Torrent Sites Busted For Episode III Leak: Homeland Security vs Dudes in their Underwear

[Byte_Me]

http://www.elitetorrent.org has been shut down by the FBI because of distributing Star Wars Ep III

Check out the website http://www.elitetorrent.org


Here's the link to the story about elitetorrent.org:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050525/tc_afp/usinternetpiracy/nc:1212

[Harlock415]

MSNBC has picked up on it too http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7982008/ So the rumors about it being an elaborate hoax are false. There was talk that it was a DNS hack, which was true, but it was launched by the Feds and not some guy in SDSU.

Elite had over 130,000 member, so I doubt the Feds are going to be handing down warrants to the users, but it looks like the people who have maintained, and owned the site have been served.

[Faid]

The action was the first criminal enforcement against individuals who are using cutting-edge BitTorrent technology, Justice and Homeland Security Department officials said.

Cutting edge huh? These guys probably call the internet the information superhighway.

[Harlock415]

So they don't go after the users that download the illegal material, only the people that are responsible for distributing it?That makes sense,better to kill it at the source, seems like going after everyone that uses that service would be a waste...But for some reason I thought they went after anyone, like, if you download it, you can very well get in trouble for doing so?Guess I misunderstood all that, lol.

That's what the RIAA did by going after downloaders and it gave them a lot of headaches and bad press. Easier to go after a dozen admins and mods than to go after several thousand people at once. Heck, about 10,000 people downloaded Ep III from ET by itself. Can you imagine the FBI filing 10,000 supoenas? And the news getting on their case for tying up resources expecially since Homland Security is involved?

[sultan bey]

http://p2p.weblogsinc.com/entry/1234000340044473/

....20th Century FOX takedown notices that are beginning to frequent, oh, hundreds of thousands of fans inboxes. The letters are being sent courtesy of BayTSP.

I’ve attached a copy of the infringement notice as it provides some clues as to what sort of information is being tracked and how FOX, in particular, intends to pursue copyright infringement by fans of the Star Wars series.

Please continue reading to see the full notice.....

[Warham]

Cutting edge huh? These guys probably call the internet the information superhighway.

At least what the government tells us anyway.

[DarExc]

Good thing I live in Canada, my government doesn't view file sharing as criminal. Is the new 5.1 version truely 5.1 or does it just say that? 80% done it now and I don't wanna use one of my 3 remaining DVDR's if it's still 2.1. So far I like the repacked workprint around 4gigs in widescreen form. The TC I found too dark and I wanna show the movie to my Opa who hates Russian so I think he'd flip at the text Bad war time experiences...

[DarExc]

Good thing I live in Canada, my government doesn't view file sharing as criminal.

that's probably what these guys thought too: Record industry scores Canadian legal victory over music filesharers

It'll probably go to the supreme court now, we're still a ways away from being able to get sued over this stuff.

[VT883]

New Swedish law closes The Pirate Bay and prohibits Linux-distributions from 1st July 2005!!

http://linuxreviews.org/news/2005/02/10_way_to_go_sweeden/


AND I read that The Prirate Bay was hosted on a Canadian Server!?

[sultan bey]

p2pnet.net News:- The appearance online of Revenge of the Sith before its official release raises some interesting questions, particularly in light of yesterday’s take-down of the Elite Torrent BitTorrent indexing site.

Was the leak in fact a honey trap set up by the MPAA to give bounty hunters a clear shot at nailing torrent users?

http://p2pnet.net/story/4975

[Ayatollah Krispies]

I wouldn't want to descend too deeply into paranoid conspiracy hell, but it has always struck me as a little strange that the "workprint" wasn't missing a single thing from the actual release. It's almost like the timecode was added after the fact. It'd be a good way of tracking its P2P life, while at the same time ensuring that whoever d/l'ed it would be stuck with a less-than-perfect copy.

[Sith 77]

It'd be a good way of tracking its P2P life, while at the same time ensuring that whoever d/l'ed it would be stuck with a less-than-perfect copy.

