UK Now Seizing Music Blogs (With American Domains) Over Copyright Claims

from the how-nice dept

Last year, we wrote about how the UK was following in the footsteps of the US's Homeland Security/ICE domain seizures. As we noted, the process there is even less rigorous than in the US -- often without a court being involved at all. Law enforcement just had to ask, and Nominet would take down the domain. Still, we hadn't heard about any specific domains that were seized -- and we hadn't heard of any non-Nominet (which handle .co.uk domains) being subject to UK claims.

Until now.

Dajaz1 -- who, of course, had its own issues with bogus domain seizures -- has a story up about how the site rnbxclusive.com appears to have been seized via UK law enforcement, who put up a splash page even more ridiculous (though with fewer eagles) than the ICE splash page:
The site, like many music blogs, did post various videos and commentary about new music. Perhaps some were infringing, but you'd think that there would be a trial first. This takedown is apparently happening via SOCA, the Serious Organized Crime Agency in the UK -- who, amusingly, puts a copyright symbol on their takedown splash page. There are all sorts of issues to be raised here.
  1. First and foremost, as mentioned, this is the first time we've heard of a foreign country seizing a .com -- which the US DOJ/DHS appear to claim as their own jurisdiction. While perhaps this was done in concert with US law enforcement, it seems pretty questionable that the US would allow what they insist are "domestic" domains to be seized by foreign countries. Think of the precedent that sets for... say... Iran. The operators of the site appear to have been in the UK, so that may be the reasoning behind this, but it still raises significant jurisdictional questions about just who can seize a .com.
  2. Second, the big red warning at the top is insane. Merely downloading music wouldn't be a criminal offense with a possibility of 10 years imprisonment. While I'm not as familiar with the differences between civil and criminal infringement when it comes to UK copyright law, I believe it's not that different than the US, where merely downloading is going to be civil, not criminal. A quick review of UK law suggests that it can only be a criminal issue if it's done at commercial scale, and doesn't seem to apply at all to personal downloads. In fact, the UK explicitly fought the idea of expanding criminal sanctions to file sharing. So, SOCA is basically lying.
  3. Next, the splash page claims that the music was "stolen" from artists. While the copies may be infringing, it's doubtful that the music was literally stolen.
  4. The scare tactic of displaying your IP address and pretending that this suggests they're coming after any visitor to the site. This is, again, insane. The RIAA tried this years ago when it got the Grokster site and it was just as silly then as it is now. Merely visiting a site is not breaking the law, and splashing your IP address next to a message suggesting visitors are about to be put in jail is insane hyperbole.
  5. Further, claiming that SOCA has the ability to "monitor" you is also an exaggeration. While it may be able to monitor certain transactions, it seems to be implying that it's watching your every move.
  6. Claiming that "young, emerging artists may have had their careers damaged" because of this site is pretty silly. Most young, emerging artists are actively leaking their works to such sites so they can emerge. They know that obscurity is a much bigger threat than piracy ever was or will be.
  7. Saying that downloading music means you have (absolutley) "damaged the future of the music industry" is again insane hyperbole. The music industry has continued to grow pretty consistently over the past decade. It's just one segment -- the direct sales of music -- that has stumbled, and that was the part that rarely pays artists very much anyway.
This whole thing is pretty crazy, and I'm surprised such blatant censorship by UK law enforcement of a "US" domain hasn't received more attention yet.
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Filed Under: copyright, criminal infringement, domain seizures, domains, soca, uk, us
Companies: rnbxclusive


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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:47am

    Wonder if they'll actually be investigating the IPs of computers that visit the site now that it's taken down. If so, wonder what their reaction will be when they see a couple hundred hits coming from a Canadian government institution once I'm done opening it on every computer here.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Richard (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:54am

      Re:

      Doubt it. Then they'd have to engage in the well known fact that an IP does not an individual identify. Not that they'd let something so trivial as the facts get in the way.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Machin Shin (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:57am

      Re:

      This is the kind of page Anonymous needs to use their tools to launch DDOS attacks on. Just suddenly flood their logs with so many IP addresses from all over the world that they have no way of making any sense of it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      JakeDaynes (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:57am

      Re:

      Set a script to run tonight on my company's computers - just over 250 of them will open the site tonight :)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 4:59pm

      Re:

      No worries, it's a bunch of bullshit either way. I'm also at a CDN uni visiting the page multiple times (with multiple user-agents), not for the same purpose as you, for amusement.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 20 Feb 2012 @ 7:34am

      Re:

      lol waste of time

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:55am

    LMAO @ Pirate Mike trying to FUD this out as much as possible without even having basic facts. We all know that you don't actually need the facts to form your opinions. Working backwards certainly simplifies life, doesn't it, chubby?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Spaceboy (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:57am

      Re:

      And we all know you don't need the facts to seize domains either. This will just drive people to non-US domains.

      LOL @ AC.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:04pm

      Re:

      Wait, is this a genuine troll or an ironic fake troll? I can't tell.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:10pm

        Re: Re:

        Yeah, it's hard to tell these days - so I just assume they're all fake. Occam's razor suggests that there are too few people this stupid for them to be real more often than not.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:21pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Occam's Razor didn't take into account corporate executives, lawyers, and politicians.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:24pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Yeah it is a fake troll.
          "you don't actually need the facts to form your opinions"
          a real troll would not have used that phrasing.

          A real troll would have used what the below AC said
          "What you are missing Mike is this is the knock on effects of piracy at the basic level....Do you honestly think that this site was legal? Are you suggesting that law enforcement should NOT go after a pirate site in the same manner that it would go after a pirate selling product on the street or at a flea market, example?"

          The fake troll only insulted Mike once and made no real attacks against the article. The real troll on the other hand only insinuates that Mike does not know anything. Also completely misses the point that it is a foreign entity seizing an "America" domain. Which is the point, this brings the internet into a dangerous state where it is limited by the strictest laws. So much for the freedom of expression.


          You are next.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:31pm

      Re:

      Why did people "report" this post? There was no vulgar language, no racial bias, nothing that should have triggered anyone to report that comment. It appears that you censor those views that oppose your own. That is exactly what censorship is. If you censor this guys comment you have no business bitching about SOPA/PIPA taking sites down.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:39pm

        Re: Re:

        When "taking sites down" means the site doesn't come up, but a button to show this site is there instead and when you press it you can access the site anyway I believe you will find people being a lot more sanguine about sites being "taken down"

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Another AC, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:42pm

        Re: Re:

        I am pretty sure it is still there since i clicked it to unhide it. This simply gives the people the option of reading the BS or not.

        Plus last I checked Techdirt was a private entity that can choose to censor or not censor as they please, you always have the ability to go to another forum to state your opinion.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        The Groove Tiger (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:00pm

        Re: Re:

        I'm pretty sure yelling "FUD! PirateMike! And and and you're slighy above your ideal weight!" doesn't qualify as a "view", and that you think it does says a lot more about you than it does about whoever "censored" it as the piece of sad and ineffectual trolling it is.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:33pm

        Re: Re:

        Why did people "report" this post? There was no vulgar language, no racial bias, nothing that should have triggered anyone to report that comment. It appears that you censor those views that oppose your own. That is exactly what censorship is. If you censor this guys comment you have no business bitching about SOPA/PIPA taking sites down.

        I love the irony as well. Pirate Mike can't stand the thought of censorship when someone else does it, but then he has censorship buttons built in to the comments section for users to censor posts with. What a fucking idiot.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Almost Anonymous (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:41pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          First world censorship: I have to click a button to see the comment, waaah.

          All other worlds censorship: Shit is just GONE. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200, cause that shit is in Alcatraz, and it will never be seen again.

          See the difference?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          The eejit (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:07pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Well, considering it's the community that flagged it...

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:35pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Oh, I see. Freedom of Speach, unless someone says something you don't like. "I may disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:45pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              nobody stopped anyone from saying it, they just flagged it as being pointless, which indeed it is.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              G Thompson (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 7:34pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              What Freedom of Speech?

              Last I heard TechDirt was NOT a part of the US Congress which most likely makes Congress extremely happy.

              Under your own Constitution only Congress and by extension the State cannot breach First Amendment rights. Private entities on the other hand have absolutely no obligation to let you spout anything and if you do they can ask you to leave, if you don't well Trespass laws are there for a reason!

              As for the flagging of the comment This is self reporting by the actual community of Techdirt that is taking responsibility and ownership of their community and reporting on behaviours that they find distasteful and sometimes obnoxious.

              Personally I think the hiding of it makes no sense and there should be a separate button that allows a troll symbol to appear (maybe the whole post highlighted in dull red would work too, with a counter on how many think it's a wrongful post. That way people can see and make up their own minds.

              But stating that you have a Freedom to speak whatever you want in a private forum is not only wrong it shows your ignorance towards your own constitution.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              silverscarcat (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 7:56pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              I thought you weren't part of the United States.

              Or was that some other Anonymous Coward who was bashing the United States in another thread and stating "the best thing about America is that I don't live there."?

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • icon
                The eejit (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 1:30am

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                No, that was me. Posting from my phone. As my phone hates TD. Maybe it knows something I don't?

                link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              BeeAitch (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 10:40pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              Censor this, troll: FUCK OFF!

              Also: Freedom of Speach?

