4542b2.la-liga-1-e1535555401925.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/la-liga-1-e1535555401925.png" alt="" width="600" height="320" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160596"></a></center></p>
<p>As the image above shows, La Liga isn&#8217;t claiming that any of its content is being made available on any of the above links. Indeed, after testing all of the <a href="https://www.lumendatabase.org/notices/17062062">URLs in the notice</a>, it&#8217;s clear that none of them directly distribute any of La Liga&#8217;s content.</p>
<p>Instead, each URL refers to various aspects of the IPTV seller&#8217;s business portal, from customer support to FAQs and its in-house community forum. Nevertheless, the strategy appears to work, with Google happily de-listing the provider&#8217;s URLs from its search results.</p>
<p><center><strong>Removed from Google</strong><br></br></center><center><a href="media/88f56463.stalker-remove-e1535555943631.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/stalker-remove-e1535555943631.png"><img src="media/88f56463.stalker-remove-e1535555943631.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/stalker-remove-e1535555943631.png" alt="" width="600" height="205" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-160597"></a></center></p>
<p>Intrigued that Google deleted the IPTV provider&#8217;s pages (despite the actual infringing content not being anywhere present on the portal), we looked around to see if this effort by La Liga was a one-off. It wasn&#8217;t.</p>
<p>Trawling the always-useful Lumen Database we can see that La Liga has filed a large number of notices in the same format targeting a number of providers including, but not limited to, <a href="https://lumendatabase.org/notices/17101085">BestBuyIPTV</a>, <a href="https://lumendatabase.org/notices/16355490">IPTV-On</a>, <a href="https://lumendatabase.org/notices/16510396">SnapIPTV</a>, <a href="https://www.lumendatabase.org/notices/17157930">TelevisionIPTV</a>, <a href="https://www.lumendatabase.org/notices/17157948">Sat-Gold</a>, <a href="https://www.lumendatabase.org/notices/17151266">VadersTV</a>, <a href="https://www.lumendatabase.org/notices/17151262">IPTVServerGate</a>, and <a href="https://www.lumendatabase.org/notices/17151254">EpicIPTV</a>.</p>
<p>Of course, there are dozens &#8211; perhaps hundreds &#8211; of alternative suppliers but with Google appearing to play ball in many instances, it shouldn&#8217;t take long to make a decent sized dent in the availability of providers via Google search.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160772
title: The Sci-Hub Effect? Prominent Research Councils Push Open Access
uri: The-Sci-Hub-Effect-Prominent-Research-Councils-Push-Open-Access
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/pA3lb6z84Wc/
content:
<p><img src="media/a00bfc67.sci-hub1.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/sci-hub1.png" alt="" width="225" height="281" class="alignright size-full wp-image-148552">Little more than three years ago Elsevier, one of the world&#8217;s largest academic publishers, <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/elsevier-cracks-down-on-pirated-scientific-articles-150609/">took Sci-Hub to court</a>.</p>
<p>It was an unfair battle from the start. With a net income of more than $1 billion per year, the publisher could fund a proper case, while its nemesis relied on donations. </p>
<p>Elsevier won the case, including <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/sci-hub-ordered-to-pay-15-million-in-piracy-damages-170623/">millions of dollars</a> in damages. However, the site remained online and grew bigger. Looking back today, Sci-Hub and its founder Alexandra Elbakyan may very well be the moral winner.</p>
<p>This week a group of eleven prestigious European research councils <a href="https://www.scienceeurope.org/coalition-s/">announced</a> that they have agreed to give Open Access a massive push.</p>
<p>“By 2020 scientific publications that result from research funded by public grants provided by participating national and European research councils and funding bodies, must be published in compliant Open Access Journals or on compliant Open Access Platforms,” they note.</p>
<p>In other words, this publicly funded research can no longer be locked away behind expensive paywalls, which mostly benefits wealthy publishers. It should be as open as&#8230;Sci-Hub. </p>
<p>This is a massive deal in academic circles. Traditionally, many researchers preferred &#8220;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_factor">high impact</a>&#8221; journals as these provide more prestige. However, many of these are not open. This new agreement changes this dynamic. More high-quality research will appear in Open Access journals, which increases their impact and appeal.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s a major achievement that can be credited to a steadily increasing group of researchers who have promoted Open Access and pushed against copyright&#8217;s stranglehold on science. </p>
