TorrentSpy Slapped with $110 Million Judgement

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  • Camco
    Confirmed User
    • Feb 2008
    • 137

    #1

    TorrentSpy Slapped with $110 Million Judgement

    About Fucking Time


    TorrentSpy has been ordered to pay a $110 million fine by a federal judge in Los Angeles. The BitTorrent site was found guilty on the charges of copyright infringement of several movie studios represented by the MPAA.

    torrentspyThis default judgment is the result of an ongoing court case between the MPAA and Valence Media, TorrentSpy owner Justin Bunnel?s company, that started early 2006.

    It is uncertain at this point whether TorrentSpy will appeal.

    Unsurprisingly, MPAA?s Dan Glickman was very pleased with the outcome of the case that lasted over two years, as he said:

    ?This substantial money judgment sends a strong message about the illegality of sites. The demise of TorrentSpy is a clear victory for the studios and demonstrates that such pirate sites will not be allowed to continue to operate without facing relentless litigation by copyright holders.?

    ?The claims made by the MPAA in this case don?t stand up to any sort of scrutiny,? says Andrew Norton, head of the US Pirate Party in a response. ?It is also clear that our judicial system urgently needs some unbiased education in modern technical matters, as anyone that has watched this case knows the judge is out of her depth. What chance does justice have in that situation??

    In 2006 TorrentSpy was more popular than any other BitTorrent site, but this changed quickly in August 2007, when a federal judge ordered TorrentSpy to log all user data. The judge ruled that TorrentSpy had to monitor its users in order to create detailed logs of their activities, and hand these over to the MPAA.

    In a response to this decision - and to ensure the privacy of their users - TorrentSpy decided that it was best to block access to all users from the US. This led to a huge decrease in traffic and revenue.

    This was not enough for the MPAA, who argued that TorrentSpy had ignored the court decision. The legal battle continued, and this lead to a preventative closure of the site by Justin, to protect the privacy of its users.

    http://torrentfreak.com/torrentspy-s...illion-080507/
  • munki
    Do Fun Shit.
    • Dec 2004
    • 13393

    #2
    Nuts....

    I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.” -Oscar Wilde

    Comment

    • aico
      Moo Moo Cow
      • Mar 2004
      • 14748

      #3
      Good news for sure.

      Comment

      • Barefootsies
        Choice is an Illusion
        • Feb 2005
        • 42635

        #4
        sweet justice..
        Should You Email Your Members?

        Link1 | Link2 | Link3

        Enough Said.

        "Would you rather live like a king for a year or like a prince forever?"

        Comment

        • sweetcuties
          Confirmed User
          • Feb 2002
          • 5859

          #5
          I've been saying all along... it's just a matter of time before most of these sites are shut down! You can't steal and/or link to other people's work and profit from it, then call it ok... good news all the way around

          Comment

          • »Rob Content«
            Confirmed User
            • Dec 2006
            • 4348

            #6
            So this is what adapting will bring you.. I hope more people around here start adapting.

            80% Revshare or 30$ PPS on $1 trials: 200 Niches = Vidz.com Galleries / FLVs / Embeds
            3 & 5mins FLVs | RSS & Tube Feeds | Matching Thumbs | FLV Browser & Exporter | No Prechecked Xsales
            >> Mobile Redirection Script: mobile.vidz.com also paying 80% net Lifetime << ICQ: 198-394-557


            ICQ - 436 795 438 E-mail rob /@/ cool-content dotcom

            Comment

            • Barefootsies
              Choice is an Illusion
              • Feb 2005
              • 42635

              #7
              Originally posted by VG.Content
              So this is what adapting will bring you.. I hope more people around here start adapting.
              adapting to jail cells.
              Should You Email Your Members?

              Link1 | Link2 | Link3

              Enough Said.

              "Would you rather live like a king for a year or like a prince forever?"

              Comment

              • Klen
                • Aug 2006
                • 32234

                #8
                Big deal.Millions of other torrent sites still here.

                Comment

                • notoldschool
                  Confirmed User
                  • Aug 2007
                  • 5687

                  #9
                  Originally posted by KlenTelaris
                  Big deal.Millions of other torrent sites still here.
                  They are next.
                  No doubt one may quote history to support any cause, as the devil quotes scripture.
                  -- Learned Hand

                  http://www.bjpenn.com

                  Comment

                  • D Ghost
                    null
                    • May 2006
                    • 9819

                    #10
                    dats hardcore

                    Comment

                    • »Rob Content«
                      Confirmed User
                      • Dec 2006
                      • 4348

                      #11
                      Originally posted by KlenTelaris
                      Big deal.Millions of other torrent sites still here.
                      precedence

                      precedence

                      precedence

                      80% Revshare or 30$ PPS on $1 trials: 200 Niches = Vidz.com Galleries / FLVs / Embeds
                      3 & 5mins FLVs | RSS & Tube Feeds | Matching Thumbs | FLV Browser & Exporter | No Prechecked Xsales
                      >> Mobile Redirection Script: mobile.vidz.com also paying 80% net Lifetime << ICQ: 198-394-557


                      ICQ - 436 795 438 E-mail rob /@/ cool-content dotcom

                      Comment

                      • TheDoc
                        Too lazy to set a custom title
                        • Jul 2001
                        • 13827

                        #12
                        hehe, this article is funny - but not as funny as the comments here..

