NationStates Jolt Archive

You do, don't you?

That first shocking nanosecond when it looked as though the US Homeland Security had shut down NationStates?

Well, now you can see how close Max got to the real thing. Recently, a file-sharing website called Elite Torrents got shut down. And, you guessed it, Homeland Security was involved.

Check it out at: http://www.elitetorrents.org/

The biggest difference I've noticed is that the background is a glaring red, not blue. ;P

Having discussed various april fools jokes on these forums and what NS could do before the date, I came to the site expecting something to be happening. I grinned, skimed over it and went to the main page, knowing that the forums would soon be clogged with people either talking about how cool it was or not getting it.

Scary....


~Czardas, Supreme Ruler of the Universe

Having discussed various april fools jokes on these forums and what NS could do before the date, I came to the site expecting something to be happening. I grinned, skimed over it and went to the main page, knowing that the forums would soon be clogged with people either talking about how cool it was or not getting it.There was an April Fools' joke? :confused: :headbang: ;)

~Czardas, Supreme Ruler of the Universe

Damn the government for not allowing people to trade stolen property on the internet. Think of all the hard work that went into stealing it in the first place.

There was an April Fools' joke? :confused: :headbang: ;)

~Czardas, Supreme Ruler of the Universe
Yeah, Myrth ran around naked yelling about the apocalypse.

Yeah, Myrth ran around naked yelling about the apocalypse.
That part wasn't a joke.

That part wasn't a joke.
Oh, well then..that explains alot.

The April fools one was prettier. The FBI really needs to work on their CSS.

The April fools one was prettier. The FBI really needs to work on their CSS.

<grin> I agree.

The April fools one was prettier. The FBI really needs to work on their CSS.

Indeed. The Department of Homeworld Security was so much cooler! :D

Heh .. pretty cool.

Wait a sec ..

The just logged our IP addresses .. we're all gonna die!

Hey US Department of Homeland Security people! Eat my fuck.

*downloads music*

:)

It is unlawful to reproduce or distribute copyrighted material, such as movies, music,
software or games, without authorization - even when done for free over the Internet.
Individuals who willfully distribute or download copyrighted material risk criminal
prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 2319. First-time offenders convicted of criminal felony
copyright laws will face up to five years in federal prison, restitution, forfeiture and a fine.

What happens to people not located in the US?

Well, now you can see how close Max got to the real thing. Recently, a file-sharing website called Elite Torrents got shut down. And, you guessed it, Homeland Security was involved.

Check it out at: http://www.elitetorrents.org/

The biggest difference I've noticed is that the background is a glaring red, not blue. ;P

I'm sceptical about this actually being put there by the authorities: in all other cases the sites have been shut down due to a court order coming from the MPAA or RIAA, not the FBI, and have not had similar splash screens.

Anyone care to explain the letters 'RTJKJAS'?

EDIT: but then again...
http://www.addict3d.org/index.php?page=viewarticle&type=news&ID=7008

Dammit! I love file sharing! It's a brilliant way to distribute legal software and documents, only this is eclipsed by the people who upload and download pirated goods, a group I am a part of, but only because the real stuff is far too expensieve.

It is unlawful to reproduce or distribute copyrighted material, such as movies, music,
software or games, without authorization - even when done for free over the Internet.
Individuals who willfully distribute or download copyrighted material risk criminal
prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 2319. First-time offenders convicted of criminal felony
copyright laws will face up to five years in federal prison, restitution, forfeiture and a fine.

What happens to people not located in the US?
Interpol gets them.

I'm sceptical about this actually being put there by the authorities: in all other cases the sites have been shut down due to a court order coming from the MPAA or RIAA, not the FBI, and have not had similar splash screens.

Anyone care to explain the letters 'RTJKJAS'?

My thoughts exactly.

It's a little odd and un-orthadox for the FBI to be putting those messages up, or being involved in the first place.

Unless they are really cracking down on Piracy now.

My thoughts exactly.

It's a little odd and un-orthadox for the FBI to be putting those messages up, or being involved in the first place.

Unless they are really cracking down on Piracy now.


Then again:

http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/25/technology/piracy/

Interpol gets them.

But what are they charged with? I'm not too hot on International law. Is a non-US citizen still charged with 18 U.S.C. 2319 (say), even though they are not under US jurisdiction?

Interpol gets them.

Interpol can try. :p

Meh. I mainly download bootlegs anyway. Which are illegal in themselves, but let's see them crack down on me there.

But what are they charged with? I'm not too hot on International law. Is a non-US citizen still charged with 18 U.S.C. 2319 (say), even though they are not under US jurisdiction?
No, but there are international laws to protect intellectual property.

http://www.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel05/bittorrent052505.htm

But what are they charged with? I'm not too hot on International law. Is a non-US citizen still charged with 18 U.S.C. 2319 (say), even though they are not under US jurisdiction?

I think that they would find laws in your own country that you get charged under.

I'm sceptical about this actually being put there by the authorities: in all other cases the sites have been shut down due to a court order coming from the MPAA or RIAA, not the FBI, and have not had similar splash screens.

Anyone care to explain the letters 'RTJKJAS'?


Fair enough -- I haven't seen any other shut down sites. I found out about it from a CBC News article, which is generally a good source. But news folks have been caught by hoaxes and urban myths before.

Anyway, here's the CBC article:

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/05/25/Arts/file050525.html

Qual-ee-tay!

I'm pretty sure that the FBI was able to get involved because the torrents were of a work print and they were released before the opening day of the movie. This qualifies as industrial espionage and theft of trade secrets.

hmmmm.... cept america doesnt control the internet, or does it ????

But what are they charged with? I'm not too hot on International law. Is a non-US citizen still charged with 18 U.S.C. 2319 (say), even though they are not under US jurisdiction?
Violating copyright law. Those laws are international.

There is no such thing as "international law". There are international treaties pertaining to copyright but each party to those treaties writes its own laws. In some it is a crime, in others it is just a tort. In the US it is just a tort unless it is done commercially. You can be arrested for selling a bootleg DVD but you can't be arrested for givening them away for free. This would explain why there have been seizures but no arrests.

The Star Wars debacle was a high profile issue. Some unscruplous insider sold or gave away a working print and them some idiot decided to torrent it before the release date. If he had just waited a week then no one would have noticed. If it had been any other movie no one would have noticed. But it was the most hyped movie of all time. Its opening was covered by national and international news stations for crying out loud. The FBI just had to send a message.

hmmmm.... cept america doesnt control the internet, or does it ????
I don't know, does it?

Any idea if Japan has similar laws? I'm moving there in 2 months...

Any idea if Japan has similar laws? I'm moving there in 2 months...
Yes. Almost all countries have them.