<p>While there is no concrete proof, there is reason to believe that Sci-Hub played a major role too. Not least since its open nature is widely embraced by researchers and authors around the world. </p>
<p>That brings us back to Sci-Hub&#8217;s founder, who recently published a <a href="https://sci-hub.tw/alexandra">detailed biography</a>.</p>
<p>When the Elsevier lawsuit was first announced TorrentFreak was the first English publication to get <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/sci-hub-tears-down-academias-illegal-copyright-paywalls-150627/">an interview</a> with Elbakyan, who made it clear that she wouldn&#8217;t cave in to the pressure.</p>
<p>“Everyone should have access to knowledge regardless of their income or affiliation. And that’s absolutely legal. Also the idea that knowledge can be a private property of some commercial company sounds absolutely weird to me,” she said at the time. </p>
<p>While Elbakyan is often portrayed as a pirate, many sympathize with her ideas. It certainly doesn&#8217;t seem fair to punish researchers by denying them access to knowledge, simply because their University can&#8217;t pay the subscription. </p>
<p>In fact, copyright in some cases prevents researchers from accessing their own publications, because these are also locked behind a paywall.</p>
<p>“The funniest thing I was told multiple times by researchers is that they have to download their own published articles from Sci-Hub. Even authors do not have access to their own work,” Alexandra previously said.</p>
<p>This may sound bizarre, but it&#8217;s true. For years it has been standard practice to have researchers sign an agreement to transfer their copyrights to the publisher. Without earning a penny, they were ordered to sign away the rights to their work, only to see it disappear behind a paywall.  </p>
<p>It&#8217;s this practice that Sci-Hub and Elbakyan are revolting against. And as this week&#8217;s news shows, that hasn&#8217;t been without success. While publishers won&#8217;t like it, we would argue that there certainly is a Sci-Hub effect on academic publishing. </p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=160162
title: ‘The Open Internet Is In Imminent Danger!’
uri: The-Open-Internet-Is-In-Imminent-Danger
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/ODFn2_rxHjg/
content:
<p><img src="media/2162d4ce.danger.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/danger.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="191" class="alignright size-full wp-image-51238">Whether it&#8217;s net neutrality or the latest change in copyright laws, the public has proven to be a fierce defender of an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality#Open_Internet">Open Internet</a>. </p>
<p>On social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, YouTube and Reddit, massive crowds are eager to protect <em>their</em> rights. </p>
<p>Internet protests are nothing new. For several years activists have fought to keep it free and open. Early pioneers, such as the late John Perry Barlow, did everything in their power to shield cyberspace from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Declaration_of_the_Independence_of_Cyberspace">controlling governments</a> and restrictive media companies. </p>
<p>The Internet is a tool for the people, by the people, something governments and corporations shouldn&#8217;t tamper with, it was commonly argued.</p>
<p>Although the Internet or more specifically, the web, is an entirely different animal today, large masses remain wary of outside control over their online movements. Most people agree that blatant criminal actions are not tolerated, but speech should be free and bits should flow openly. </p>
<p>At least, that&#8217;s the idea. </p>
<p>But while the masses were fighting evil governments and the greedy entertainment industries in recent years, they and many of their peers became trapped. The Internet is perhaps still as free as it once was, but the majority of its inhabitants are stuck in large Silicon Valley silos. </p>
<p>Today&#8217;s web is dominated by a dozen or so major platforms where people lead most of their Internet lives. Whether it&#8217;s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or Reddit, these platforms are not entirely open. They are controlled by corporations which are free to dictate their own rules. </p>
<p>And they do. </p>
<p>When people were climbing on the virtual barricades for Net Neutrality earlier this year, they did so on platforms that ban, censor and restrict all sorts of content. They were calling for &#8220;all bits to be equal&#8221; on services that censor nipples.</p>
<p>Similarly, as we highlighted earlier, the hundreds of thousands of people who protested the EU&#8217;s proposed &#8220;upload filter&#8221; plans, did so on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and other services that already have automated piracy filters. Pretty sloppy filters, at times. </p>
<p>We&#8217;re living in a cyberspace where the major Internet platforms have immense power. </p>