              Lern 2 spel (or,at the very least, to spellcheck, MORON).

              link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        JMT (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:55pm

        Re: Re:

        While I agree there was no need to report this comment, hiding it under one click it NOT censorship, not even close.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:37pm

        Re: Re:

        I hope that you get to learn what censorship is first hand, so you can then learn to tell the difference.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 4:18pm

        Re: Re:

        It doesn't matter whether there's vulgar language or not. I'll click "report" as soon as I see silly name-calling, whatever the opinion stated.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 4:25pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Of course you do. That you guys don't see the irony is priceless. The echo chamber that is Techdirt will never change. Dissenting views are most unwelcome, no matter how the opinion is presented. And Mike NEVER FUCKING EVER actually debates opposers like me. Whatcha scared of, Mikey?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 5:08pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            What's to debate? Other than the fact that the first thing you did was to "LMAO"?

            Weren't you supposed to become magically unanonymous?

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Torg (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 5:44pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Note how many posts featuring dissenting opinions have not been flagged. Don't pretend that covering your nonsense in any way reflects Techdirt's attitude towards reasoned discourse.
            Note that the post you're complaining about is accessible with a single mouse click. Even given how idiotic your post was, it hasn't been removed and indeed remains easily accessible.
            I'm not sure what you mean when you say Mike never debates "opposers like you", as I've seen him refute some pretty stupid posts. Granted yours are pretty near the bottom of the heap, but that you've actually been reported for your stupidity should be validation enough.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            G Thompson (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 7:42pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Mike has most likley barely enough time in a day to investigate, check and then write the amount of posts that appear (I'm hoping he has minions that do some work) each day on TechDirt and also run another company, plus reading comments and replying when he can and then spending time with his family. When he gets to sleep is beyond me.

            And with all this you expect him to debate some wag who opposes the vast majority of everything that is posted here and can't even take the time to make up a pseudonym AND STICK WITH IT, but need to instead whine and sob about "Mikey wont play with me"

            Needy much?

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 10:41pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            That you don't understand the meaning of irony is fairly priceless too.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 10:43pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              Although it comes second to you not understanding the meaning of censorship.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            BeeAitch (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 10:43pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Opposers, like who, ANONYMOUS Coward?

            Grow some balls and register an account.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            techflaws.org (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 3:26am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Whatcha scared of, Mikey?

            Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you to his level and beat you with experience.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        TtfnJohn (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 6:20pm

        Re: Re:

        For all that you can complain about censorship there's still a button or link to click on which reveals the "censored" comment. Mostly I click on then to get either a good chuckle or a belly laugh. This one was low chuckle grade, by the way.

        Depending on the issue being discussed it's a near run between AC trolls saying nasty, silly and ignorant things about the post or Mike or all of us and the posts actually discussing the post.

        So it's hard to say that Techdirt censors views that are different than Techdirt's. Almost impossible, in fact.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        PaulT (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 12:55am

        Re: Re:

        The report button says "report this comment as abusive, spam, trollish, or otherwise inappropriate". He's a troll.

        "If you censor this guys comment you have no business bitching about SOPA/PIPA taking sites down."

        Hiding a comment is exactly the same as taking an entire domain off the internet with no recourse to its owner nor due process in a court of law, even if legal in its country of business. Gotcha.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Duke (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:55am

    I knew that the IFPI were getting cosy with UK law enforcement (particularly the City of London Police, who are indirectly controlled by local businesses, including the IFPI), but I thought that was just over advertisers and blocking payment providers.

    That said, Nominet has been working semi-secretly (under pressure from police forces) to implement a domain-name seizure process, but that would only apply to .uk domain names. For SOCA (basically the UK's FBI, but not nearly as old or powerful) to decide to shut down a site... without a trial (I assume), is quite a step.

    One wonders why the Hollywood studios bothered taking BT (and now TalkTalk) to court to get Newzbin blocked, if they could just set SOCA on it.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Duke (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:32pm

      Music being stolen

      Also, if it helps, downloading is definitely not "theft" or "stealing" in the UK; there are a couple of cases (one from the House of Lords) which ruled that information (i.e. a song) can't be property.

      Also, for those interested, the relevant laws on criminal copyright infringement are s107 and s198 of the CDPA 1988, although it seems the site operators have been arrested for Fraud (despite there being case law going against them - the OiNK trial).

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:56am

    What you are missing Mike is this is the knock on effects of piracy at the basic level.

    The music is "ripped" from CD or other sources. It becomes a pirate copy, posted on a file locker or streaming audio site. The blogs, intentionally or not embed it into their sites. If the original songs were not pirated and put up, the blogs themselves would likely never actually rip and publish.

    They are operating on the (dangerous) principal that "the other guy" has the rights to put the music up, so they are working from it.

    Simple question: Do you honestly think these blogs had a license or were paying licensing fees to distribute music or have musical performance on their sites?

    I don't think so.

    Example?

    "01. Sean Paul – Got 2 Luv U (Feat. Alexis Jordan)
    02. Eminem & Royce Da 59 Ft Bruno Mars – Lighters
    03. Brandy – I Don’t Care
    04. QWOTE F. RICK ROSS – I WANT YOU
    05. Drake – Marvins Room
    06. Wynter Gordon – Rumba (feat. Kevin Mccall)
    07. Verse Simmonds Ft. Kelly Rowland – Boo Thang
    08. Kelly Rowland Feat. Busta Rhymes, Fabolous & Trey Songz – Motivation (Remix)
    09. Rebstar ft. Drake & Rock City – Good Life (Prod. Boi-1da & T-Minus)
    10. Tyga feat. Chris Brown – Snapback Back
    11. Joe Jonas – See No More
    12. DJ Khaled ft Fabolous, Jadakiss & Mary J Blige – It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over (No Tags)
    13. Beyonce – Dance For You
    14. Corey Chorus – Stumblin
    15. Git Fresh – Jump Off (Prod. by Blackout) (Official Version)
    16. DJ Noodles – Everyday Allday (Dirty)
    17. Pitbull – Took My Love (Feat. Red Foo, Vein & David Rush)
    18. David Guetta Ft. Taio Cruz & Ludacris – Little Bad Girl (Mastered)
    19. Jackie Boyz – Memory (feat. Christina Milian)
    20. Jagged Edge – When The Bed Shakes

    Download
    View the full tracklist and download links by clicking the link below.
    Read the rest of this entry »

    Do you honestly think that this site was legal? Are you suggesting that law enforcement should NOT go after a pirate site in the same manner that it would go after a pirate selling product on the street or at a flea market, example?

    Is online that special that the laws just don't apply?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      E. Zachary Knight (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:00pm

      Re:

      Do you have any proof aside from conjecture that the site is illegal?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:05pm

        Re: Re:

        Does it really matter.

        The biggest issue here is not that the operators were apparently arrested, not even that the site is no longer available, it's servers may well have been in the jurisdiction.

        It's the bizarre claims on the page.

        Personally, I'm kind of hoping it's some kind of attention attracting scam, because if it's real then law enforcement's understanding of the law is so weak it's scary.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:10pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Okay, well I just called SOCA
          http://www.soca.gov.uk/news/press-office-contacts
          and the person who answered did confirm that the rnbxclusive.com warning page claiming to be from SOCA is genuine.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:33pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            PS dont call the press office, they only want to talk to the press. there is a number for members of the general public also. I happened to call the wrong number.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:20pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          I don't know if there's any point in me trying to post this again, the last one seems to have got caught up in moderation.

          I contacted SOCA, to get confirmation that the rnbxclusive.com warning was genuinely from SOCA and they did confirm that it was.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:46pm

        Re: Re:

        Maybe I should try again.
        Other posts go through, but each time I try this one, it seems to get held in moderation.

        I contacted SOCA, rang the wrong number actually and called the press office rather than the number for the general public.

        I wanted to just get confirmation that they warning on the site did in fact come from SOCA, they confirmed that it did.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          nasch (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 8:01am

          Re: Re: Re:

          Other posts go through, but each time I try this one, it seems to get held in moderation.

          "Held in moderation" doesn't mean "post three more times in hopes of getting through right away" it means "wait for the moderator to post it, because it's not spam and he will let it through".

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 7 Mar 2012 @ 8:50am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Yes, true, but I thought perhaps there was some word or other that I used that was getting it caught up and I believed that it was important information and helpful to the discussion, that SOCA had confirmed that the holding page was indeed theirs and not a scam or publicity seeking device by others.
            You should note that the wording was different in each of the posts in an attempt to discover what was tripping the moderation trap.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:01pm

      Re:

      What the legality of the website in question has to do with jurisdiction issues raised?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike Masnick (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:03pm

      Re:

      Do you honestly think that this site was legal?

      Not making any statement about whether or not the site was legal, but it at least deserves its day in court before its censored, don't you think?

      Either way the claims that visiting the site could get you 10 years in jail is complete bullshit.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        :Lobo Santo (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:10pm

        Re: Re: Present Tense

        Either way the claims that visiting the site could get you 10 years in jail is, as the laws presently stand, complete bullshit.

        FTFY
        ;-P

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
        identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:30pm

        Re: Re:

        Not making any statement about whether or not the site was legal, but it at least deserves its day in court before its censored, don't you think?

        They will get their day in court. It NEVER ceases to amaze me how obsessed you are with the pirates' rights, but you couldn't care less about artists' rights--the very artists you pretend to care about. You're so transparent, it literally makes me sick.