                        This isn't a victory for mpaa, it's what happens when you ignore the courts and do as you wish. It's not like mpaa will ever collect or these guys will ever be in jail.

                        The only thing that this did was tell every American (and millions of others) online what torrent is. It's not like they stopped a single person for using torrent, they just moved and went to another source, that can't be shut down or stopped.

                        Precedence has already been set on cases like this, it's just a 'word' like they to use to make people think they actually have enough power to stop this.

                        Another great example of people spending millions to achieve nothing.
                        ~TheDoc - ICQ7765825
                        It's all disambiguation

                        Comment

                        • marketsmart
                          HOMICIDAL TROLL KILLER
                          • Dec 2004
                          • 20419

                          #13
                          when the piratebay comes down, then you can rejoice...

                          Comment

                          • Doctor Dre
                            Too lazy to set a custom title
                            • Jan 2001
                            • 51692

                            #14
                            Originally posted by sweetcuties
                            I've been saying all along... it's just a matter of time before most of these sites are shut down! You can't steal and/or link to other people's work and profit from it, then call it ok... good news all the way around
                            Or you can just be offshore where US copyright laws don't apply..
                            Originally posted by rayadp05
                            I rebooted, deleted temp files, history, cookies and everything...still cannot view the news clip. All I see is that fucking gay ass music video from "Rick Roll". Anyone else have a different link to the news clip?

                            Comment

                            • Iron Fist
                              Too lazy to set a custom title
                              • Dec 2006
                              • 23400

                              #15
                              Originally posted by marketsmart
                              when the piratebay comes down, then you can rejoice...
                              QFT
                              i like waffles

                              Comment

                              • Socks
                                Confirmed User
                                • May 2002
                                • 8475

                                #16
                                Why isn't the government just pushing to force US based internet hosts to block sites that have been proven in court to be obscenely unlawful (from any country) from being accessed? The US population has already proven they can and will do nothing about anything the government does, and it would be an economic boom you'd think. If the average person just can't get torrents anymore, where would they get it?

                                Comment

                                • Ayla_SquareTurtle
                                  Confirmed User
                                  • Sep 2005
                                  • 3550

                                  #17
                                  google search "iron man filetype:torrent"

                                  Same thing. So I'm not sure how they will ever get rid of torrents or whatever comes after torrents. They seem to be going at it completely wrong.
                                  gone. long gone.

                                  aylasquareturtle .."a"t".. gmail dawt com

                                  Comment

                                  • Camco
                                    Confirmed User
                                    • Feb 2008
                                    • 137

                                    #18
                                    Originally posted by VG.Content
                                    So this is what adapting will bring you.. I hope more people around here start adapting.
                                    Yep adapt and get the fuck sued out of ya

                                    Comment

                                    • Matt 26z
                                      So Fucking Banned
                                      • Apr 2002
                                      • 18481

                                      #19
                                      Funny thread.

                                      Kill torrents, kill piracy forever.

                                      Comment

                                      • kesha1
                                        Confirmed User
                                        • Feb 2008
                                        • 499

                                        #20
                                        They will simply go underground!
                                        SEX IN PUBLIC

                                        JOIN US TODAY

                                        Comment

                                        • woj
                                          <&(©¿©)&>
                                          • Jul 2002
                                          • 47880

                                          #21
                                          Originally posted by marketsmart
                                          when the piratebay comes down, then you can rejoice...
                                          Custom Software Development, email: woj#at#wojfun#.#com to discuss details or skype: wojl2000 or gchat: wojfun or telegram: wojl2000
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                                          • Paul Markham
                                            Too old to care
                                            • Jun 2001
                                            • 52942

                                            #22
                                            Originally posted by Socks
                                            Why isn't the government just pushing to force US based internet hosts to block sites that have been proven in court to be obscenely unlawful (from any country) from being accessed? The US population has already proven they can and will do nothing about anything the government does, and it would be an economic boom you'd think. If the average person just can't get torrents anymore, where would they get it?
                                            How does an illegal site keep a domain?

                                            That's the easiest way to bring down illegal sites enmasse.

                                            I know it brings in freedom of speech issues, but freedom of speech is not freedom to break the law.