<p>This was illustrated recently when Alex Jones&#8217; Infowars was systematically purged from various Internet platforms, iTunes, Twitter and Facebook included. While many people categorize Infowars as hate speech, it is still speech which to my knowledge no court has deemed illegal. </p>
<p>Without any moral judgment on the content, it shows that today&#8217;s web, at least how it&#8217;s used, is far from open. Governments and the powerful copyright lobby are not to blame, though. The web is systematically controlled by the policies of a few Silicon Valley giants, who have their own rules.</p>
<p>These centralized social silos have, of course, all the right to ban anyone or anything for whatever reason they please. But, this presents an increasing threat. Not least because they can be regulated much more easily than was the case 20 years ago. </p>
<p>If you want to keep something away from the masses, there are only a few companies to legislate, litigate, or pressure.</p>
<p>It is, therefore, no surprise that the entertainment industries have launched a <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/piracy-is-the-internets-canary-in-the-coal-mine-mpaa-chief-says-180821/">major push</a> to get these Internet giants to tackle piracy, voluntarily or not. Achieving success there will have a major impact, and if Silicon Valley can take a stand against Infowars, they can do more. </p>
<p>While there&#8217;s a good argument for taking illegal content down, one has to wonder whether this highly centralized Internet, dominated and dictated by major tech companies, is something the early pioneers had envisioned. </p>
<p>Interestingly, copyright holders have repeatedly warned against this power. In their own interest, but it&#8217;s something to think about.</p>
<p>Of course, the Internet is much more than the Facebooks, Twitters, and Googles of this world. There are plenty open source and decentralized solutions available for all these platforms, and some already have a decent userbase. </p>
<p>The bottom line, however, is that the general sense of openness and neutrality of the web are not only defined by laws and court orders. What matters even more perhaps, is how people decide to use it. </p>
<p>~</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=161030
title: MPAA Hires Law Firm to Tackle Streaming Piracy Threat
uri: MPAA-Hires-Law-Firm-to-Tackle-Streaming-Piracy-Threat
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/i6GjwiBMVxM/
content:
<p><a href="media/cdeb3942.mpaa-new.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/mpaa-new.png"><img src="media/aef711a6.mpaa-new.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/mpaa-new.png" alt="" width="252" height="182" class="alignright size-full wp-image-158950"></a>At the turn of the century, downloading movies and TV shows from the Internet wasn&#8217;t a particularly attractive proposition. The process was cumbersome and content availability was poor.</p>
<p>Early peer-to-peer file-sharing applications gave the activity increased exposure, with multi-source downloading improving speeds for a growing audience. However, when BitTorrent came along and gained traction around 2003, the phenomenon exploded.</p>
<p>While tens of millions of torrent users are still active on a daily basis today, another type of unauthorized content delivery is grabbing most of the headlines. Video streaming, which has been going from strength to strength over the past eight years and more, is now perceived as the greatest threat to Hollywood.</p>
<p>Torrents have a relatively steep learning curve but streaming does not. If a person can operate Netflix, he can also use a pirate streaming website. The process is made even more simple with the latest desktop and mobile applications, which are so intuitive a child can use them &#8211; and many do.</p>
<p>Lobbying registration documents recently filed with Congress indicate that the MPAA is taking the threat very seriously. First reported by <a href="https://www.odwyerpr.com">O&#8217;Dwyer PR</a>, they reveal that the Hollywood group has hired Fort Lauderdale-based law firm Becker &#038; Poliakoff to take the battle against piracy to Capitol Hill.</p>
<p>Filed as required under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, the <a href="http://disclosures.house.gov/ld/ldxmlrelease/2018/RR/300981501.xml">documents</a> reveal a two-person team representing the MPAA&#8217;s interests.</p>
<p>They are Senior Corporate &#038; Government Relations Director <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171030006309/en/Becker-Poliakoff-Adds%C2%A0Bert%C2%A0G%C3%B3mez%C2%A0as-Senior-Corporate%C2%A0-Government-Relations">Bert Gómez</a>, who opened TV broadcaster Univision’s Washington government relations office and has 25 years of lobbying under his belt. And <a href="https://beckerlawyers.com/professionals/omar-franco/">Omar Franco</a>, the Managing Director of Becker’s Washington, D.C. office, who previously acted as Chief of Staff for Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. </p>