I'm inclined to agree with that. And, I just have to say that I'm glad that I used Usenet to obtain my copy--which I haven't even watched anyway...

I just wanted it in case I'm bored after the it leaves theaters. If I was in the movie or software industry, I wouldn't be concerned with college kids, I'd concentrate on the fucks that burn it to DVD, make cases and sell it on the street corner. That's piracy to me.

I think in the case of Star Wars, it's easy to say that 90% of the people who downloaded the movie will still see it in theaters and buy the damn DVD (however many times it gets rereleased). This is why FOX and LFL are probably being so amiacable about this situation.

[Swedish Chef]

Here's an idea: why don't they release a crappy bare bones VCD version once the movie leaves theaters to keep everyone happy until the kickass DVD is released in the fall?

Seems to me that people obviously want the chance to watch episode III during the dry spell until the DVD comes around. I don't understand why the Feds decide to fight piracy this way. There's bound to be several thousand more people who are willing to share it with their friends in the next few months. By the time the DVD gets here, I'm sure there will have been hundreds of thousands of copies distributed via P2P, newsgroup, VCD and of course all the burned copies ppl will make for each other.

The Feds, if they were smart, would urge Lucasfilm and whoever else is involved in the merchandising department to come up with a legit VCD release and keep everybody happy. Piracy might still be an issue, but at least ppl with few alternatives would finally be able to get their hands on a copy legally and Lucasfilm would be making plenty of $$$ in the meantime.

Then again, that makes sense. And we're talking about the Federal government here, so logic and reasoning is tossed right out the fuckin' window.

[Ayatollah Krispies]

The Feds, if they were smart, would urge Lucasfilm and whoever else is involved in the merchandising department to come up with a legit VCD release and keep everybody happy. Piracy might still be an issue, but at least ppl with few alternatives would finally be able to get their hands on a copy legally and Lucasfilm would be making plenty of $$$ in the meantime.

And of course Star Wars fans worldwide wouldn't piss and moan that LFL is just trying to bleed their wallets dry with multiple releases, because as we all know, Star Wars fans are some of the most patient and understanding people on Earth.

P.S.: I thought I would bring this thread full circle by mentioning that I'm sitting at my desk in my underwear right now.

[Swedish Chef]

Eh, we're bound to bitch either way. We're fans. That's what we do.

Still, I'd rather spend some extra $$$ for a legal VCD copy than to risk a fine or worse over d/ling an illegal copy. My point is that they could be circumventing piracy by offering what's obviously available now anyway.

And thanks for sharing your underwear story. I think the correct reponse is T.M.I...

[Ayatollah Krispies]

I don't believe there's an existing method for selling and/or distributing VCDs in the US. It's far too easy to rip the MPEGs from them with no loss in quality (not that the quality's very high to begin with). I think the resulting piracy would be much worse than you think.

[Swedish Chef]

Well, there's bound to be a certain amount of piracy, especially in the Asian markets, regardless of the media format. Still, I think it would negate a lot of the piracy for the reasons I laid out.

There's plenty of ppl on the net who are going to download, rip and burn whatever the hell they can get their hands on. But there is a portion of the computer using public, myself included, that would go the legit way and purchase one legally; but this option is not available, therefore the amount of torrenting, leeching, and downloading is increased. I don't see how putting out a legal VCD release would increase piracy; not at least anymore than what we have now.

And now I'll put in the phrase that I'm sure someone will come back with...

'Why don't you people just shut the hell up and wait for the DVD to come out this fall?'

Because we're goddamn impatient starwars fans, that's why.

Shit, now I'm fucking arguing with myself. Where's my pills?

[Ternian]

I think the music companies are finally coming to terms with the idea that people would prefer to download the music in the comfort of their own home, where they can choose what songs they want, rather than buying a CD full of crap for one song.

They are so worried about the internet, they are forgeting to get their product out their for people to choose.

[Dogg Thang]

They are so worried about the internet, they are forgeting to get their product out their for people to choose.