                                            Originally posted by kesha1
                                            They will simply go underground!
                                            Sites like TorrentSpy can't they need to advertise to earn the money. I think www.pak-inc.com are looking at ways to profit from suing the uploaders. Adopt the Acacia business model, cheaper to settle than fight.



                                            Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
                                            PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

                                            Comment

                                            • Camco
                                              Confirmed User
                                              • Feb 2008
                                              • 137

                                              #23
                                              Bump....

                                              Comment

                                              • Klen
                                                • Aug 2006
                                                • 32234

                                                #24
                                                Originally posted by notoldschool
                                                They are next.
                                                Most of torrent sites are hosted in CAnada/netherlands/germany where us court cant do anything.

                                                Comment

                                                • JamesK
                                                  hi
                                                  • Jun 2002
                                                  • 16731

                                                  #25
                                                  Originally posted by KlenTelaris
                                                  Most of torrent sites are hosted in CAnada/netherlands/germany where us court cant do anything.
                                                  Yep, there's no way they can stop these guys. They can always go off-shore if they want.
                                                  M3Server - NATS Hosting

                                                  Comment

                                                  • Paparazzi
                                                    Confirmed User
                                                    • Mar 2002
                                                    • 3488

                                                    #26
                                                    Piratebay is next. Warner Brothers, Patalex, MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, Columbia och Mars Media sued them for a total of 120 million SEK (about $20 million). It will be up in court this fall.

                                                    Pure Level(3) Premium Bandwidth
                                                    When Quality Counts

                                                    Comment

                                                    • Jens Van Assterdam
                                                      The Dupre Pimp
                                                      • Feb 2008
                                                      • 6677

                                                      #27
                                                      Originally posted by KlenTelaris
                                                      Most of torrent sites are hosted in CAnada/netherlands/germany where us court cant do anything.
                                                      Originally posted by JamesK
                                                      Yep, there's no way they can stop these guys. They can always go off-shore if they want.
                                                      Because Netherlands and Germany are the big offshore countries..
                                                      Read TOS for signature rules

                                                      Comment

                                                      • Klen
                                                        • Aug 2006
                                                        • 32234

                                                        #28
                                                        Originally posted by Paparazzi
                                                        Piratebay is next. Warner Brothers, Patalex, MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, Columbia och Mars Media sued them for a total of 120 million SEK (about $20 million). It will be up in court this fall.
                                                        Maybe,but they will need to open special division in sweden just for that.

                                                        Comment

                                                        • LB-69
                                                          Confirmed User
                                                          • Nov 2005
                                                          • 1322

                                                          #29
                                                          Good news, fuck torrents..
                                                          ICQ: 58181146



                                                          ExoticGold - 100% Original Transexual Affiliate Program, So Hot, Straight Men Get Sprung!

                                                          Comment

                                                          • Paul Markham
                                                            Too old to care
                                                            • Jun 2001
                                                            • 52942

                                                            #30
                                                            Time to bump good news.



                                                            Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
                                                            PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

                                                            Comment

                                                            • Matt 26z
                                                              So Fucking Banned
                                                              • Apr 2002
                                                              • 18481

                                                              #31
                                                              Originally posted by VG.Content
                                                              precedence

                                                              precedence

                                                              precedence
                                                              There is no precedence in the US yet. That will come when ISOhunt goes to trial. He is not folding like the others did.

                                                              Comment

                                                              • JamesK
                                                                hi
                                                                • Jun 2002
                                                                • 16731

                                                                #32
                                                                Originally posted by Jens Van Assterdam
                                                                Because Netherlands and Germany are the big offshore countries..
                                                                I never said that. I meant they can move somewhere else where they're untouchable. In Netherlands some torrent site owners already got arrested afaik.
                                                                M3Server - NATS Hosting

                                                                Comment

                                                                • GCN
                                                                  Confirmed User
                                                                  • Oct 2007
                                                                  • 8481

                                                                  #33
                                                                  good news

                                                                  Comment

                                                                  • flashfire
                                                                    ICQ 1 6 7 8 5 3 4 9 2
                                                                    • Feb 2003
                                                                    • 13098

                                                                    #34
                                                                    The MPAA isnt getting 110 million...where the hell do they expect it to come from. What an absurd number

                                                                    Comment

                                                                    • potter
                                                                      Confirmed User
                                                                      • Dec 2004
                                                                      • 6559

                                                                      #35
                                                                      Originally posted by TheDoc
                                                                      hehe, this article is funny - but not as funny as the comments here..

                                                                      This isn't a victory for mpaa, it's what happens when you ignore the courts and do as you wish. It's not like mpaa will ever collect or these guys will ever be in jail.
                                                                      Exactly.


                                                                      Originally posted by Ayla_SquareTurtle
                                                                      google search "iron man filetype:torrent"

                                                                      Same thing. So I'm not sure how they will ever get rid of torrents or whatever comes after torrents. They seem to be going at it completely wrong.
                                                                      Exactly.

