U.S. shuts down network that leaked 'Star Wars' - GoFuckYourself.com

JJ Gold · 05-25-2005, 03:47 PM

http://www.elitetorrents.org/

U.S. shuts down network that leaked 'Star Wars'

17 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. law enforcers said on Wednesday that they have shut down a computer network that distributed illegal copies of "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" before it appeared in movie theaters.
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Federal agents executed 10 search warrants and seized the main server computer in a network that allowed people to download nearly 18,000 movies and software programs, including many current releases, the
FBI and Homeland Security Department said.

The Elite Torrents network, found online at www.elitetorrents.org, relied on a technology called BitTorrent that allows users to quickly download digital movies and other large files by copying them from many computers at once.

The network signed up 133,000 members who collectively downloaded 2.1 million files, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division of the Homeland Security Department.

Visitors to the Web site on Wednesday saw a notice that read, "This site has been permanently shut down by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement."

The raid targeted administrators of the network and those who provided movies and other copyrighted material. Similar cases in the past have found that such "first providers" are typically entertainment-industry insiders, rather than outside hackers.

Agents executed search warrants in Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kansas, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. No arrests have been made, but the investigation continues, ICE spokeswoman Jamie Zuieback said.

Elite Torrents offered a "virtually unlimited" selection of material, ICE said. The latest Star Wars movie was available on the network more than six hours before it was first shown in theaters, and within 24 hours it was copied more than 10,000 times.

The Motion Picture Association, an industry group, helped with the investigation, ICE said. Movie studios are trying to avoid the fate of the music industry, which claims it has lost hundreds of millions of dollars worth of sales due to online file sharing.

Digital movies are about 50 times larger than music files, which makes them more cumbersome to download. New technologies like BitTorrent, however, and increased high-speed Internet use are closing the gap.

The MPAA has managed to shut down at least five BitTorrent networks through lawsuits and has also sued individuals who use them.

BitTorrent networks have caused headaches for software makers as well. Apple Computer Inc has sued three men for posting the latest version of its OS X operating system on a BitTorrent site six months before it was commercially released.

Brujah · 05-25-2005, 03:53 PM

They cheated George Lucas out of millions! Revenge of the Sith only broke the 1st day opening record by $2 million ( making $50 million ) when it could've done SO MUCH BETTER! Damn them.

JJ Gold · 05-25-2005, 03:54 PM

Should the MPAA treat file sharing systems the way that many website owners treat password sharing sites?

JSA Matt · 05-25-2005, 03:55 PM

http://www.vcdquality.com/index.php?...ample&id=52313

woohoo! the russians are on the ball

Paraskass · 05-25-2005, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brujah

They cheated George Lucas out of millions! Revenge of the Sith only broke the 1st day opening record by $2 million ( making $50 million ) when it could've done SO MUCH BETTER! Damn them.

LOL

fuck george lucas up the ass.

JSA Matt · 05-25-2005, 03:59 PM

definately sucks for anyone that was using that torrent site, you've now made homeland securities "list", congrats!

this is why I don't use torrents...

chronic avenger · 05-25-2005, 03:59 PM

didnt the movie make 158million for the weekend.

azguy · 05-25-2005, 04:01 PM

The domain is pointing to an IP that belongs to...

68.21.31.192.in-addr.arpa. 14400 IN PTR www.dhs.gov.

Serious shit.

DWB · 05-25-2005, 04:08 PM

yikes...

Gottis · 05-25-2005, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azguy

The domain is pointing to an IP that belongs to...

68.21.31.192.in-addr.arpa. 14400 IN PTR www.dhs.gov.

Serious shit.

Not only did you lose a BitTorrent site but that site has the "Significant Risk of Terrorist Attacks" sign up.

warez · 05-25-2005, 04:29 PM

movie is for nerds

smack · 05-25-2005, 04:31 PM

why the fuck is the department of homeland security handling this?

TDF · 05-25-2005, 04:31 PM

elite torrents werent the one that broke the release

College Downtime · 05-25-2005, 04:32 PM

thats crazy shit

Vitasoy · 05-25-2005, 04:33 PM

The movie is all spreaded now over networks.