        Either way the claims that visiting the site could get you 10 years in jail is complete bullshit.

        It says: "If you have downloaded music using this website you may have committed a criminal offence which carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine under UK law."

        How is that not true? The link you provided shows a possible 10 year sentence for certain offenses that those who downloaded music from that site might qualify for.

        The real story here is your INCESSANT need to defend pirates at all cost, while showing absolutely no concern for those who are having their rights violated by your pirate friends. You are truly a disgusting human being.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          :Lobo Santo (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:33pm

          Re: Re: Re: Gradient

          3.7 of 5

          Good, could be better. Less transparent logical fallacies would be an improvement. Spacing and italics are good. I look forward to seeing your next bit of work.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          MC, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:36pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          10 years in jail? Dont think so, cos its a civil offence. So mike is right, its clumsy intimidatory bullshit.

          Also who is more disgusting as a person, someone who espouses a view because they believe it or someone who espouses a view because they are paid to? Ill let you think about that one, shill.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:40pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          so you are saying: in order to protect IMAGINARY PROPERTY RIGHTS, it is ok to violate HUMAN RIGHTS without due process


          just checking..

          because i too like to shoot first and ask questions later (it's a lot easier that way)

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:05pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            No. Unlike you, I care about everyone's rights. I don't think it's OK for someone--say you--to decide that some rights are worth protecting and some rights can be shit on. Only psychopaths like Mike think that way.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              drew (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:11pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              So you don't hold with due process but Mike's the psychopath? Right. Thanks for clearing that up.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:31pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                So you don't hold with due process but Mike's the psychopath? Right. Thanks for clearing that up.

                Um, no. Of course they get due process. The assumption--which hasn't been proved, but has only be assumed (and assumed without having much if any facts, no less), is that their due process rights were violated. You, nor Mike, can show that they were.

                My point is that Mike will OBSESS about a hypothetical rights violation when it comes to his pirate friends, but he couldn't give a rat's ass about the actual rights violations that pirates do with alarming regularity.

                My conclusion is that Mike is a worthless, pirate-loving sack of shit. YMMV.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • identicon
                  Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:45pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  You are either with us or against us right?

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                • identicon
                  Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:45pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  You are either with us or against us right?

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  The eejit (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:09pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  Actually, when SOCA is definitively not telling the truth with regards to the penalties for criminal infringement, then I have an issue with it.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  PaulT (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 12:58am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  "the actual rights violations that pirates do"

                  You don't have a right to sell your content. If you think something's been taken from you illegally, use the court system.

                  "My conclusion is that Mike is a worthless, pirate-loving sack of shit. "

                  That's a mirror you're launching insults into, be careful.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  drew (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 3:10am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  " The assumption--which hasn't been proved, but has only be assumed (and assumed without having much if any facts, no less), is that their due process rights were violated"

                  Welcome to the wonderful world of community. The site was a blog, complete with comments and interactions from fans and artists (have a shufti at their facebook page, that's still up, apparently Usher is a fan), all of whom have been censored without due process. It's not just the site owners who've been affected.

                  "My conclusion is that Mike is a worthless, pirate-loving sack of shit. YMMV."
                  You're right, my milage does vary, in two years of reading this blog I've never seen Mike endorse illegal file-sharing. What I have seen is him demonstrating more options to minimise its adverse affects than anything from the major rights-holders.
                  All without the need for prior restraint or the presumption of guilt.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  techflaws.org (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 3:30am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  My conclusion is that Mike is a worthless, pirate-loving sack of shit.

                  And who gives a sh!t about you? Tough luck.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                • identicon
                  Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 5:57am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  The point is that by taking down the site prior to any hearing, they are assumed to be guilty. They are being punished /right now/, regardless of guilt or innocence. I find it disgusting that you actually approve of this. You say the artist suffers if the site stays up, but what if the site truly is innocent? Then the artist hasn't suffered in the least. And if it isn't, then the artist recoups via damages, anyways. Leave the site up!

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              drew (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:15pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              In fact, coincidentally this just came up on my twitter feed and shows you exactly what happens when you dump due process: http://richardwilsonauthor.wordpress.com/2012/02/14/trevor-kavanagh-learns-a-hard-lesson-about-human -rights-and-due-process/

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Chosen Reject (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:16pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              So you're saying that we should treat the government-granted right of exclusive control of copying a work the same as the inalienable right to a fair trial? No, of course you're not saying that. What you're really saying is that suspicion of infringement of the government granted right to exclusive control of copying a work is enough to abrogate the inalienable right to a fair trial. And then you have the gall to act like your taking the moral high ground.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              G Thompson (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 7:52pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              The only rights that have to be protected are natural rights, all others are invented to either fulfil some moral (religious) or money/power based agenda.


              And Psychopath? wow.. Ad hominem attacks for you are not subtle at all are they?

              Still needy I see

              link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          silverscarcat (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:43pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Are you SURE that they'll get their day in court?

          Dajaz1 NEVER got a day in court and it took a YEAR before they were given it back without so much as an apology.

          No, we're not defending pirates...

          We're defending people who have been accused.

          Innocent until proven guilty, remember?

          Know what that means?

          Of course you don't, you assume everyone's a pirate and therefore guilty.

          It's better to let a guilty man walk free than put an innocent man behind bars.

          Of course, you can't see that.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:48pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            you cannot rule over innocent men; best to make them all guilty of something

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              :Lobo Santo (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:55pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              "When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, "This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know," the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives. Mighty little force is needed to control a man whose mind has been hoodwinked; contrariwise, no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything — you can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him."
              -Robert Heinlein

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:03pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                The Tyranny of Good Intentions is a pretty good read

                link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          MrWilson, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:42pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          "You're so transparent, it literally makes me sick."

          I'm literally imagining you writhing on the floor in intestinal pain when you say this. I hope Mike continues whatever he's doing if you're literally so susceptible to psychosomatic illness.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          That Anonymous Coward (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:51pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          speaking of rights violated...
          isn't that actually more time than most child molesters get?
          So the rights to imaginary items trumps the rights of children?
          Just to add a little comparison of scale. Heck some people get attempted murder charges with less time, so one might have to actually accept that the alleged "crime" in piracy is being distorted to be much worse than the actual facts.

          I am always amazed at all of this screaming how this is killing the industry, and not one of them is dead yet. Infact they are making even more than before. While they might be keeping their income inflated by screwing the artists over even more and blaming piracy does not actually make the problem piracy. It makes for a nice scapegoat, but if you could bring yourself to look at any outside research not funded and edited for the content industry you would see that piracy isn't the problem.
          It is and remains the fault of a business model bent on ruining itself by not adapting to consumer demand.
          People want to pay for things, despite you crying they all want it for free. People who download things are more often than not consumers denied access to the material they would have gladly paid for. There will always be some people who will download and never purchase, to focus all energy and research in chasing dollars THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU ANYWAYS, means your screwing over the paying customer thinking the grass is always greener if we just jump this fence.

          dajaz1 had a really hard time getting their day in court, then their lawyer was barred from seeing documents. It really is sad that you support the world moving to a police state where media corps get all the rights and the everyone else is guilty until proven innocent. Maybe it is high time we start looking at the record keeping, and contracts used by the industry to make sure they are not using their monopoly status to screw over consumers and artists. If they want to look into all of our communications, it is only fair that they be first to be completely open and transparent.

          The real story here is how without any actual evidence you accept charges as 100% truthful when it has been shown time and time again the content industry lies to get its way and leaves the Government to quietly settle the dust after the fact.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            MrWilson, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:39pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            "So the rights to imaginary items trumps the rights of children?"

            Record executive: "Children don't pay for my Bugatti Veyron."

            link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          A Monkey with Atitude, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:57pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          at this point fuck the artists, fuck the record executives, fuck the music industry, fuck the movie industry... I dont give a shit anymore.

          Really, when you think your "right" to own some ones and zeros trumps my rights to free speech, to due process, to anything and every stupid douche idea in the likes of SOPA/PIPA/ACTA, I stop trying to find any common ground and say FUCK YOU... YOUR RIGHTS DO NOT TRUMP MINE... and until the f-tards come to the table honestly GO BROKE AND GO AWAY! others will find away to replace you,

          The industry's said after Sopa/PIPA "we are listening" and we are going to find out what the "customers" want... yet same shit different day....

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          mike allen (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:27pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          It says: "If you have downloaded music using this website you may have committed a criminal offence which carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine under UK law.

          This cant be true as their is no law in the UK that gives anyone 10 years jail for this offense but the police do like spreading such penalties thick to try to scare people.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:50pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          "They will get their day in court. It NEVER ceases to amaze me how obsessed you are with the pirates' rights, but you couldn't care less about artists' rights--the very artists you pretend to care about. You're so transparent, it literally makes me sick."


          "They will get their day in court. It NEVER ceases to amaze me how obsessed you are with the *internet user* rights, but you couldn't care less about *content providers rights*--the very artists you pretend to care about. You're so transparent, it literally makes me sick."


          You work in politics?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          JMT (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 4:06pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          "It NEVER ceases to amaze me how obsessed you are with the pirates' rights, but you couldn't care less about artists' rights--the very artists you pretend to care about. "

          You're under the mistaken impression that all rights are of equal value. You're wrong. In case you haven't noticed, the public's respect for copyright is at an all-time low and trending downwards. Chalk it up to decades of abuse of copyright laws at the expense of both the public and artists. So spare us your moral indignity, because the rights to free (legal) speech and due process are more important than copyright.