Very true, Tern. Very true indeed. As someone who actually does go out and buy music, dvds etc it gets to me when measures are put in place to 'combat' piracy that affect my end use. The new Gorillaz album, for example, doesn't want to play on my PC. Now that's just a pain in the ass. What's funny is that I can just play a dled version - that's almost encouraging piracy.

For SW, I think this is all a storm in a teacup. I mean, has anyone here downloaded the workprint and not gone to see it in the cinema (possibly several times)? Could it really have affected revenue to any significant degree? I can't think so. For that matter, did anyone dl the dvd rips of the OT last year and not buy the sets?

On a side note - there are a massive number of albums I never would have bought had I not found mp3s floating around the net to listen to...

[Swedish Chef]

They are so worried about the internet, they are forgeting to get their product out their for people to choose.

Very true, Tern. Very true indeed. As someone who actually does go out and buy music, dvds etc it gets to me when measures are put in place to 'combat' piracy that affect my end use. The new Gorillaz album, for example, doesn't want to play on my PC. Now that's just a pain in the ass. What's funny is that I can just play a dled version - that's almost encouraging piracy.

For SW, I think this is all a storm in a teacup. I mean, has anyone here downloaded the workprint and not gone to see it in the cinema (possibly several times)? Could it really have affected revenue to any significant degree? I can't think so. For that matter, did anyone dl the dvd rips of the OT last year and not buy the sets?

On a side note - there are a massive number of albums I never would have bought had I not found mp3s floating around the net to listen to...

Yeah, and that's where the hypocrisy lies with the MPAA and RIAA's argument. They seem to think that if you pirate a workprint of a movie or download some mp3s off an album that you won't spend any of your precious consumer dollars on the real product. For most of us that couldn't be further from the truth. I doubt there's more than a handful of us here who haven't seen the movie at least twice in theaters. Hell, look at the damn box office returns! That shit doesn't lie! Owning a copy of the goddamn movie on a hard drive isn't going to keep anyone from pruchasing legit copies of the movie later when it comes out.

Take for example starwars media. I bought a crappy VCD version of TPM when it came out. I also downloaded most of the soundtrack before it was released. And you know what? I ended buying both the DVD and the soundtrack on CD. Same goes for AOTC. Why? I guess because I'm a fucking idiot. But at least I'm a paying schmuck like everybody else.

Besides, why would anyone be content with some crappy screener quality burn of the movie, time codes included, when there's a nice shiny DVD on the horizon? Their argument doesn't hold water. It's just a PR scam to try and enforce and legislate new copyright laws; making sure everyone knows where the power is -- with the studios and the government thugs that get a hardon arresting and fining college students and little kids for downloading shit on the internet.

And don't they bigger fish to fry anyway?! Like, I don't know... Terrorists and bank robbers and shit?!

I suppose it doesn't really matter. We'll all be discussing this to keep us occupied and before you know it, the DVD will be here and all of this will be just another useless talking point.

[Bespin Sunset]

I totally agree.

Besides there was piracy before the net. Maybe it wasn't so easy to share, but people have always copied music and videos. I remember the old fuzzy copies we had of Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi at home. Me owning those hasn't stopped me buying various incarnations on video and the latest DVD releases. The same goes for TPM. We had that on video before the cinema release but I still went to the cinema and bought the DVD.

In the case of music, if I like the tracks I download then I'll go out and buy the CD. It's no different to listening stations. What surprises me is that neither the movie industry nor music industry have come up with any cool ideas based around this technology. Let's face it if GL (for example) could find a way for charging people then torrents etc. could be a great way to distribute the Star Wars TV series.

[Bespin Sunset]

"Today's actions are bad news for Internet movie thieves and good news for preserving the magic of the movies," said MPAA president Dan Glickman.

Just read this line from the original news article. My own opinion is that the movie theatre will always be magical. It is a totally different experience to seeing something on your laptop or on DVD. I think a more mature approach would be to emphasize the unique experience the cinema has to offer. DVDs also offer their own unique experience. That is what people will continue to pay for.