<p>The disclosure sums up the MPAA&#8217;s aims in a short paragraph. The lobbyists will tackle copyright policy on Capitol Hill, with an emphasis on &#8220;streaming piracy devices and applications&#8221; and the &#8220;economic impact of film industry production.&#8221;</p>
<p><center><b>Taking the piracy fight to Capitol Hill</b><a href="media/2fe86387.mpaa-lobbying.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/mpaa-lobbying.png"><img src="media/3a6f1174.mpaa-lobbying.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/mpaa-lobbying.png" alt="" width="600" height="380" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-161035"></a></center></p>
<p>Today&#8217;s buzzing &#8216;market&#8217; for online streaming devices and applications will give Gómez and Franco plenty to discuss. In addition to the now ubiquitous Kodi and the swarm of third-party addons flooding its ecosystem, mainly Android-based applications are causing headaches for all of the studios.</p>
<p>Tools such as Terrarium TV and Showbox are becoming household names, with these and similar tools often pre-loaded onto set-top boxes to provide an accessible and entirely free Netflix-like experience to everyday consumers.</p>
<p>Unlike Netflix, however, these types of applications grant access to all content &#8211; no matter how new &#8211; meaning that first-run movies are regularly available during week one, something which famously causes a red mist to descend upon studios bosses everywhere.</p>
<p>As the leading force behind the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (<a href="https://torrentfreak.com/global-entertainment-giants-form-massive-anti-piracy-coalition-170613/">ACE</a>), the MPAA has already shown it has illegal streaming firmly in its sights.</p>
<p>The thirty-company <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/inside-the-mpaa-netflix-amazon-global-anti-piracy-alliance-170918/">global coalition</a>, which also features Amazon, Netflix, CBS, HBO, BBC, Sky, Bell Canada, CBS, Hulu, Lionsgate, Foxtel, and Village Roadshow, is currently engaged in legal action against various players in the illicit streaming sector.</p>
<p>Set-top box sellers such as <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/netflix-amazon-and-hollywood-sue-set-tv-over-iptv-piracy-180422/">SET TV</a> and <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/hollywood-giants-sue-kodi-powered-tickbox-tv-over-piracy-171014/">Tickbox</a> have already found themselves in court, while various Kodi addon developers <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/kodi-developers-quit-following-threats-from-mpa-netflix-amazon-171116/">have quit</a> following legal threats. However, this is just the tip of a massive iceberg that will take years to melt, even if the MPAA massively turns up the heat.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=161042
title: Top 10 Most Pirated Movies of The Week on BitTorrent – 09/10/18
uri: Top-10-Most-Pirated-Movies-of-The-Week-on-BitTorrent-09-10-18
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/zWyzkC-PuIE/
content:
<p><img src="media/659dd161.oceans.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/oceans.png" alt="" width="298" height="247" class="alignright size-full wp-image-160679">This week we have two newcomers in our chart.</p>
<p>Skyscraper, recently released as Webrip, is the most downloaded movie.</p>
<p>The data for our weekly download chart is estimated by TorrentFreak, and is for informational and educational reference only. All the movies in the list are Web-DL/Webrip/HDRip/BDrip/DVDrip unless stated otherwise.</p>
<p><a href="http://TorrentFreak.com/category/dvdrip/feed/"><strong>RSS feed</strong></a> for the articles of the recent weekly movie download charts.</p>
<h5>This week&#8217;s most downloaded movies are:</h5>
<table class="css hover">
<thead>
<tr>
<th width="12%"><strong>Movie Rank</strong></th>
<th width="15%"><strong>Rank <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-pirated-movies-week-bittorrent-09-03-18/">last week</a></strong></th>
<th><strong>Movie name</strong></th>
<th width="18%"><strong>IMDb Rating / Trailer</strong></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tfoot>
<tr>
<td colspan="4">Most downloaded movies via torrents</td>
</tr>
</tfoot>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>1</strong></td>
<td>(10)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5758778/">Skyscraper </a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5758778/">6.1</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9QePUT-Yt8">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>2</strong></td>
<td>(7)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom </a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">6.5</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn9mMeWcgoM">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>3</strong></td>
<td>(1)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5164214/">Ocean&#8217;s Eight </a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5164214/">6.3</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5LoVcVsiSQ">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>4</strong></td>