          "You're so transparent, it literally makes me sick."

          Then see a doctor, you have other issues. Ignoring important physical symptoms now could be something you regret later.

          "The real story here is your INCESSANT need to defend pirates at all cost, while showing absolutely no concern for those who are having their rights violated by your pirate friends."

          Actually at no point did Mike defend anyone; the issue was the grossly false info provided by SOCA. But don't let facts spoil your little rant. And it's telling that you have no issue with a government agency using gross exaggerations and outright lies to scare people into compliance. That says a lot about you as a person.

          "You are truly a disgusting human being."

          That you view copyright as being more important than other more fundamental rights, and support government lies, makes me feel something similar about you.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:41pm

        Re: Re:

        Why should they continue to allow an illegal site to continue its illegal activities? They will eventually go to court and if they are found not-guilty they will get the site back.

        Law enforcement seizes things that are used for illegal activities all the time. Think about equipment used in meth labs, or copiers used to counterfit money, or entire buildings for example. This is no different than those other situations. If they are proved not guilty they will get the site back - notice I said "not guilty" the burden of proof is on the prosecution.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          silverscarcat (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:48pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Not all cases go to court...

          "Not enough evidence to support our claims, here's your site back, it's been over a year, no hard feelings, right?"

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 17 Feb 2012 @ 3:30am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            "A man falsely accused of murder went to jail. Abolish all laws against murder".

            lol

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Torg (profile), 17 Feb 2012 @ 5:08am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              The situation here is more "maybe we should've given the guy a trial first, rather than taking his neighbor's word for it".

              link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Gwiz (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:05pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Law enforcement seizes things that are used for illegal activities all the time. Think about equipment used in meth labs, or copiers used to counterfit money, or entire buildings for example. This is no different than those other situations. If they are proved not guilty they will get the site back - notice I said "not guilty" the burden of proof is on the prosecution.

          I understand that this article is about an UK site, but what you described doesn't really happen that way in the US. Law enforcement can use the in rem civil seizure processes to seize your property without ever filing criminal charges against anybody. It then falls to the property owner to prove their own property's innocence in order to have it returned. It basically has turned "innocent until proven guilty" on it's ear because property has no Constitutional rights. It's also become law enforcement's favorite type of fundraising too.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Gwiz (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:10pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            I understand that this article is about an UK site

            Err..oops..I should say this was an action by UK law enforcement since it was a .com.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:20pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          "Why should they continue to allow an illegal site to continue its illegal activities? They will eventually go to court and if they are found not-guilty they will get the site back."


          Good boy, you've been told its illegal, they've given you a *non biased explanation of why THEY think, this should be illegal, and corruption is perfectly acceptable in our governcorps......be proud, you're government loves you, contend providers love you, they want to butt fuck you up the ass, congratulations, for sticking up for those in power, enjoy the butt sex

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          PaulT (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 1:03am

          Re: Re: Re:

          "Why should they continue to allow an illegal site to continue its illegal activities?"

          Call me crazy, but I think that the site should be deemed illegal BEFORE seizure, not be taken down because someone accuses it of wrongdoing. Would you like it if I got the police to come round your workplace, take all the equipment and lock the building just because someone said you were doing something illegal?

          "Think about equipment used in meth labs, or copiers used to counterfit money, or entire buildings for example."

          Meth causes actual harm, and there's no legitimate reason to produce it. Fine. Counterfeiting currency is illegal, has no legitimate purpose and causes demonstrable harm. Fine

          Copying music files? Not so much, and it can be done for numerous legitimate reasons. Therein lies the difference. Try following due process with actual evidence once in a while, you might find more support.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 6:09pm

        Re: Re:

        it at least deserves its day in court before its censored, don't you think?


        No, of course not. If he was capable of thinking, he wouldn't have made the comment.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 17 Feb 2012 @ 3:28am

        Re: Re:

        Not making any statement about whether or not the site was legal

        Because you're a willfully blind douchebag that is too much of a little man to admit he supports piracy.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:03pm

      Re:

      Whack those moles.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:05pm

      Re:

      Which part of the "pirate selling product on the street or at a flea market" did this site mimic?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Rich Kulawiec, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:20pm

      Re:

      Is online that special that the laws just don't apply?

      Maybe. It doesn't exist within any legal jurisdiction, yet it exists within all of them (and in some cases, outside any of them). It has no physical form, although physical objects are used in its operation. It can be replicated ad infinitum. It's a data abstraction, and at any given moment it can be expressed as a (very large) state vector.

      I'm not sufficiently educated in jurisprudence to answer this question fully; but I think it should be on the table for discussion. Many have blithely presumed that the US or the UK or other countries have jurisdiction over the Internet, and I think that presumption should be questioned, explored, debated.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:27pm

      Re:

      Do you honestly think that ANYONE deserves to be prosecuted without due process and without judicial oversight? Really?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:33pm

      Re:

      What you think AC, quite frankly, doesn't matter.

      It's what the facts show. Do you have facts/evidence that they DID NOT pay licensing fees?

      Cause if not, it sort of falls under the "innocent UNTIL proven guilty" thing. Which is kind of the point. The site was just seized under the assumption everything there was illegal. Which kind of ignores due process and all that.

      Also, Mike hasn't suggested any of what you're implying he's suggested. Nor has he stated that this site was legal or not.

      He's merely pointing out the facts as they relate to the message left on the site. Nothing more, nothing less.

      Then, he's pointing out how we can't quite know what was or wasn't going on one way or another without there being some kind of trial where, you know, evidence is presented showing the site was clearing committing copyright infringement or wasn't committing copyright.

      No one's saying online is that special that the laws just don't apply. In fact, point to the contrary, Mike is pointing out that the laws SHOULD still apply, particularly in regards to the claims being made by the message on the site (claims that are in fact, contrary to actual law) and again, due process should be followed entirely before the seizure was made.

      Are you that big a troll that somehow you of all people just know everything that is illegally happening (in regards to copyright infringement) all over the world without actually being presented any facts/evidence? Are you psychic? Can you predict the future? Tomorrow's Wednesday, one of the Lotto nights locally. Can you give me the numbers that are going to come up? Pretty please. Here, if it helps, "Bad ol' Mike! Questioning the legality of such a seizure and pointing out misinformation left behind to scare people. Who do you think you are? Some kind of person who follows and knows the law?! For shame, Mike. For shame." (That last part in quotes is all complete sarcasm on my part, for those who are wondering.)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:55pm

        Re: Re:

        "It's what the facts show. Do you have facts/evidence that they DID NOT pay licensing fees?"

        I went and looked. Most of the stuff they had on their site was on "file locker" sites, or uploaded locally on their site. Clearly, if they were paying a license for the content, they wouldn't be the subject of legal action. I take the legal action as an indication that they MIGHT be operating illegally, and I see nothing on the site to suggest that the music was licensed in any manner.

        "Also, Mike hasn't suggested any of what you're implying he's suggested. Nor has he stated that this site was legal or not."

        What Mike did was pick apart a message by taking it in one way, and in doing so attempt to make a mockery of the legal action taken. Yet, each of the statements made on the site are factual.

        Let's look at Mike's points:

        1 - Seizure of the domain is no different in a legal sense than issuing a warrant to seize a vehicle or other used in a crime. Not much more to it. That it was used to conduct business in the UK should be enough for the deal.

        2 - The big red warning is correct. The maximum penalty under UK law for certain types of copyright violations is 10 years. Mike doesn't like the wording, but it is factual.

        3 - word games. The music was used without license, without permission, etc. "stolen" is a nice word that covers what is a longer explanation. Get over it.

        4 - Displaying the IP is a scare tactic, a clear indication to those who do not realize that they are leaving pretty big footprints everywhere they go.

        5 - SOCA can look at all of the information provided by your browser as it related to that visit, and can correlate that information to any other site that they have access to. So yes, the can monitor your activities as it relates to these sites.

        6 - If young emerging artists are unable to get funding for their releases because the records labels don't have as much money to invest, then yes, their careers can be hurt.

        7 - considering that the music industry is down 58% in sales of recorded music since the dawn of Napster, the argument is pretty easy to support.

        They key here is when you look at most of the items, it's Mike's talking points at work again, trying to justify piracy.

        The problem isn't the SOCA notice. The problem is people making an excuse for piracy.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          silverscarcat (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:03pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          WOAH! WOAH! WOAH!

          What the hell?!

          Music industry is DOWN 58%?!

          Since when?!

          Last I heard, there was more music being made today, more sales all over the place, more artists getting noticed, ect.

          OH, wait, I get it now!

          You're confusing RECORD SALES with total sales such as iTunes, concert sales and other stuff.

          *Rolls up a paper*

          Bad, shill. *Whaps you with the paper* Bad. No cookie after dinner tonight for you, young man. Now go outside and think about the lie you just told.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:05pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            "What the hell?!

            Music industry is DOWN 58%?!

            Since when?!"

            Sales of recorded music, including digital are down 58% since from 2000 to 2009. That includes Itunes, Amazon, and every other legal music retail source out there.

            Concert sales? We have already debunked that one repeatedly, showing how a 4 fold increase in ticket costs for major acts is covering up for the idea of a true increase.

            You know what is bad? Falling for Mike's shit hook line and sinker!