A photograph of a great painting doesn't make you want to see the real painting any less. Having a bootleg of your favorite band makes you want to see them play live even more. To be honest I think been able to take something like this away with you adds to your nostalgia and makes you want to experience the same thing again.

[Bespin Sunset]

Anyone stupid enough to download the movie via a torrent should be made to watch the movie ten days in a row, but most of you wouldn't find that to be a bad thing.

Yeah well not all of us have to wait till July till the official cinema release. Hey I've had my tickets since April. Japan - the only country in the world to get this movie three months late...what a wanky decision. As it is, all the international hype will have died before the release here. Japan is now warming up with its own national hype on FOX Japan. Only a month or so to go to release!

If they hadn't made such a shit decision then I probably wouldn't have downloaded the movie and they could have gotten more cash out of me at the box office. The fact of the matter is I still want to see it on the big screen; that is the way movies can be enjoyed best. And that is why this movie continues to do well at the box office despite being leaked. I would hazard a guess that most of the downloaders are fans who would see the movie multiple times at the cinema anyway.

[Swedish Chef]

I have to say I was not in my underwear when I downloaded it.

Well, that's a relief.

[nigel5000]

[stan Marsh]

Owning a copy of the goddamn movie on a hard drive isn't going to keep anyone from pruchasing legit copies of the movie later when it comes out.
t.

it certainly didn't prevent me. I have had the OT on my hard drive for many years, yet when the box set came out on DVD I bought it immediately and erased the old ones from my computer. Like has been said I just wanted them to watch before they came out on DVD. Now that I have ep 3 I will still absolutely buy it on DVD, and probably will buy it again like a dumbass when it is released in the super 6+ dvd box set of the entire saga

[TheSessler]

I have to say I was not in my underwear when I downloaded it.

Seriously, the least you can do is put a robe on.

[QuakeDude]

I must be the only person on this planet that hasn't downloaded it.

After seeing it in the movies, I can't bear to watch it like that. You just loose all the detail which makes it simply amazing.

Still.. The whole MPAA argument is ridiculous, if they don't state that they loose money, regardless of whether they really do or not, then they don't have the reason nor backing to keep fighting it.

I mean, can you imagine what would happen if people found out that they didn't loose money from people pirating the movie? As most people have stated, the movie is awesome and no one here has a problem with buying it.. Why on early you'd prefer a shit copy to the ultra-fine digital version is beyond me.. but .. according to the MPAA.. thats how everyone thinks. Go guys.

What about the people that HIRE the movie and copy it? or Hire it and DivX it? There is a lost sale. Go after who you can realistically reach and make sure everyone see's that your doing it so its justifyable.

Unfortunately its 'big corporate business' vs internet user, so until some independant auditing entity comes in and verifies the MPAA's claims (and I have no idea how they're going to do that unless they POLL everyone) then the MPAA are going to be allowed to continue their version of the Spanish Inquisition.

Q.

[AgentPendergast]

How is "the FBI" going to tackle the 95% of the world where their shiny badges mean almost as much as the plastic lacquered ones in the "Little Policeman" toy sets made in China, mewonders?

[Zéyann]

yep this definatly made Lucas loose a lot of money. He had to downgrade from a Boeing Businessjet 2 to a Boeing Businessjet 1. Pathetic stuff.

[dj-anakin]

yep this definatly made Lucas loose a lot of money. He had to downgrade from a Boeing Businessjet 2 to a Boeing Businessjet 1. Pathetic stuff.

thats not really true at all.

there have been studies on the RIAA and how much money the recording industry has lost due to piracy, and every study i have seen says it was very little, or, as most say, that actually make more money due to piracy, because people download stuff they would never just go out and buy. they download something they wouldn't neccessarily download, like it, and go out and buy the cd. i've done that. personally i don't think they've made money due to piracy, i think they have lost *some* money, but they've spent WAY more trying to stop piracy than they have lost. why not just give that money to the poor starving artists. and actors [for movies].


as far as star wars, how many people have downloaded it that DIDN'T go see it in the theater? i am guessing very few.