<td>(2)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5463162/">Deadpool 2</a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5463162/">8.0</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D86RtevtfrA">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>5</strong></td>
<td>(5)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6547170/">Reprisal</a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6547170/">4.4</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzO9OCAW_7c">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>6</strong></td>
<td>(&#8230;)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6987770/">Destination Wedding</a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6987770/">6.3</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjXQzRWmb_I">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>7</strong></td>
<td>(4)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">Avengers: Infinity War </a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4881806/">8.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZfuNTqbHE8">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>8</strong></td>
<td>(3)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7784604/">Hereditary </a></td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7784604/">8.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6wWKNij_1M">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>9</strong></td>
<td>(6)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6499752/">Upgrade</a> </td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6499752/">7.7</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36PDeN9NRZ0">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>10</strong></td>
<td>(&#8230;)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5814060/">The Nun</a> (HDCam)</td>
<td><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5814060/">6.0</a> / <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzD9zGcUNrw">trailer</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=161027
title: Dish Wants $1,950,000 From ‘ZemTV’ Kodi Addon Developer
uri: Dish-Wants-1-950-000-From-ZemTV-Kodi-Addon-Developer
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/xkVf1XxQCd0/
content:
<p><img src="media/60695266.zemtv.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/zemtv.jpg" alt="" width="277" height="172" class="alignright size-full wp-image-147486">Following a confidential settlement, Dish Network <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/dish-is-hiring-an-investigator-to-research-and-monitor-pirates-180908/">dismissed</a> its lawsuit against TVAddons founder Adam Lackman last week.</p>
<p>The dismissal didn&#8217;t apply to the other defendant in that case. ZemTV developer Shahjahan Durrani, Shani for short, remains at risk.</p>
<p>The UK based Kodi-addon programmer initially planned to defend himself but had to <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/kodi-addon-developer-gives-up-piracy-defense-due-to-lack-of-funds-180521/">give up this fight</a> due to the high costs. As a result, Dish has now requested a default judgment of nearly $2 million.</p>
<p>&#8220;Defendant infringed DISH’s copyrights on a massive scale by retransmitting the Protected Channels without authorization on ZemTV. Defendant transmitted the Protected Channels on ZemTV for at least 16 months from February 2016 through June 2017,&#8221; Dish informs the Texas federal court.</p>
<p>The infringements were willful, according to Dish, as Shani indirectly received multiple takedown requests from the company. That suggests that he was aware of Dish&#8217;s complaints but continued nonetheless.</p>
<p>If copyright infringement is &#8216;willful&#8217; the rightsholder can request the maximum amount of statutory damages, which is $150,000 per work.</p>
<p>This is exactly what Dish is going for. The company further notes that this amount will serve as a clear deterrent to Shani and other Kodi-addon developers. In addition, it offers Dish the chance to recoup some of the subscription revenues it allegedly lost.</p>
<p>Dish argues that ZemTV infringed hundreds if not thousands of works, but limits the number in the lawsuit to thirteen titles. If the maximum amount of statutory damages for each work is granted, the total will be $1,950,000.</p>
<p>In addition, the broadcast provider also requests an injunction preventing Shani from engaging in any copyright-infringing activities going forward.</p>
<p>&#8220;Defendant’s clear willfulness and the strong need for deterrence, as shown by ongoing infringement in the face of numerous notices of infringement and intent to operate his service on the basis of stealing others’ intellectual property, justifies an award of $150,000 per work. </p>
<p>&#8220;The Court should grant this motion and hold Defendant liable for damages in the amount of $1,950,000 and enter a permanent injunction, which is necessary to protect DISH’s copyrights from further infringement,&#8221; Dish writes.</p>
