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Alleged founder of world’s largest BitTorrent distribution site arrested

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Re: Alleged founder of world’s largest BitTorrent distribution site arrested

#251

Post by Houshalter »

sangnoir wrote: post #236
olalonde wrote: post #220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree that the GPL subverts the 'normal' use of copyright (though I'm aware it is presented as such by the FSF). Tons of copyrighted works are licensed for distribution by 3rd parties. Software licenses which allowed unrestricted distribution existed before the GPL. What the GPL innovated on was to put light restrictions on distribution to ensure modified source code would be made available along with binary dis…

> Software licenses which allowed unrestricted distribution existed before the GPL There is a world of a difference between 'allowing' distribution of source code and mandating it (like the GPL does).

Isn't that exactly his point though? That the main innovation with GPL would be unenforceable without copyright.

Re: Alleged founder of world’s largest BitTorrent distribution site arrested

#252

Post by jjnoakes »

seesomesense wrote: post #228
deftnerd wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are ways to "launder" the payments. Could use JoinMarket to tumble the funds to a decent extent. Could also send the BTC to shapeshift.io and convert it to Monero and then convert it back to Bitcoin at xmr.to. I am really shocked they had an advertiser pay to a bank account, especially one in the owners name. It's a huge OpSec mistake.

I have a professional acquaintance ( my profession, not his) in the anti-moneylaundering division of a large national, non-US bank. He mentioned that their default assumption is that if an account or a transaction involves bitcoin, it is connected to criminals. They log the details and pass it on to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

The same thing happens where I work (a restaurant). One of my professional acquaintances assumes that if meal preparation involves a knife, it is connected to a murder. He writes down the wielder, date, and time, and sends the information to the police each day.

Re: Alleged founder of world’s largest BitTorrent distribution site arrested

#255

Post by guard-of-terra »

DanBC wrote: post #170
eggy wrote: post #145

Aside from the legal technicalities here, I mostly ponder the future of IP. I think Napster positively affected the music distribution world in the long run. I am not very black-and-white on this issue, however, since there are many contradictions by both sides. I read the majority of comments here on HN about dated business models, big corporation dislike, the old executives don't understand the new market, etc...,…

Something like: "When I pirate a movie they only lose that single sale, and they wouldn't have had it anyway because I would never have paid to see that movie. But when a commercial company like Zara makes a profit from stealing designs, well, they're scumbags"

I'm not a commercial company, who said I should be held at same level of scrutiny?

Re: Alleged founder of world’s largest BitTorrent distribution site arrested

#256

Post by mSparks »

CaptSpify wrote: post #3

As an American, I wish we would stop doing this. It isn't effective, and it's a waste of time/resources that could be better spent elsewhere. I'd even argue that its counter-effective to progress. Instead of punishing people for making more efficient systems, we should reward them, and try to integrate.

am i the only one to walk away from this story thinking there must be a better way to handle large transactions than banks and cryptocurrencies.

Re: Alleged founder of world’s largest BitTorrent distribution site arrested

#257

Post by chatmasta »

jonathansizz wrote: post #253
sergiotapia wrote: post #249

Now that's KickAssTorrents is dead, what alternatives are there?

You could try paying people for their work, or else forgo enjoying it.

What if I live in a country where that's not an option?

Re: Alleged founder of world’s largest BitTorrent distribution site arrested

#258

Post by jobigoud »

Shivetya wrote: post #242
99127912 wrote: post #221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, we should. Comrade Page, comrade Brin, I'd like to have the Google software stack. IP rights are an outdated concept and the collective has decided that Google's stack belongs to the people. Besides, everything is just bits! If you represent the whole monorepo as a single integer, denying people access to it would be akin to patenting a natural number!

you could say that from the actions that occur in France if not the EU that is how they view it across the ocean. Become the best search engine only to be told you cannot favor your own services, if that is not an indirect declaration you are now a public service I am not sure what would be

It's not public service, it's regulation? You can do what you want as long as you conform to certain rules.

For example we have private electricity providers, but the prices are regulated and capped. Private companies can't just do whatever they want when it concerns things we consider to be people's fundamental resources.

Re: Alleged founder of world’s largest BitTorrent distribution site arrested

#259

Post by ricksplat »

ricksplat wrote: post #192
eggy wrote: post #145

Aside from the legal technicalities here, I mostly ponder the future of IP. I think Napster positively affected the music distribution world in the long run. I am not very black-and-white on this issue, however, since there are many contradictions by both sides. I read the majority of comments here on HN about dated business models, big corporation dislike, the old executives don't understand the new market, etc...,…

I would also suggest, that in the case of the clothing, the artist is probably not credited. Zara are claiming it as their own original work so she can't even claim copyright.

I think the downvoter should review this if they think I am unfairly representing Zara

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2016/07/21/terribly-zara/

Re: Alleged founder of world’s largest BitTorrent distribution site arrested

#260

Post by eggy »

samzub wrote: post #194
eggy wrote: post #145

Aside from the legal technicalities here, I mostly ponder the future of IP. I think Napster positively affected the music distribution world in the long run. I am not very black-and-white on this issue, however, since there are many contradictions by both sides. I read the majority of comments here on HN about dated business models, big corporation dislike, the old executives don't understand the new market, etc...,…

I think the moral difference may lie in the balance of power between the IP holder and IP infringer : In Zara vs indie designer, Zara steal the design and uses its power to distribute and sell it to the whole world. The indie designer cannot compete, or fight. The fact that Zara used her designs will not advertise her own products or make her money (maybe it did after the public outcry, but I guess it will not be the…

I think a power analysis is incorrect here. Zara can and most likely will be held accountable for any illegal acts their lawyers committed by trying to intimidate the indie artist.

I am holding up the simple concept of property rights whether you are a big, and not necessarily bad, company, or you are a struggling moral artist. If you download torrents for any reason, it is still against the IP laws that protect them, even if you are doing it to make a statement. You are in effect against the concept of IP. Now, if you turn around, and call the big company evil or bad, because one of its 20,000 designers lifted a design off of a web site, how do you justify the apparent contradiction or hypocrisy.

I don't say this judgmentally, since I have struggled with this for decades. I buy indie games, donate to worthwhile endeavors when I can, and hope for the same reciprocation. I see the point for change and looking for new ways of doing business that benefit both sides of a deal. After all, the definition of a good bargain or deal is when both parties shake hands after exchanging goods and services, and each feels they received good value in the transaction when walking away.

To be honest, rigorously honest, sometimes demands calling ourselves out on our own contradictions and addressing them. I see to much dancing around the truth to justify what is currently stealing.

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