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FOX issuing takedown notices to Sith downloaders

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Quoting:
http://p2p.weblogsinc.com/entry/1234000340044473/

FOX issuing takedown notices to Sith downloaders

Posted May 24, 2005, 6:08 PM ET by Jason Striegel

We saw it coming. BayTSP’s claim that they could track BitTorrent file swapping, the recent MPAA threats targeted at Revenge of the Sith downloaders, and an overall increasing presence from the dark side have been a few clues.

I recently received a message from a hackaday reader informing me of 20th Century FOX takedown notices that are beginning to frequent, oh, hundreds of thousands of fans inboxes. The letters are being sent courtesy of BayTSP.

I’ve attached a copy of the infringement notice as it provides some clues as to what sort of information is being tracked and how FOX, in particular, intends to pursue copyright infringement by fans of the Star Wars series.

Read more at:
http://p2p.weblogsinc.com/entry/1234000340044473/
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Tempest in a teapot. There are millions of copies out, and yet the film will still breaking box office records. It's a pounding of the chest, and not much will come of it.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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As much as we share files in this community, we never offer a version of the film that is readily availible. We try not to take money out of the pockets of Lucasfilm. What these people that download Episode III are doing is just that. I hope they throw the book at them.
The Jedi are all but extinct.......
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What if someone just happened to accidentally click a RotS torrent at the local library, as a test? Could that be tracked?

Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side

Emperor Jar-Jar
“Back when we made Star Wars, we just couldn’t make Palpatine as evil as we intended. Now, thanks to the miracles of technology, it is finally possible. Finally, I’ve created the movies that I originally imagined.” -George Lucas on the 2007 Extra Extra Special HD-DVD Edition

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"we never offer a version of the film that is readily availible. "

It is....on laserdisc and VHS. I understand your sentiment, but it really has no legal standing to put it above the downloading of ROTS. LFL has every right to throw the book at us as well.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Part of this is public opinion, while you have media organizations printing articles like:

http://www.profindpages.com/news/2005/05/21/MN935.htm
Malaysia, one of the world's top producers of pirate CD's has seen the seizure of half a million Star Wars "Revenge of the Sith" copies.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4575633.stm
"Pakistan-wide sales are expected to be around 50,000 copies within the first two weeks," one leading retailer said.

http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/star%20wars%20pirated%20discs%20seized%20in%20malaysia
Meanwhile in China, unauthorised discs of the film are being sold on market stalls across the country for only $0.85 (GBP0.44).

So that provides the world view, closer to home:

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/46923.htm
Anyone who planned to see "Star Wars" on the cheap will have to check out Luke Skywalker elsewhere after a Harlem raid yesterday netted tons of counterfeit DVDs — including more than 1,000 copies of George Lucas' space opera, which opened just two days ago.

and tomarrow, this BitTorrent story will hit many households directly, through media stories and potential lawsuits.

Now yes there are opinions similar to MeBeJedi:

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/6457.cfm
One has to wonder why the focus is immediately put on to the people (the star wars fans) who are downloading and sharing this copy of the movie with each other, and not on the industry insider who is responsible for the leak in the first place or the pirate on the street selling the movie.
(cut)
It is most likely that some revenue will be lost because of it, but this time, the finger should be pointed at the media that made such a huge fuss over such a regular thing and simply alerted the general public that the leaked copy existed and even explained in some cases how easy it was to download.

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/commentary/43282.html
As everyone except the mainstream media knows, "Sith" showed up on the P2P networks the same day it opened in theaters. But the P2P viewing wasn't due to the efforts of an evil file sharer with Sony's (NYSE: SNE) latest pirate camcorder stashed under his/her grubby rain-coat.

Rather, it was because of yet another Hollywood insider leak -- not that it stopped Glickman from ranting about P2P file sharers, BitTorrent and anything else that came to mind.

Of 285 movies researchers sampled on the P2P networks, 77 percent were leaked by industry insiders, says the 2003 AT&T (NYSE: T) Labs report Analysis of Security Vulnerabilities in the Movie Production and Distribution Process.