<p>As ZemTV&#8217;s developer has chosen not to defend himself, there&#8217;s a high chance that Dish&#8217;s request will be granted. If that&#8217;s the case, the question remains whether Dish will ever see the full amount paid.</p>
<p><em><br>
&#8212;</p>
<p>A copy of the memorandum in support of a motion for default judgment is available <a href="media/0789038d.zemdefmot.pdf" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/zemdefmot.pdf">here (pdf)</a>.</em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=161065
title: Kim Dotcom Privacy Act Appeal Underway at the High Court
uri: Kim-Dotcom-Privacy-Act-Appeal-Underway-at-the-High-Court
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/m4TUazuTcgE/
content:
<p><img src="media/66633aca.dotcom-laptop.jpg" data-original-source="https://torrentfreak.com/images/dotcom-laptop.jpg" width="233" height="170" class="alignright size-large">Way back in 2012, Kim Dotcom&#8217;s cloud storage site Megaupload was shut down in a massively blaze of publicity. Ever since, Dotcom and several of his former colleagues have been fighting extradition to the United States.</p>
<p>Dotcom&#8217;s strategy in New Zealand has been to challenge all aspects of the case against him, something that has seen him burn through tens of millions of dollars in legal fees. He has sought every piece of available information to assist his defense, but that hasn&#8217;t always gone his way. </p>
<p>In 2015, Dotcom asked dozens of ministers and multiple government departments to disclose information they held on him. With Dotcom&#8217;s case rolling on, his requests were classified by his team as &#8220;urgent&#8221;. However, then-Attorney General Chris Finlayson denied the requests, describing them as vexatious and baseless.</p>
<p>Ever persistent, Dotcom filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal, accusing the New Zealand Government of wrongfully withholding information from him. </p>
<p>Last March the Tribunal ruled in Dotcom&#8217;s favor, noting that the Crown was &#8220;in clear breach of its obligations under the Privacy Act&#8221; when it withheld the information. Dotcom was awarded NZ$60,000 in damages for “loss of dignity or injury to feelings” plus NZ$30,000 to compensate for the information not being handed over.</p>
<p>Dotcom was quick to celebrate, noting that the ruling from the Tribunal meant that his extradition case was effectively over, with the Attorney General having &#8220;perverted the course of Justice.&#8221;</p>
<p>While an end to the extradition process is still not in sight, the ruling from the Tribunal also compelled the authorities to comply with Dotcom&#8217;s original request. But with that still yet to happen, the show isn&#8217;t over yet.</p>
<p>The Crown subsequently appealed the decision of the Tribunal and yesterday the matter went before the High Court in Wellington.</p>
<p>Lawyer Victoria Casey, representing the Attorney General, said there was no evidence that the information was wrongly disclosed to cause injury to Dotcom&#8217;s feelings (as the NZ$60,000 award suggests) and there was no evidential basis for Dotcom to be awarded the NZ$30,000 either, <a href="https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/366103/attorney-general-appeals-dotcom-privacy-win">RadioNZ reports</a>.</p>
<p>Casey also argued that while Dotcom&#8217;s 52 requests to 28 ministers and government departments were marked as urgent due to his ongoing extradition battle, the information could not have been used because the window for submitting evidence had already closed. It was also a sizeable request, that could not have been fulfilled quickly, the lawyer said.</p>
<p>These factors meant that the allegedly unwieldy request for disclosure was considered vexatious by the then-Attorney General.</p>
<p>In Court yesterday, Casey said that Dotcom <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&#038;objectid=12122377">had demanded</a> &#8220;every record mentioning him by name held by every government agency and every then-government minister, plus each agency contracted to work with any of those entities.&#8221; </p>
<p>Four days have been set aside for the hearing.</p>
<p><em>A copy of the original Human Rights Tribunal ruling is available <a href="media/6ada2f47.2018-nzhrrt-7-dotcom-v-crown-law-others.pdf" data-original-source="https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Decisions/2018-nzhrrt-7-dotcom-v-crown-law-others.pdf">here (pdf)</a>.</em></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=161076
title: Terrarium TV: One of the Best-Loved Pirate Apps Shuts Down
uri: Terrarium-TV-One-of-the-Best-Loved-Pirate-Apps-Shuts-Down
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/EW5jmWyO3Ro/
content:
<p><a href="media/0808e723.terrariumtv.jpg" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/terrariumtv.jpg"><img src="media/999bde15.terrariumtv.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/terrariumtv.jpg" alt="" width="203" height="198" class="alignright size-full wp-image-148354"></a>While Kodi and its dazzling array of addons grabs most mainstream piracy headlines, much simpler options lie just below the surface.</p>