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Gwiz (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:30pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              Sales of recorded music, including digital are down 58% since from 2000 to 2009.

              Yes we know, recorded music sale are down since the FTC charged the labels with illegal price fixing. What does that have to do with supposed illegal websites?

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • icon
                DanZee (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 12:56pm

                Re: Music Sales

                I couldn't listen to any of the music released 2000 to 2009, which were mostly rap and R&B. CD sales have actually picked up when the number of pop albums increased. Artists like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Adele have actually stopped the sales decline!

                link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              The eejit (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:14pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              Correction: ALBUM sales are down 58%. Single songs are up around 35% over the same period. Note, however, that albums generally cost around £7.99 in the UK, whereas most singles are £0.99.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 6:41am

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                eejit, your correction is incorrect.

                I used industry figures for ALL sales of recorded material, singles, albums, and digital downloads. ALL SALES OF RECORDED MATERIALS. No "albums or singles".

                Nice deflection, but incorrect.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              silverscarcat (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:36pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              "You know what is bad? Replying to my shit time and time again."

              Well, I'm glad we agree, shill.

              I'm sorry to say, but you're quite wrong.

              As others have pointed out, time and time again, the only reason "profits" are down is because the RIAA can no longer do the price fixing it wanted to.

              Here's a little history lesson for you, and why people pirate.

              You see, up until Napster, there were a LOT of people who lived in small-to-mid-sized cities across the country. The selection of music and movies was rather small and it was always censored (if it had a lot of swearing in it). Not to mention horribly over-priced.

              However, there was no choice, we couldn't go to their concerts when we wanted to, so we either had to do without and listen to the radio or deal with the RIAA's crap when it came to music.

              Same problem for movies.

              Suddenly, Napster came along...

              And, oh my goodness! Would you look at that, we could get the songs we wanted! We could hear them the way they were meant to be heard! Uncensored!

              Oh! Look at that! There's also tunes from movies and TV series that never got put into an album that I can download and listen to!

              So, think about that, RIAA shill, the next time you bitch about "piracy", remember that for the LONGEST time, we put up with the RIAA's BS and couldn't get what WE wanted.

              Now we can, and you can't stand it, can you?

              Turn about is fair play.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 4:45am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              The sad part is you trying to BS other saying digital is down when we all know and IFPI and RIAA reports that they are growing so which is it? also claiming 58% is just priceless, it says nothing about the reasons it is just down and could be for a lot of reasons, but lets face it, even if your BS is true and piracy is responsible for 58% decline of that freaking industry I still want to know why should I give up due process, free speech and democracy to safeguard them.

              Let them die, for all I care.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 6:43am

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                Aww fuck, another idiot.

                I didn't say digital was down. Where did I say that? I DIDN'T SAY DIGITAL WAS DOWN.

                Fuck me.

                Overall, the sales of recorded music (albums, singles, CDs, physical product, digital product, and all other forms of music sales) are off 58%.

                Any increase in the digital market (which was effectively 0 a decade ago) are not big enough to stem the tide.

                As for your free speech, you always have it. You just exercised it to prove you can't read.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          ComputerAddict (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:19pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          7 - considering that the music industry is down 58% in sales of recorded music since the END OF PRICE FIXING.

          FTFY

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Chosen Reject (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:25pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Clearly, if they were paying a license for the content, they wouldn't be the subject of legal action.Clearly, if someone is innocent, they wouldn't be the subject of legal action.

          Clearly, if dajaz1 was innocent, they wouldn't be the subject of legal action.

          Clearly, if the McMartin family was innocent, they wouldn't be the subject of legal action.

          Clearly, if Interscope Records was innocent of drug trafficking, they wouldn't be the subject of legal action.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 6:48am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Wow, what a logical jump. That people mark it as insightful only goes to show how easily they are mislead.

            If they were licensed, there wouldn't be legal action, because there would not be a complaint.

            That is clear.

            "Clearly, if someone is innocent, they wouldn't be the subject of legal action."

            See, here is how you get it wrong. Clearly, if there is nothing questionable going on, someone might not be subject to a criminal investigation. They might not be brought before a grand jury. The grand jury might not find there is cause for legal action. The legal action may find them... innocent. Are you saying the legal system is defective because not everyone investigated or charged is found guilty?


            dajaz1? A decision not to prosecute doesn't mean there wasn't bad things going on, only no simple legal way to link the bad activities to the site owners specifically.

            The rest of your "clearly" items is an attempt to warp the term. Nice try, tard.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              PaulT (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 7:04am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              "dajaz1? A decision not to prosecute doesn't mean there wasn't bad things going on"

              Ah, so as long as a site is accused of something, they must be guilty, even if not prosecuted?

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Torg (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 7:17am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              The legal system is defective when a potentially innocent website is brought down prior to any of the process you just described. That is called presumption of guilt, and it's not something anyone likes to see in their legal system. If this website turns out to be legitimate, it will have lost whatever business it would've otherwise had during the downtime and any future business from customers who have now found other unblocked websites and are getting into the habit of using those instead. You keep focusing on if it's guilty, but that's simply not how the process is supposed to work.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          stop insulting our intelligence, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:11pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          "I went and looked. Most of the stuff they had on their site was on "file locker" sites, or uploaded locally on their site. Clearly, if they were paying a license for the content, they wouldn't be the subject of legal action. I take the legal action as an indication that they MIGHT be operating illegally, and I see nothing on the site to suggest that the music was licensed in any manner."

          That means absolutely positively nothing. Artists, Managers and even the major labels often send music out to blogs using the very same file lockers. There is absolutely nothing clear about it.

          "3 - word games. The music was used without license, without permission, etc. "stolen" is a nice word that covers what is a longer explanation. Get over it."

          You have no way of knowing this. It's entirely possible they were sent music directly from the labels, artists and representatives. That's for the courts to decide. Issuing the equivalent of the death sentence before you've even been given the opportunity to defend yourself is wrong on every level.

          "6 - If young emerging artists are unable to get funding for their releases because the records labels don't have as much money to invest, then yes, their careers can be hurt."
          Stop It. These labels don't give out budgets like that, they expect you to get hot yourself then they jump on board. Young new artists rely on these type of blogs to get enough of a buzz for the majors to actually work their project and invest in it.

          "7 - considering that the music industry is down 58% in sales of recorded music since the dawn of Napster, the argument is pretty easy to support."

          The music industry is up on every level. The independent music market has risen over 40%. It's down in numbers since they had to stop their illegal pricing practices. All you are doing is spreading unsupported propaganda, and when people don't buy into it you stomp your feet like a 2 year old.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            AnonyYork, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:40pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Your missing some of the point. At the end of the day if someone has been accused of something it is alleged. Thats how the law works in the UK.

            If they commit the crime then you can have your argument as to whether things were stolen or not...until a court has said its so anything you say is alleged or suspected. That is why people are upset with the word stolen in this case.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              The eejit (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:17pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              Nope, it really isn't. The DEA was repealed. AS in, it doesn't exist, legally speaking in the UK. Without a court order pertaining to discovery, SOCA is not legally allowed to do this except for child sex offenses and terrorism.

              And unless Jay-Z had sex with an Islamist kid, that's pretty unlikely.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 6:49pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            The music industry isn't "up on every level".

            Just because a pathological liar like Mike Masnick says so, most certainly doesn't make it true.

            Any working musician, manager, producer, etc. will tell you that the music business is making less money all the way around.

            You pirate types are utter morons. I hope you all get sued or end up in jail.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 7:29pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              "Any working musician, manager, producer, etc. will tell you that the music business is making less money all the way around."

              Bullshit. Several have gone on the record about it stating just the opposite. The artists are fine. It's the gatekeepers losing control that's the issue.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              silverscarcat (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 7:52pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              "Any working musician, manager, producer, etc. will tell you that the music business is making less money all the way around."

              Then how come I keep hearing about artists who are saying that they're doing better and better year after year?

              Oh right, they're reporting about concert sales, which keep getting sold out around the country and around the world, and people buying records from them directly.

              "I'm a complete and utter moron."

              Wow, how truthful of you.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 6:51am

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                "Then how come I keep hearing about artists who are saying that they're doing better and better year after year?"

                [citation needed].

                There is no way to explain how fewer and fewer people attending concerts, venues closing down, and recorded music sales collapsing is making it better overall.

                There will always be exceptional cases. But if the music industry was doing as well as Mike Masnick claims, the US wouldn't be enjoying the 3rd or 4th year of a major recession.

                Something just doesn't add up. Oh, look, it's Mike's numbers. They just don't match up with reality.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  PaulT (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 7:03am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  "There is no way to explain how fewer and fewer people attending concerts, venues closing down, and recorded music sales collapsing is making it better overall."

                  What's the overall losees then? Not the recorded industry, but the industry as a whole? Cite your figures.

                  "But if the music industry was doing as well as Mike Masnick claims, the US wouldn't be enjoying the 3rd or 4th year of a major recession."

                  What? You're asserting that if a single industry is doing well, then there can not possibly be a recession? Are you that stupid?

                  "Something just doesn't add up. Oh, look, it's Mike's numbers. They just don't match up with reality."

                  Cite your version of reality, please.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                • identicon
                  Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 10:33am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  The music industry is one of the SMALLEST in the US. They could be doing 100% better than a decade ago, and it wouldn't be affecting the recession in the slightest. God, do you really think they run the economy for us??