                                                                      Everyone who thinks if the MPAA won a court case against torrentspy for hosting a search engine would be a good thing. You're far off your rocker. If it became possible, in the court of law, to make it illegal to simply provide a service showing you were and how to find something. The entirety of the internet would go under scrutiny. Just think about the people in power right now, and the bat shit insane agendas or legislation against the adult industry. Can you even wrap your head around the problems we'd face, and every other form of internet media?

                                                                      Trying to take down a search engine. It blows my mind when I see backwards ass politics attacking a problem completely wrong. It's crazier to witness the people who thrive and conduct business online. Trying to say making a search engine illegal would benefit the online world. It would be a disaster, plain and simple.

                                                                      Now I'm not trying to defend torrents, or torrentspy. I'm simply saying anyone who's rooting for the mpaa is a fucking moron.

                                                                      Comment

                                                                      • Paul Markham
                                                                        Too old to care
                                                                        • Jun 2001
                                                                        • 52942

                                                                        #36
                                                                        Originally posted by flashfire
                                                                        The MPAA isnt getting 110 million...where the hell do they expect it to come from. What an absurd number
                                                                        Think about what it cost to lose this case. A good warning to anyone else who thinks running a Torrent search engine is a key to make millions. You could find yourself bankrupted in court.

                                                                        As for the nay sayers, got a better solution then please tell us all.



                                                                        Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
                                                                        PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

                                                                        Comment

                                                                        • gideongallery
                                                                          Confirmed User
                                                                          • Aug 2003
                                                                          • 7082

                                                                          #37
                                                                          i am interested in how this goes down on appeal
                                                                          the court ruled against torrentspy becuase they mpaa argued they were destroying evidence and therefore had to be guilty.

                                                                          The problem is destroying evidence was the act of blocking access from the states.

                                                                          The purpose of which was to not have the information they were required to give up.

                                                                          the arguement can be made by blocking access they not only not have the infromation but they reduced the number of potential infringers to zero. Since the purpose of the court order was to obtain information about infringement and not to deliberately violate the privacy rights of non infringing/ non jurisdictional use, that act was a legitimate method of complying with the order (just like microsoft giving a broken version of windows 98, to comply with the doj court order-- as was established on appeal)

                                                                          “When crimes occur through the mail, you don’t shut the post office down,” Steve Wozniak

                                                                          Comment

                                                                          • Dirty Dane
                                                                            Sick Fuck
                                                                            • Feb 2004
                                                                            • 9491

                                                                            #38
                                                                            Fines will not stop it. It won't be stopped until there are international laws/agreements where domain supplier is obligated to shut down domain and/or ISPs are obligated to shut down the servers. Besides the problems with processing and practising such international rules, new technology will arise, and here we go again.

                                                                            The real problem is not really the suppliers of such websites or programs, but the fact that ordinary people are stealing, and they do not really worry or care...until they get caught.

                                                                            Comment

                                                                            • Nishville
                                                                              So Fucking Banned
                                                                              • Jan 2008
                                                                              • 284

                                                                              #39
                                                                              Good news indeed.

                                                                              Comment

                                                                              • Brad
                                                                                Confirmed User
                                                                                • Jan 2007
                                                                                • 2510

                                                                                #40
                                                                                You'd think we would have learned something from Napster. There is no way to stop piracy on the internet. When one avenue is closed a new one emerges. There are too many people here and they are only getting smarter.
                                                                                Affiliate Manager/Media Buyer
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                                                                                Comment

                                                                                • Paul Markham
                                                                                  Too old to care
                                                                                  • Jun 2001
                                                                                  • 52942

                                                                                  #41
                                                                                  Originally posted by Dirty Dane
                                                                                  Fines will not stop it. It won't be stopped until there are international laws/agreements where domain supplier is obligated to shut down domain and/or ISPs are obligated to shut down the servers. Besides the problems with processing and practising such international rules, new technology will arise, and here we go again.

                                                                                  The real problem is not really the suppliers of such websites or programs, but the fact that ordinary people are stealing, and they do not really worry or care...until they get caught.
                                                                                  And there is the key.

                                                                                  As for appeal, these guys are bankrupt. Who will pay for an appeal?



                                                                                  Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
                                                                                  PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

                                                                                  Comment

                                                                                  • flashfire
                                                                                    ICQ 1 6 7 8 5 3 4 9 2
                                                                                    • Feb 2003
                                                                                    • 13098

                                                                                    #42
                                                                                    Originally posted by Paul Markham
                                                                                    Think about what it cost to lose this case. A good warning to anyone else who thinks running a Torrent search engine is a key to make millions. You could find yourself bankrupted in court.

                                                                                    As for the nay sayers, got a better solution then please tell us all.
                                                                                    so you agree the MPAA isnt getting shit

                                                                                    Comment

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