05-25-2005, 03:47 PM	#1
JJ Gold Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,969	U.S. shuts down network that leaked 'Star Wars' http://www.elitetorrents.org/ U.S. shuts down network that leaked 'Star Wars' 17 minutes ago WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. law enforcers said on Wednesday that they have shut down a computer network that distributed illegal copies of "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" before it appeared in movie theaters. ADVERTISEMENT Federal agents executed 10 search warrants and seized the main server computer in a network that allowed people to download nearly 18,000 movies and software programs, including many current releases, the FBI and Homeland Security Department said. The Elite Torrents network, found online at www.elitetorrents.org, relied on a technology called BitTorrent that allows users to quickly download digital movies and other large files by copying them from many computers at once. The network signed up 133,000 members who collectively downloaded 2.1 million files, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division of the Homeland Security Department. Visitors to the Web site on Wednesday saw a notice that read, "This site has been permanently shut down by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement." The raid targeted administrators of the network and those who provided movies and other copyrighted material. Similar cases in the past have found that such "first providers" are typically entertainment-industry insiders, rather than outside hackers. Agents executed search warrants in Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kansas, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. No arrests have been made, but the investigation continues, ICE spokeswoman Jamie Zuieback said. Elite Torrents offered a "virtually unlimited" selection of material, ICE said. The latest Star Wars movie was available on the network more than six hours before it was first shown in theaters, and within 24 hours it was copied more than 10,000 times. The Motion Picture Association, an industry group, helped with the investigation, ICE said. Movie studios are trying to avoid the fate of the music industry, which claims it has lost hundreds of millions of dollars worth of sales due to online file sharing. Digital movies are about 50 times larger than music files, which makes them more cumbersome to download. New technologies like BitTorrent, however, and increased high-speed Internet use are closing the gap. The MPAA has managed to shut down at least five BitTorrent networks through lawsuits and has also sued individuals who use them. BitTorrent networks have caused headaches for software makers as well. Apple Computer Inc has sued three men for posting the latest version of its OS X operating system on a BitTorrent site six months before it was commercially released.

05-25-2005, 03:53 PM	#2
Brujah Beer Money Baron Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: brujah / gmail Posts: 22,157	They cheated George Lucas out of millions! Revenge of the Sith only broke the 1st day opening record by $2 million ( making $50 million ) when it could've done SO MUCH BETTER! Damn them. __________________ Free Premium Domain Lists and Tools at Clickmojo.com For Sale: Obscenity.com

05-25-2005, 03:59 PM	#7
chronic avenger Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: C.A. All Day Posts: 2,509	didnt the movie make 158million for the weekend. __________________ \| Sexxy Toons \| Blog Designs \| Icq 333676510

05-25-2005, 04:31 PM	#12
smack Push Porn Like Weight. Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Inside .NET Posts: 10,652	why the fuck is the department of homeland security handling this? __________________ Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.

05-25-2005, 04:31 PM	#13
TDF Triple OG nigga on GFY Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: in the BP4L family compound Posts: 27,296	elite torrents werent the one that broke the release __________________ Sig heil

05-25-2005, 03:54 PM	#3
JJ Gold Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,969	Should the MPAA treat file sharing systems the way that many website owners treat password sharing sites?

05-25-2005, 03:55 PM	#4
JSA Matt So Fucking Banned Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 5,464	http://www.vcdquality.com/index.php?...ample&id=52313 woohoo! the russians are on the ball

05-25-2005, 04:01 PM	#8
azguy Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 5,167	The domain is pointing to an IP that belongs to... 68.21.31.192.in-addr.arpa. 14400 IN PTR www.dhs.gov. Serious shit.

05-25-2005, 04:08 PM	#9
DWB Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Encrypted. Access denied. Posts: 31,779	yikes...

05-25-2005, 04:29 PM	#11
warez Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 106	movie is for nerds

05-25-2005, 04:32 PM	#14
College Downtime Confirmed User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 557	thats crazy shit __________________ College Downtime.com

05-25-2005, 04:33 PM	#15
Vitasoy GFY HALL OF FAME DAMMIT!!! Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 58,202	The movie is all spreaded now over networks. __________________ [email protected]