...and it would be nice if i could wrap this up in a one sentence bow, but i can't.
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It is....on laserdisc and VHS.


Tell me, other than eBay, where can I legally purchase the OOT?
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I think this post on one of the above sites says it best.

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karelj (Newbie) 24 May 2005 22:49
Ok.. I gotta admit.. I have a copy of this. I got it after I saw ROTS twice and I use this copy as a fix. I have every intention of buying the official release, but this is tiding me over.
I would not have watched it if I had it before the theatrical release. Like the majority of SW fans.. the big screen is the only way to see it for the first time.
These movie companies make an obscene amount of money. ROTS will be the same, even without counting the merchandising money. The people who choose this version over seeing it in theatres may not have seen it in the first place. I cant see how this copy can even begin to hurt the financial gross. I even know a few people who went to see it in the theatres because the work print left such an impression.



More often then not, the people who grabbed this have already seen the film, probably multiple times. The ones that haven't probably wouldn't have seen it anyway. One interesting idea was that this was leaked specifically for this purpose. Still, it gives the film a lot of free publicity. Not to mention alerting the public to how easy it is to get it.

Still, I say punish the insider, not the fans. Punish the guy selling it, not the Joe Smoe who just wan'ts to tide himself over until the DVD after seeing it in theatres three times. ROTS made it's money back before it was even in theatres from what I heard. It's breaking records and could become one of the highest grossing films ever. Just about everyone will see it. This film made over 150mil in 4 days for crying out loud.


Made for IE Forum's Episode III theme month - May 2005.

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I highly doubt it was intentionally leaked, and I don't mind if people get pinched. We can discuss what we want edited when it comes to Ep III, but I'm more than willing to wait until November. Believe you me, I'm gonna edit the shit out of that mofo...but I can wait.
40,000 million notches away
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"Tell me, other than eBay, where can I legally purchase the OOT? "

It isn't where you buy it, or who from - but in what form you buy it. It has to be on the original medium. Some video duplicating shops will make a DVD copy of the Star Wars films for you if you own the original laserdiscs or VHS. (much as many VHS-to-DVD shops will add a music soundtrack to your home movie, so long as you provide the CDs.)

Anyways, I'm not trying to make a judgement for or against this practice. I'm just telling you what I know. Interestingly enough, my LDs do not have an FBI warning, nor is macrovision compatible with the video signal.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Originally posted by: Klingon_Jedi
Still, I say punish the insider, not the fans. Punish the guy selling it, not the Joe Smoe who just wan'ts to tide himself over until the DVD after seeing it in theatres three times. ROTS made it's money back before it was even in theatres from what I heard. It's breaking records and could become one of the highest grossing films ever. Just about everyone will see it. This film made over 150mil in 4 days for crying out loud.



I would love to give you a big big hug!!! I work in the British video industry & am constantly bombarded with anti-piracy messages & adverts......am asked by those above me to visit street markets & pubs & purchase these pirate dvd's & then report to the authorities who sold it to me & where...whilst not getting my money back!

the whole situation is out of hand.....they won't go after the people that are behind piracy (who we are told in the UK are TERRORISTS!! - oooooohhhhhhh) instead, as always, focus on the easy target.....it really really stinks....

If you want to point the finger of blame anywhere then point it directly at the entertainment industry itself....

I remember during the 1980's there was an investigation by the British trading standards into the retail price of cd's.....

after months of investigation it was ruled that we were being well & truly ripped off....the average cd cost about 25p to make, perhaps another £1 to cover royalties & we were being charged about £17.......

now in 2005 we are being charged roughly £12-15 per new cd & the reason? Piracy.......

Now who else here smells some mighty fine BULLSHIT?????