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 1:15am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              >You pirate types are utter morons. I hope you all get sued or end up in jail.

              Go back to TorrentFreak, Anon.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          PaulT (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 1:11am

          Re: Re: Re:

          "Most of the stuff they had on their site was on "file locker" sites, or uploaded locally on their site."

          So?

          "I take the legal action as an indication that they MIGHT be operating illegally"

          Which is exactly the objection being raised, dumbass. The RIAA has attacked people for uploading content they asked them to upload in the first place in the past. Their say-so is not good enough to shut competitors down.

          "They key here is when you look at most of the items, it's Mike's talking points at work again, trying to justify piracy. "

          Yet again, you have to lie and distort.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 3:18am

          Re: Re: Re:

          "I went and looked."

          Who gives a shit what YOU looked at, boy.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:36pm

      Re:

      So you be willing to attest and punish someone on the "belief" that something must be illegal instead of seeking due process?

      I see now, we don't need the justice system we just need your word because you said somebody is a criminal everybody else should just accept that as the truth right?

      Here is what happens, eventually you type of people just screw up and keep screwing up until everybody is pissed.
      http://boingboing.net/2012/02/13/white-grandfather-detained-cu.html

      It looks illegal but is it really illegal?
      You can't answer that.

      Just like the cops arresting a grandfather on suspicion of child kidnapping because he is white and his granddaughter is black.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:31pm

      Re:

      "the blogs themselves would likely never actually rip and publish."

      The blogs don't "rip and publish".
      They link.
      Are you technologically-illiterate as well as generally-stupid, boy?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      TtfnJohn (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 6:24pm

      Re:

      Just what information do you have that the site and the songs there were/are illegal?

      You want to assume that it was all illegal but some evidence or proof would be appreciated.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Easytarget, 15 Feb 2012 @ 4:39am

      Re: Anonymous Apologist

      "Are you suggesting that law enforcement should NOT go after a pirate site in the same manner that it would go after a pirate selling product on the street or at a flea market, example?"

      Dear Apologist Fool: If a stall is seized at the flea market it is not replaced with riot squad van full of policemen writing down the names and addresses of anybody who looks their way, is it?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:57am

    Subjected to an 'unlimited' fine, that's ridiculous. So it's entirely up to a judge to fine you $0 dollars, or $999 trillion dollars, and it'll all be perfectly legal either way. All without a trial on if the content on the site was infringing or not. Ok then, you know which judges to bribe if you work for the entertainment industry.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 12:13pm

      Re:

      Subjected to an 'unlimited' fine, that's ridiculous.
      Not in English law - which is based on precedent. So in practice it would likely be sensible.

      Mind you, I liked the fact that they claimed I was accessing it from UNIX when I wasn't (it was Linux). Isn't UNIX a trademark? So why do they mis-use it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:58am

    Mike, you missed the best part. Visiting the URL at the bottom of the page brings you to a gem of a website. I particularly like:

    http://pro-music.org/Content/questions/FreeMusicMyths.php

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:20pm

      Re:

      This is amazing.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      silverscarcat (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:29pm

      Re:

      I love this lie they posted.


      "The music industry wants the advances technology brings, but does not want that technology abused at the expense of a whole industry. From the Edison cylinder, through vinyl, tape and the CD, to the MP3 file, the music industry has embraced new forms and new ideas and is doing so more than ever before and faster than other 'content' industries."

      Embracing new technologies?

      Should be stated "dragged kicking and screaming to use the new technologies because they don't understand how they work".

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:35pm

        Re: Re:

        F*cking Internets, how do they work?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Rabbit80, 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:20pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          "It's not a big truck. It's a series of tubes. And if you don't understand, those tubes can be filled and if they are filled, when you put your message in, it gets in line and it's going to be delayed by anyone that puts into that tube enormous amounts of material, enormous amounts of material."

          Ted Stevens

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Torg (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 4:23pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            I've never understood why people make fun of that quote. Sure it's not technically accurate, but as far as things-Congress-will-understand go, it's a pretty good analogy.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Al Bert (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 8:14pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              Maybe then, it's appropriate to at least marvel that someone in congress was able to accidentally say something remotely correct. After all, we've been getting a bit overused to shameless statements of ignorance and gross lies (shrouded in extremely tiny veils) from these sorts of people.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              PaulT (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 1:48am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              It's not a terrible analogy, but the context in which he said it was when he was involved in opposition to net neutrality, something that most tech-savvy people though was dangerous and unecessary. I suspect he didn't realise that it was an analogy, and it's dangerous to have people with such little understanding in charge of making the laws that run it.

              You know that saying about how a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing? Case in point, thus the mockery.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        PaulT (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 1:42am

        Re: Re:

        "From the Edison cylinder, through vinyl, tape and the CD, to the MP3 file, the music industry has embraced new forms and new ideas"

        Or, at least they did when they were finally forced to compete because they didn't manage to get those formats banned and their previous "waah home taping" campaign didn't work.

        They must think we're truly stupid.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:32pm

      Re:

      this one was the best.
      "The real problem is that the music industry wants to stop the advance of technology."

      The music industry wants the advances technology brings, but does not want that technology abused at the expense of a whole industry. From the Edison cylinder, through vinyl, tape and the CD, to the MP3 file, the music industry has embraced new forms and new ideas and is doing so more than ever before and faster than other 'content' industries.

      "None of the money from online sales goes to the artist anyway."

      Record companies pay artists royalties on sales of downloads in the same way as for sales of CDs.

      "It's the record companies' fault for not getting their artists' tracks online quickly enough."

      While it is very easy for anyone to upload an MP3 music file onto the net and give it away for nothing, what takes time is to do so in such a way that the online product is tracked through the process, with the artists, publishers, record companies, third party retailers all being paid their share.


      i like how every answer has the artist first.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        TtfnJohn (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 6:29pm

        Re: Re:

        Who, though a special form of creative accounting they share with the MPAA they never pay royalties either.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 6:41pm

        Re: Re:

        "Record companies pay artists royalties on sales of downloads in the same way as for sales of CDs."

        No they don't. They pay royalties based on "sales" and then tell consumers it's a "license". Sales = .005 License = 50% (figures according to contract) - It's whatever benefits them at the time.

        Then there's the black box were non-label artists are NEVER paid.

        And to get any money, most have to hire lawyers and accountants to sue and audit.

        The labels represent corporations. Not artisit's. The labels charge the band for everything they "invest" in a group.

        One thing labels always say is that these blogs are making money off someone elses work - isn't that what the labels and studios do too?

        I think the most anti-piracy policy would be to buy direct/used (pirate) and send the band a $1/download since that's more than they'd probably see from the label.

        Once musicians and writers realized they could make it without the faulty "distributors" then it would stop at the root - with no more musicians signing up with them.

        I looked up some numbers and > the last 5 years, 60%-70% of all NEW music came from independents. Not counting reissues, remasters, best off etc. And that number is soft because it's not including music from self-publishing bands, just those with independent labels.

        Nobody is listening.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        techflaws.org (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 3:37am

        Re: Re:

        Record companies pay artists royalties on sales of downloads in the same way as for sales of CDs.

        Right, they're ripping them off. Just ask Eminem.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      drew (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:10pm

      Re:

      that's pretty special

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      drew (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 5:42am

      Re:

      What's nice though is that they conveniently link to some nice legal russian sites where i can down load tracks for 10 rubles, or about 6p. That's waaaay cheaper than any of the UK or US sites, maybe I'll do all my shopping there now?

      Or maybe i'll keep using the unlisted sites like bandcamp and soundcloud so that the artists maybe actually see some of the money...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    jupiterkansas (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:59am

    Is this serious?

    It looks like some Monty Python joke. Even their website looks fake.

    http://www.soca.gov.uk/

    But I guess it's not a joke, and now downloading music is organized crime. Amazing.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:20pm

      Re: Is this serious?

      SOCA - Serious Organised Crime Agency

      I wonder sometimes if the UK government is aware of people laughing at those type of names.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:35pm

        Re: Re: Is this serious?

        I am confused, since it is an Serious Organised Crime Agency, it is just a government backed crime syndicate that never has fun?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:01pm

        Re: Re: Is this serious?

        I actually had to look up their agency to see whether they were real, after I saw the 'serious' there.

        For some reason I can't get the image out of my head of Snape punishing students for having their magic potion explode after singing an unlicensed tune to it.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        The eejit (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:20pm

        Re: Re: Is this serious?

        They were recently shut down temporarily to save on costs.

        That should tell you how "Important" they are.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          G Thompson (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 8:09pm

          Re: Re: Re: Is this serious?

          I've had numerous dealings with CEOP in the past and SOCA to them is just a bunch of interfering bumbling managerial twats.

          To me this is an interesting case since they were charged for fraud. Wonder if SOCA will enact the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and if there are no criminal charges proved still take civil action to remove all assets etc.

          I really have a problem with the wording of their web notice though. "The majority of music files that were available via this site were stolen from the artists." This is only alleged at moment.

          I suspect the defendants barristers are going to have fun with this.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 12:02am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Is this serious?

            The wording is incredible for law enforcement, it is perfectly normal for the IFPI though and they are a member body of the pro-music group that the page directs you to for a whitelist of legal music services.

            Seems like at multiple law enforcement bodies in the UK are copying those in the US and effectively working for representatives of a parts of an the entertainment industries.