<p>Referred to generally as APKs (taken from the installation format used by Android devices), these applications provide direct access to huge amounts of movie and TV show content. Most can be downloaded and installed in seconds and are extremely simple to use.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most impressive in recent years has been Terrarium TV. Inspired by the simplicity of Popcorn Time, Terrarium TV eschewed the use of torrents as a supply protocol. Instead, the software pulled in content from file-hosting sites in a similar way to Kodi addons, but with an almost non-existent learning curve.</p>
<p>Created by a developer who identified as Hong Kong-based Peter Chan (aka NitroXenon), Terrarium TV enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom over the past couple of years. With only Showbox and a handful of other applications getting anywhere close to its volume of active users, Terrarium TV became the go-to app for Android users looking for a Netflix-style fix.</p>
<p>Now, however, the ride is over.</p>
<p>In a notification pushed to Terrarium TV users last night, NitroXenon explained that his days of working on the app are over.</p>
<p>&#8220;It has always been a great pleasure to work on this project. However, it is time to say goodbye. I am going to shut down Terrarium TV, forever,&#8221; he wrote.</p>
<p>&#8220;I know this day will come eventually. I know it would be hard to let go. But it is really time for me to move on to other projects.&#8221;</p>
<p>Thanking users for their support over the years, NitroXenon singled out Reddit moderator &#8216;Nic&#8217; for his support. TorrentFreak reached out to Nic for comment but he preferred not to add anything further.</p>
<p>The big question, of course, is why NitroXenon decided to close Terrarium TV down but again, the decision didn&#8217;t really come as a surprise. From pushing regular updates to the app as it grew (the last was around May), in recent months its developer has been mostly absent, with users requesting information but very little coming back.</p>
<p>As is often the case when services shut down abruptly, speculation builds that maybe the developer has been subjected to legal pressure. While that&#8217;s a distinct possibility (the MPA and its associates have reached into the Asia-Pacific region before to threaten developers of similar apps) there are no clear signs that happened here.</p>
<p>Equally, the rumor that NitroXenon was paid off by the studios to shut down the application is almost certainly untrue. If (and it is an if) NitroXenon was targeted, it is definitely not the style of the MPA (or the Alliance For Creativity and Entertainment) to offer cash for favors. If anything, they&#8217;re the ones demanding the money.</p>
<p>As can be seen from the image of the notification below, NitroXenon indicates that Terrarium TV will work until the end of September. However, in most (if not all) cases the app appears to be dead already. Users cannot get beyond the &#8216;UPDATE&#8217; button.</p>
<p>While some Terrarium TV users are sarcastically describing this September 11 as the &#8220;worst in history,&#8221; it&#8217;s likely that other applications will take up the slack. <a href="https://teatv.net/">TeaTV</a>, which looks very similar to Terrarium TV, is already gaining traction.</p>
<p>Finally, now would also be a good time to look out for imposters claiming to be Terrarium reincarnated.</p>
<p>During the past few months, there has been an effort by third-parties to contact publications (such as TF and others in the tech space) to convince them that their website is the real home of Terrarium TV. However, the app hasn&#8217;t had a website of its own for some time, so the claims are easily debunked.</p>
<p><center><a href="media/8672a75d.terarium-gone.png" data-original-source="http://feed.torrentfreak.com/images/terarium-gone.png"><img src="media/6d2593ff.terarium-gone.png" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/terarium-gone.png" alt="" width="600" height="716" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-161084"></a></center></p>
<p>The closure of Terrarium TV follows after a similar APK pulled the plug. Morpheus TV took this decision in August after its developer decided it had received too much mainstream attention. Unlike Terrarium, however, the idea is to relaunch quietly under a new name, to a select group of people.</p>
<p>&#8220;Distribution will be restricted to a small group of individuals and hidden from public eyes like it was supposed to be,&#8221; the Morpheus developer said.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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feed_id: http://torrentfreak.com/?p=161073
title: More Than 35,000 ‘Pirates’ Targeted in Swedish Lawsuits This Year
uri: More-Than-35-000-Pirates-Targeted-in-Swedish-Lawsuits-This-Year
url: http://feed.torrentfreak.com/~r/Torrentfreak/~3/vwpJYlR2znw/
content:
<p><img src="media/f2bfe741.pirate-running.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/pirate-running.jpg" alt="" width="222" height="204" class="alignright size-full wp-image-78717">Roughly a decade ago, Sweden was considered a safe haven for pirates. </p>
<p>The country is the home of the Pirate Bay, the birthing ground of the Pirate Party, and a place where for many citizens file-sharing was second nature.</p>
<p>Today this is no longer the case. The Scandinavian country famously prosecuted the Pirate Bay&#8217;s founders and lawsuits targeting individual BitTorrent users are no longer an exception.</p>
<p>The &#8216;copyright trolling&#8217; phenomenon, in which movie companies target hundreds or thousands of alleged pirates hoping to secure monetary settlements, is commonplace now. </p>
<p>The first wave of these lawsuits started <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/attention-swedish-pirate-bay-users-copyright-trolls-have-arrived-160902/">in 2016</a> but the practice has grown exponentially since. According to Swedish Internet provider <a href="https://www.bahnhof.se/">Bahnhof</a>, which keeps track of these cases on a <a href="https://utpressningskollen.se/">dedicated website</a>, records are being broken this year.</p>
<p>&#8220;Thousands of Swedes have received threatening letters from law firms which accuse them of illegal downloading. They are asked to pay a sum of money, ranging from a couple of thousand Swedish Kronors up to several thousand, to avoid being brought to justice,” Bahnhof Communicator Carolina Lindahl notes.</p>
<p>“During 2018 the extortion business has increased dramatically. The numbers have already exceeded last year’s figures even though four months still remain.&#8221;</p>
<p>This year to date, 49 separate court cases have been filed requesting ISPs to disclose the personal details of the account holders behind 35,711 IP-addresses. As the chart below shows, that&#8217;s already more than the two previous years combined. </p>
<p>Also, the number of targeted people exceeds that of all <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/us-online-piracy-lawsuits-break-record-numbers-180704/">US</a> and <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/movie-outfits-are-quietly-targeting-canadian-file-sharers-in-court-180904/">Canadian</a> file-sharing cases in 2018, which is quite extraordinary.</p>
<p><center><strong>Swedish &#8216;troll&#8217; lawsuits and targeted IP-addresses</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/23050d47.bahnip.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/bahnip.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="318" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161082"></center></p>
<p>The data draws on filings submitted to the Patent and Market Court since 2016. These also reveal which ISPs are most often targeted. The vast majority of all requests are made to Telia, followed by Com Hem, and Bredbandsbolaget.</p>
<p>Bahnhof persistently objects to handing over customer data for these types of cases. It keeps its IP-address allocation logs limited to 24-hours and stresses that it has never handed over any data to the rightsholders in question. </p>
<p>&#8220;The real winners are, of course, Bahnhof&#8217;s customers. Bahnhof never has, and will never hand out its customers&#8217; details for this kind of business,&#8221; Lindahl notes. </p>
<p><center><strong>Targeted ISPs</strong><br></br></center><center><img src="media/48cd4f3a.bahnhofcompet.jpg" data-original-source="http://torrentfreak.com/images/bahnhofcompet.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="312" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-161081"></center></p>
<p>While the ISP is using these figures to promote its own business, the company ultimately hopes that the Government will step in and put an end to these &#8216;copyright trolling&#8217; practices.</p>
<p>Bahnhof says that there are clear shortcomings in current legislation and that the evidence these cases rely on is far from solid. Despite this, the number of lawsuits keeps rising at a rapid pace.</p>
<p>“It’s time to reverse the trend before another 100, 1000 or 10,000 individuals have to join the growing group of victims. The practice of sending extortion letters to internet users solely based on IP-addresses does not meet any requirements of legal certainty and must be stopped,” Bahnhof&#8217;s Communicator stresses.  </p>
<p>&#8220;We want to see a reform of copyright law aimed at promoting artistic creation instead of the commercial interests of the copyright industry.&#8221; </p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/">TF</a>, for the latest info on copyright, file-sharing, <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/top-10-most-popular-torrent-sites-of-2018-180107/">torrent sites</a> and more. We also have <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/">VPN reviews, </a><a href="https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-discount-coupon-offer-torguard-nordvpn-expressvpn-pia/">discounts, offers and coupons</a>.</p>
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