If piracy is so extreme why are the authorities NOT TARGETTING THE INDUSTRY PUNDITS THAT LEAK THESE ALBUMS & FILMS onto the internet?
Evil dude: "You do not no pain, you do not know fear. You will taste MAN FLESH"

Evil ugly dudes: "YIPPEEEEEEEEE!!!!"
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They should get their asses sued to jail.
"A Jedi can feel the force flow through him".
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what a joke...

people are going to download no matter how they're threatened...
the MPAA cant do anything about that...
they should be looking to the future on how to prevent this from happening... because they cant stop it once it starts... its impossible...

plus ive already got a copy of it off a site...
the quality is average but not watchable....
as someone said earlier people are only using this as their "fix" until it comes out on DVD...
"Never. I'll never turn to the darkside. You've failed your highness. I am a jedi, like my father before me."
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You know what's funny? I have a bootleg version of Return of the Jedi on VHS that dates back to 1983. I have a bootleg of E.T. from the same time. I was 11 when Jedi came out, and my family had very recently purchased a VCR. A guy at the video store sold the bootlegs for $10 a piece ... which was laughably cheap at the time considering that VHS movies retailed at $75. None of the Star Wars films was available on VHS in 1983 (I don't even think they'd aired on TV yet).

Having the bootleg didn't stop me from seeing the movie a half dozen times (or more) in the theatre. The bootleg was no substitute for the real thing.

I don't download movies. I don't buy bootlegs UNLESS I cannot buy or watch the film/show in a given format (re: the untainted Star Wars films), in which case I feel NO GUILT procuring a bootleg. I've no interest in seeing current films on dvd or my computer before their official release in said formats ... I can wait.

What's REALLY funny is the fact that making a big fuss about bootlegs and threatening people just makes bootlegging infinitely more popular. I mean, I don't even like Revenge of the Sith that much, yet now I want to download or buy a bootleg JUST IN SPITE OF FOX.



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By downloading it, you are costing someone who paid for the rights money. Whether it's a television station, movie house, video rental place, etc.. you are costing someone money who bought the rights to show it or sell it to you because they thought you and other people like you would buy it. Instead, you bought it and can watch it without ever giving anyone invloved with the project a dime for that viewing. Now, if you've downloaded it and would like to send Lucasfilm or your local theater the $7.50 each time you watch it, go right ahead..it is the right thing to do.
The Jedi are all but extinct.......
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This sort of mentality is exactly how the entertainment cartels want you to think.. the MPAA has reported record box office receipts in recent years, but claims their profits are being eaten away by "piracy". They also claim that it hurts the salaries and wages of their employees, which again is nonsense. It only affects a small portion of their PROFIT margin, ie the money that goes into the exec's pockets. It's mostly spin doctoring by the entertainment cartels to either scare people into compliance (BayTSP) or make them feel guilty about it. The RIAA uses the same scapegoat into making people think that they're "stealing", when the companies have not been deprived of any property-so again, this is nonsense. It has more to do with shoddy product and overpricing than infringement for its own sake. This is something that is hotly debated these days, so I don't expect you to agree. One thing I think eveyone can agree upon is that copyright law needs drastic reform if anyone outside of the MPAA and their lawyer cronies is going to care about it anymore.
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The people downloading SHOULD NOT be punished. The people uploading it are the guilty ones. OK. So as you are downloading, you are also uploading some of it at the same time. How should this be handled?
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Originally posted by: Mr.Coffee
The people downloading SHOULD NOT be punished. The people uploading it are the guilty ones. OK. So as you are downloading, you are also uploading some of it at the same time. How should this be handled?


but if no one downloaded it then no one would be uploading it. so by what you said we now have something akin to entrapment or something like that

-Darth Simon
Why Anakin really turned to the dark side:
"Anakin, You're father I am" - Yoda
"No. No. That's not true! That's impossible!" - Anakin

0100111001101001011011100110101001100001

*touchy people disclaimer*
some or all of the above comments are partially exaggerated to convey a point, none of the comments are meant as personal attacks on anyone mentioned or reference in the above post
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Someone had to upload it first in order for it to be downloaded at all.
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Well said TR47 The problem with reform is at the moment it is the entertainment cartels who are pulling the strings and manipulating the legislation for there own gain.
Egon "Don't Cross the streams it would be very bad"

Peter "i'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing"

Egon "lmagine the 97 Star Wars Special Editions"
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So people who buy drugs shouldn't be punished, just those that sell it? Get real.