            This is deeply concerning.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 6:48am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is this serious?

              as is my incoherence,
              it should have read

              "and effectively working for some representatives of some very specific parts of the entertainment industries"

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • icon
                G Thompson (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 9:52pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is this serious?

                I very much agree. The wording could be construed as very prejudicial.

                And I knew what you meant I'm psychic like that... Or is that psycho ;)

                link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        PaulT (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 1:57am

        Re: Re: Is this serious?

        This makes me think of the West Midlands Serious Crime Squad. The guys who committed a number of serious crimes themselves and framed numerous innocent people before they were finally shut down.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:23pm

      Re: Is this serious?

      Looking at all of this, I'd have to say that SOCA is definitely a joke.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    E. Zachary Knight (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:02pm

    Odd...

    I took a look at the site and whatever tech they use to pull the IP address and other information cannot recognize Google Chrome and Mac OS. Can't wait to see how it handles my Linux machine at home.

    As for the issue of the seizure, I would really like to see what evidence they had to not only seize the website but also arrest the owners of the site.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:32pm

      Re: Odd...

      For all we know they could have been arrested for fraud that was entirely unrelated to whatever copyright issues may have been involved with the site.

      This whole business just seems so bizarre though.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jake, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:06pm

    SOCA is supposed to stand for Serious And Organised Crime Agency, not Serious And/Or Organised Crime. Even if you accept the view that copyright infringement should be dealt with as a criminal matter at all, should we really be dumping the responsibility for enforcing it on an organisation that was formed to investigate armed robberies, extortion and narcotics smuggling?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Torg (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:45pm

      Re:

      Absolutely. The chance to compare pirated data to narcotics is far too good to pass up.

      "Kids, don't do music."

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      DinosaurHunter (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:25pm

      Re:

      No.
      I don't want my taxes being wasted in helping prop up legacy industries that don't want to innovate.
      SOCA seems like a complete joke.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:06pm

    Just waiting on China now.

    I mean, if this site was illegal in the UK, which gives the UK the right to take it down, I'm sure China can find something illegal (according to Chinese law) that's posted on Facebook.

    That'll be fun.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 5:37pm

      Re: Just waiting on China now.

      Try accessing Facebook through a Chinese proxy, see what happens.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:17pm

    They put a link at the bottom of the page to a "legal" music site. Except it's not a link, and you have to copy and paste it.
    I guess they weren't able to find the "Insert Hyperlink" button in whatever HTML editor they used to make that page.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    FuzzyDuck, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:20pm

    Please return stolen songs

    Sear SOCA,

    It has come to my attention that you have seized a website which held a number of song that were stolen from artists.

    Those artists must have been very distressed ever since their songs went missing and I am sure they will be overjoyed to receive back their property.

    Hence inquiry: when will you be returning said songs to their rightful owners?

    Regards,
    Fuzzy

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:25pm

    Would the site still work if using Blockaid.me's DNS?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:39pm

      Re:

      Probably not. On the other hand, it does only say domain names and not servers so the ip is probably still active. If it registered to another domain name then it is probably still chugging right a long.

      Every time they do this, they just encourage for distributed DNS where there is no domain registry service.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:01pm

      Re:

      Well BlockAid doesn't update immediately. The site seems to have been hosted in Switzerland but the servers appear to be down. RIPE's IP database still shows the owner's contact info and not SOCA's.

      46.19.137.76 - 46.19.137.79
      46.19.139.28 - 46.19.139.31

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Michael, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:32pm

    Enjoy the show

    Sooner rather than later, the internet in the US, UK, Japan, etc. will resemble China's and Iran's, and this is all thanks to the mega conglomerates' bribery/lobbying tactics here in the USA. You know, the Land of the *Free*. Next stop: full-blown censorship. The corruption has reached a boiling point and dissent is growing. It's as if they're intentionally doing this all to piss off as many people as possible.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Andrew (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:38pm

    Fraud?

    According to the screenshot, the site's owners were arrested for fraud. I haven't ever visited the site, but my understanding is that most sites like this do not misrepresent themselves as legitimate suppliers of the songs in question.

    I'm not terribly familiar with the law in this area, but can anyone speculate what SOCA's thought process is here? Are they suggesting that those visiting the site were deceived into believing that the songs they downloaded were in fact authorised copies? And if so, how does that sit with their claim that downloading this music may be a criminal offence?

    For distribution to be a criminal offence, The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 says


    (2A) A person who infringes copyright in a work by communicating the work to the public—
    (a)in the course of a business, or
    (b)otherwise than in the course of a business to such an extent as to affect prejudicially the owner of the copyright,
    commits an offence if he knows or has reason to believe that, by doing so, he is infringing copyright in that work.


    Fraud Act 2006

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Duke (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:25pm

      Re: Fraud?

      Fraud is the all-purpose offence that has been used in copyright infringement cases (such as the failed trial of the OiNK operators, or the more recent cinema/iPhone uploader). Basically, copyright infringement can be quite a bit harder to develop and establish; fraud is the easy way out.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Andrew (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 4:47pm

        Re: Re: Fraud?

        Ah OK, thanks. Apparently the OiNK admin was charged with conspiracy to defraud the copyright holders, so it was they who were alleged to have been defrauded, not the site's users. Thanks for correcting me on this.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    SheriffFatman, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:54pm

    This just seems ... off. Is there any confirmation, other than this web page, that any of this has actually happened?

    I mean -- arrested for fraud? Since when did copyright infringement == fraud?

    And UK law enforcement are usually very keen to avoid any statements that could be seen as prejudicial to a fair trial: and "the majority of music files that were available via this site were stolen from the artists" would seem to fall squarely into that category.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:06pm

      Re:

      Don't know about any other details, But SOCA did confirm that the warning page @ rnbxclusive.com was genuine.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:07pm

      Re:

      Don't know about any other details, But SOCA did confirm that the warning page @ rnbxclusive was genuine.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Violated (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:33pm

      Re:

      In the UK there are two levels of Copyright enforcement.

      The first level is Copyright Infringement which is handled in Civil court and overlooking home use then this happens like when you put on a public show without the right license.

      Copyright Fraud is a matter for Criminal courts. This deals in much more serious cases when your business is based on infringing artists works.

      This is a crude summery but the 10 years they mention is actually the maximum conviction for Copyright Fraud which of course applies none to site visitors.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:55pm

    So is this list really the only place you can legally buy music online in the US? I find that extremely hard to believe (and how come last.fm isn't listed??)

    http://pro-music.org/Content/GetMusicOnline/stores-us.php

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:05pm

      Re:

      As they say
      rather ruining the point of having a whitelist of "good" websites.

      "The list is compiled by IFPI based on information supplied by its national groups and is not and does not purport to be exhaustive. IFPI endeavours to keep the information on this website updated, but IFPI does not guarantee the accuracy of the information supplied."

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 6:52pm

      Re:

      They missed the major independent sites - bandcamp, cd baby, artist direct, etc. and off course all the net labels.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 12:59pm

    any evidence that anyone involved was actually arrested? charged with what?

    seems to me that just about any person, in any country, running a website in any country, registered in any country, can be arrested in any country, without proof from any country, extradited to any country, put on trial in any country, found guilty in any country, sentenced in any country and be sent to any country to serve that sentence.

    phew! seems like all 'criminals' are going to be extremely well traveled! no wonder infringement sentences are more severe than murder etc. there wouldn't be enough time to do all this!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Bengie, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:21pm

    wtf kind of false info

    Unlimited fines for browsing to a web page?

    There needs to be a law against maliciously giving bad legal advice by a "professional" company.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Another AC, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:23pm

    In regards to ACTA stories...

    It shows that they really don't care and would sign these things in a heartbeat, they just don't want to deal with the backlash. Nothing more than trying to preserve cotes while still taking the "Campaign Contributions"

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    SheriffFatman, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:39pm

    GoDaddy are still showing the domain as registered to a UK individual,rather than SOCA (http://who.godaddy.com/whoischeck.aspx?Domain=RNBXCLUSIVE.COM).

    The domain is resolving to what appears to be a Rackspace server in northern England (thank you whatismyipaddress.com): the GoDaddy entry lists Rackspace nameservers, so I'd guess this is the original rnbxclusive server rather than a SOCA box.

    It looks like "SOCA has taken control of this domain name" means "SOCA has taken control of this server", which would explain the apparent paradox of a UK agency seizing a US domain.

    SOCA has had little good press and a fair bit of criticism in its five or six years of operation, and is due to be binned in favour of a new National Crime Agency next year.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:42pm

    I have the same problem with ICE seizing sites as I do with the UK seizing sites. Since they are a country with their own laws, just as the US, how can it be that without ever setting foot in their country you are somehow liable under their laws?

    This holds up no better with the US than with UK when dealing with the internet that has no national boundaries. It lays open a possible of nation shopping for the worst of the worst laws as the place to attempt enforcement at, all while no one has ever proven anything beyond a claim.

    This lack of oversight and lack of public input has directly resulted in the recent protests over ACTA in the EU. It will again explode in their faces with this little maneuver.

    But they don't have to worry about me taking music through piracy. I want nothing to do with such business that act this way and will not finance them through purchases. Count me out as a customer nor or later in these sorts of businesses. I don't like how they operate. My money is mine to chose where I spend it.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    SheriffFatman, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:42pm

    GoDaddy are still showing the domain as registered to a UK individual,rather than SOCA.