You take responsibility for your actions when you come into possession of illegal material, whether it be a stolen bag of money or a downloaded movie. Just because you didn't steal it first doesn't mean it isn't legal for you to have it.
The Jedi are all but extinct.......
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Not all drugs are illegal, different countries, different laws, get real with what? just because my viewpoint is different, if I could download legal movies I would but the short sighted archaic business practices that currently represent the Hollywood machine somewhat limit this in the UK at least.

The same monopolistic business practices that took the Sony Corporation to court in 1984 and tried to get the VCR banned, where would we be now if that had happened?

I see your point, but here has to be some real forward progress from both sides, endless lawsuits isn't the answer.

Egon "Don't Cross the streams it would be very bad"

Peter "i'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing"

Egon "lmagine the 97 Star Wars Special Editions"
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Exactly, my comment was partly what hardcore said, but also the way you stated it it was like you were refering to specifically new p2p protocols where downloaders also upload. sure if no one up loads it to an ftp site no one can download it. but with stuff like bittorrent, if i have a torrent open, and people know about it, and can get the torrent and connect to it, but no one ever does ive not uploaded anything...so unless someone downloads it from me, ive never uploaded anything and therefore havent done anything wrong. but if some mpaa goon comes along and downloads it from me now ive broken the law but according to you they havent (though in this case since they work for mpaa they arent really breaking a law) but had they not have downloaded it, i wouldnt have been uploading it...do you see my point here

*edit*
norinradd the country it takes place in doesnt really affect the legality of it. and by hardcores comment, and the discussion i think its safe to assume he meant illegal drugs, i dont think he meant the eye drops my doctor prescribed to me yesterday, or the claritin i take for my allergies should bring me under prosecution, that would be obsurd.

the point is that ok, even though the downloader or buyer wouldnt be breaking the law if the uploader or seller didnt exist, the downloader/buyer is still breaking the law. Just because you can get an illegal substance doesnt make it legal to do so. i think thats where the 'get real' comment came from.

-Darth Simon
Why Anakin really turned to the dark side:
"Anakin, You're father I am" - Yoda
"No. No. That's not true! That's impossible!" - Anakin

0100111001101001011011100110101001100001

*touchy people disclaimer*
some or all of the above comments are partially exaggerated to convey a point, none of the comments are meant as personal attacks on anyone mentioned or reference in the above post
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Yes but it does, The internet is global, the laws pertaining to intellectual property are more or less country specific, its still legal for the moment in sweden, thats why the pirate bay is real popular.

And I was referring to drugs such as weed etc, the Netherlands has a totally different policy to the UK et al, I'm not trying to justify infringement all i'm saying is that 'one size' does not fit all.

Egon "Don't Cross the streams it would be very bad"

Peter "i'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing"

Egon "lmagine the 97 Star Wars Special Editions"
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yes but where you do it is where it matters.

as far as internet being global comment and the laws about intellectual property being country specific. while this is true all it does is make it hard for the copyright holders to file lawsuits and/or cease and desists agains the person running the server. That doesnt make it legal for someone in the US to download/upload the material, all it does is prevent the people from hosting access to the file from getting introuble.

so is weed legal in some countries? yes. does that mean i can go buy it there and bring it back to the US for my personal use? no, because it then violate US laws. same for downloading files. does sweden have laws in place to protect US copyrights (apparently not) but does that mean its legal for someone in the US to download the file? nope

-Darth Simon
Why Anakin really turned to the dark side:
"Anakin, You're father I am" - Yoda
"No. No. That's not true! That's impossible!" - Anakin

0100111001101001011011100110101001100001

*touchy people disclaimer*
some or all of the above comments are partially exaggerated to convey a point, none of the comments are meant as personal attacks on anyone mentioned or reference in the above post