    The domain is resolving to what appears to be a Rackspace server in northern England: the GoDaddy entry lists Rackspace nameservers, so I'd guess this is the site's original server rather than a SOCA box.

    It looks like "SOCA has taken control of this domain name" means "SOCA has taken control of this server", which would explain the apparent paradox of a UK agency seizing a US domain.

    SOCA has had little good press and a fair bit of criticism in its five or six years of operation, and is due to be binned in favour of a new National Crime Agency next year.

    [Entry edited and reposted to remove URLs, as they seem to trigger a moderation trap.]

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    SheriffFatman, 14 Feb 2012 @ 1:58pm

    The whole thing smacks of muppetry of a high order.

    Seizing a server != seizing a domain name.

    Copyright infringment != fraud.

    Declaring most of a site's music downloads to be illegal != a fair trial.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:21pm

    Uk politicians, USA'S bitch.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      DinosaurHunter (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:39pm

      Re:

      As a UK resident, I find that highly offensive.
      Unfortunately though, it's completely true, so I'll just have to be angry about it :P

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Paul, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:23pm

    ridiculous

    I know how amateurish and uncontrolled the police can be here in the UK, but that page is so ridiculously badly worded that I'm struggling to believe it is genuine. If it is, the only explanation I can think of is that it has been written by an industry group which has used SOCA as a puppet for its operation.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      DinosaurHunter (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:36pm

      Re: ridiculous

      Surely that kind of thing never happens!?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:45pm

      Re: ridiculous

      I had the same problem but a phone call to SOCA had them confirm that it was genuine.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        The eejit (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:28pm

        Re: Re: ridiculous

        Doesn't mean that the BPI (UK version of the RIAA) weren't involved.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:56pm

          Re: Re: Re: ridiculous

          No, I know and I didn't mean to imply they weren't.
          I was just dealing with the is it genuine question as it was the same reaction I had.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            The eejit (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 1:35am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: ridiculous

            Fantastic.

            I've already made contact with my MP about this, as apparently, the original server was in the local area.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Very Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 4:44am

      Re: ridiculous

      Hmmm... you obviously haven't worked in the public sector. As Joe tax payer hates actually paying tax, most public sector employees are paid a pittance. These low paid public servants are often responsible for producing, for public consumption, literary works.

      If you've visited the SOCA take-down page being discussed here then you've just experienced one of these works.

      Welcome to the UK education system and a society that is dumbing down quicker than UK media can pump out trash like Eastenders, Coronation Street, The Only Way is Essex, The Sun, etc etc etc.

      As most of the UK populace is so dumb now they will read that message and think it's a really worrying and well drafted. They'll instantly start worrying that the police will batter their door down any minute, confiscate their iPod, those two mix CD's their nephew did for them and their entire fraudulent DVD collection of one crap Chinese rip-off of Jurassic Park that's only ever been watched for 3 minutes because its so bad. They'll also confiscate every bit of legal music and DVDs, all computers and anything that looks suspiciously 'electronic' toasters and microwaves included.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 2:42pm

    UK readers should really consider emailing or writing to their MP to ask some of the necessary questions here.

    Such as why SOCA appears to be making false claims of fact,
    seem to be misunderstanding the basics of copyright as the law applies to individual downloaders as opposed to those who distribute infringing files.

    And why they are making unsupported, unproven, hyperbolic claims about the effects of infringement on the industry quite gratuitously.

    If enough MPs realise that this is an issue, they may actually start demanding some answers.

    As an addendum why are SOCA directing people to pro-music

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    rww, 14 Feb 2012 @ 3:14pm

    But!

    Just for a giggle, I went to McAf**'s Sit*Advisor* and entered the domain name. They say "We tested this site and didn't find any significant problems." They also say regarding the sire's popularity: Lots of Users and they themselves, got "1 green download", kleur.zip.

    So I was curious if they will get in trouble with the law for an illegal download.

    Such silliness.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 4:15pm

    Business model proposal

    A domain provider provides domains for internet users.

    Have a special type of domain, essentially a certified domain that specifically allows you to share copyrighted material, and the domain is pre configured to easilly allow ads or gives very easy specific intructions to special ads

    Now these ads are a special type of ads, where depending on what you claim to be sharing i.e. music, movies etc etc .... a percentage of the revenue goes specifically to said media companies representative...........i.e. 50% to ad company, 30% to media company, 20% to internet user

    Now revenue wise, imagine hundreds of people legally starting Media certified sites

    Politcians can have their cake with those who dont use certified domains to share copyrighted material, those who are looking to pocket all profit, although anyone who shares for no profit should be exempt, as you should be able to get the same content from certified sites, and im sure users will go to certified sites purely to support the free business model, as long as the corps dont hinder inovation in web designs or efficiency, or try to apply extreme amounts of control, let the internet do what it does

    Free stuff, the possibility is there, not necesary the one i mentioned above, but its there, both parties can have their cake, corps, and gov's by proxy, should embrace

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Brett, 14 Feb 2012 @ 4:51pm

    Government agencies should be polite and accurate when they make such notices, and policing shouldn't be politicised.

    Who is best to complain to?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Feb 2012 @ 9:16pm

    Big Brother is watching YOU...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Pixelation, 14 Feb 2012 @ 10:38pm

    The heart of the matter

    "While it is very easy for anyone to upload an MP3 music file onto the net and give it away for nothing, what takes time is to do so in such a way that the online product is tracked through the process, with the artists, publishers, record companies, third party retailers all being paid their share. "

    That's a lot of mouths for one pie...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Vincent Clement (profile), 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:09pm

    pro-music.org seems to be down ;)

    From the SOCA website:

    "Globally, IPC occurs on a vast scale. More open borders and increased international trade make it easier for fake goods to flow across continents. Advances in technology have also made it easier to mass produce fake items. The best of them are of such high quality that they’re hard to tell from the real thing.

    While no proven figures are available, the December 2006 Gowers Review of Intellectual Property estimated that criminal gain from IPC in the UK was worth £1.3 billion. Organised crime was responsible for £900 million of this. Up to half of the total was accounted for by digital media, particularly software and film."

    So, IPC occurs on a vast scale, but we have no proven figures. No wonder people don't trust government anymore.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      PaulT (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 2:18am

      Re:

      "December 2006"

      Yeah, I want to base all my actions on the internet as it was 5 years ago too! I hear this site MySpace is the way to go for music, and it's a shame Amazon don't sell MP3s...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Ninja (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 2:03am

    Serious Organized Crime Agency

    I didn't know you could run some organized crime just for fun. Good to know, if the cops catch me I'll tell it wasn't serious.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Idobek (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 2:11am

    SOCA not SFO?

    Aside from all the other bullshit; the SOCA splash page states that the site's owners have been arrested for fraud.

    What the hell is the Serious Fraud Office for then?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Dave, 15 Feb 2012 @ 3:14am

    A joke

    This cannot be serious, man! Just one thing I picked up on in the web notice (amongst many): "Arrested for fraud". Should this not be: "Arrested on suspicion of fraud". Guilty until proven innocent again, eh? The whole thing looks so amateurish, it's hard to believe it's genuine. Someone's knuckles need a serious rapping here!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Seegras (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 3:31am

    SOCA

    Wow, that's some serious organised crime agency they have there.

    Shutting down sites, threatening people, seizing domains, stiffling free speech, spying... Do they also deal in extortion?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 3:34am

    to complain about the wording ...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Boo Boo, 15 Feb 2012 @ 5:21am

    ?

    Is this a fucking joke ?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Overcast (profile), 15 Feb 2012 @ 6:42am

    So much for that old "innocent until proven guilty" concept, eh?

    Either way RIAA/MPAA - up yours, while you do this BS, I'm again boycotting your crap. While I'll keep paying for my cable, I think I'll drop the last of my movie channels and no on-demand. Your failed laws WILL NOT force me to buy more.

    It will leave me plenty of time and money for home repairs, etc.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2012 @ 10:26am

    Blatant lies, Shame on you shame your country!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jimbob, 15 Feb 2012 @ 5:12pm

    Really???

    I find it hard to believe this. Putting a statement about emerging artists? Please, the Police have absolutely no right to make a moral statement such as this and I find it hard to believe they would put such a silly statement on the website. Their job is to enforce the law, not make moral judgements that really can't be proved.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    baldy, 15 Feb 2012 @ 11:09pm

    ...

    Consequences will never be the same. They will backtrace us!!!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 23 Feb 2012 @ 7:43am

    "SOCA is basically lying."
    Isn't this what government does best?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Hahahaha, 7 Mar 2012 @ 10:12pm

    Britain, ground zero of global financial fraud, hasn't thrown a single banker in jail or even investigated any of the trillions of dollars in fraud from RBS to MF Global... let alone "track" them and threaten them with "unlimited fines" and 10 year prison sentences.

    Yet it has resources to pull off stunts like this.

    No wonder the whole place is in economic and social free-fall.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    offermania, 10 Mar 2012 @ 8:29pm

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    smoothloops, 12 May 2012 @ 8:24pm

    New Music

    I am looking for artists to perform my tracks have a listen and leave feedback. I hope we can work together. http://soundcloud.com/smoothloops

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    rnb4u.net, 11 Mar 2013 @ 7:12pm

    Wat about rnb4u.net

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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