Buy an island...break some laws

Razzinno · 13th January 2007, 20:53

The Pirate Bay plans to buy island

Published: 12th January 2007 12:37 CET

Swedish file-sharing website The Pirate Bay is planning to buy its own nation in an attempt to circumvent international copyright laws.

The group has set up a campaign to raise money to buy Sealand, a former British naval platform in the North Sea that has been designated a 'micronation', and claims to be outside the jurisdiction of the UK or any other country. more

Omega X · 13th January 2007, 21:34

Oh Gawd...

sgtfuzzbubble011 · 13th January 2007, 22:12

Great. Let's load the platform up with servers until it sinks.

tuckerm · 13th January 2007, 22:19

I belive that they'll just use that as their main office and then be able to use servers elsewhere?

Wolfgang · 14th January 2007, 00:59

Do they not need to have the actual servers there? Logistical nightmare, just getting enough power would be a pain in the arse.

rockouthippie · 14th January 2007, 09:18

I doubt power would be an issue. Some diesel generators could already be there.

I think there is one problem with this scheme though. The US government now prosecutes foreigners for violating our laws. I heard about a guy running an "illegal" radio station in the Gulf of Mexico. Since what he was doing wasn't a crime where he was (on the oil platform), US law couldn't touch him.

This is a little different. Copyright infringement is illegal everywhere. So would you make yourself a "man without a country?". Even if you were running these file servers off shore, would you get arrested when you set foot on american soil.

I know some foreign guys that are involved in encryption technology. They are afraid to publish some aspects of these technologies, because they are afraid of violating US law.

In their own countries, publishing this information would be quite legal. However, they would like to continue to travel to the US without fear of being arrested.

This is a relatively new thing. That the US will prosecute you for crimes committed in other countries. The start of this was laws designed to stop child pornography tourism.

If you are a foreign national and break US law, they will prosecute you. Of course, they could not legally come to your "country" and arrest you. But set foot in a real country and you'd probably be arrested and looking at fighting extradition.

Welcome to the "New World Order".

Frankly though, if a guy was going to go to that much expense and trouble to steal movies, couldn't you find something equally cool to do that wasn't stealing?.

zootm · 14th January 2007, 10:15

Quote:

Originally posted by rockouthippie
Copyright infringement is illegal everywhere.

This isn't actually true; copyright's a law which most countries have, yes, but it's certainly not universal, and it's very variable.

Of course, it's maybe possible to get carriers to stop taking Sealand's internet traffic using legal means.

Quote:

Originally posted by rockouthippie
I know some foreign guys that are involved in encryption technology. They are afraid to publish some aspects of these technologies, because they are afraid of violating US law.

Yeah, the encryption laws really suck. I believe that you're technically alright so long as you work on the technology outwith the US and don't bring it over borders, though. On the other hand, breaking encryption is another matter. I think someone's been arrested for that before, when they came to the US.

Wolfgang · 14th January 2007, 13:48

I don't think copyright infringement is illegal in Somalia... in fact, they have real piracy there.

rockouthippie · 15th January 2007, 18:05

Yeah, I'll run my web during the year and take my vacations in wonderful, scenic Somalia?. Hmmm....

Jay · 15th January 2007, 18:56

reminds me of Petoria.

Razzinno · 15th January 2007, 20:28

Heh, heh. Forgot about that espisode.

xzxzzx · 16th January 2007, 15:23

Quote:

Originally posted by zootm
On the other hand, breaking encryption is another matter. I think someone's been arrested for that before, when they came to the US.

You mean Dmitry Sklyarov?

zootm · 16th January 2007, 16:19

Quote:

Originally posted by xzxzzx
You mean Dmitry Sklyarov?

That's the guy. I remember it being a "big thing" for quite some time.

xzxzzx · 17th January 2007, 06:12

Yeah. Good 'ol DMCA.

Hey, that bill could have a slogan:

"Bringing you closer to a police state... one court case at a time!"

Ok, not so catchy. Fuck, what do you want? I'm tired. I need to go home. I'm at work at 2:12AM. Fuck you.

Schmeet · 17th January 2007, 11:38

It doesn't seem right that these guys can go off and buy this so they can distribute material that they haven't paid for, whilst honest consumers spend their cash legitamately (sp?) and in some cases foot the bill (i.e, companies charging more for their product because of pirating).

Wolfgang · 17th January 2007, 12:07

Seems like isohunt.com has been shut down because of its MPAA lawsuit. I'm sure they'll be back, just like the pirate bay did.

k_rock923 · 17th January 2007, 13:52

Quote:

Originally posted by Schmeet
It doesn't seem right that these guys can go off and buy this so they can distribute material that they haven't paid for, whilst honest consumers spend their cash legitamately (sp?) and in some cases foot the bill (i.e, companies charging more for their product because of pirating).

Easy solution: don't buy the products. Entertainment products are not a necessity. So long as consumers are willing to pay for it, companies will continue to sell at the same price. Why wouldn't they? More importantly, why shouldn't they be able to?

Schmeet · 17th January 2007, 13:58

I wasn't critizing how much companies sell their product for. I'm more than willing to pay the price if I think I'm getting my moneys worth, otherwise I don't buy the product.

What I am saying, however, is that Piratebay is wrong to do what they do because it basically says a big 'fuck you' to anyone who is legit and pays money for a product.

k_rock923 · 17th January 2007, 14:00

You can go and buy the island if you want to.

13th January 2007, 20:53	#1
Razzinno Piffle Producer Join Date: May 2006 Location: the secret files of my pc Posts: 2,588	Buy an island...break some laws The Pirate Bay plans to buy island Published: 12th January 2007 12:37 CET Swedish file-sharing website The Pirate Bay is planning to buy its own nation in an attempt to circumvent international copyright laws. The group has set up a campaign to raise money to buy Sealand, a former British naval platform in the North Sea that has been designated a 'micronation', and claims to be outside the jurisdiction of the UK or any other country. more

13th January 2007, 22:19	#4
tuckerm Forum Emo Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,364	I belive that they'll just use that as their main office and then be able to use servers elsewhere? @tuckerm

15th January 2007, 18:56	#10
Jay Moderator Alumni Join Date: May 2000 Location: Next Door Posts: 8,942	reminds me of Petoria. -Jay \| Radio Toolbox.com

17th January 2007, 06:12	#14
xzxzzx Forum King Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 7,254	Yeah. Good 'ol DMCA. Hey, that bill could have a slogan: "Bringing you closer to a police state... one court case at a time!" Ok, not so catchy. Fuck, what do you want? I'm tired. I need to go home. I'm at work at 2:12AM. Fuck you. Freedom of speech is the basic freedom of humanity. When you've lost that, you've lost everything. 1\/\/4y 34\|<$p4y 1gp4y 33714y, 0d4y 0uy4y? \| Roses are #FF0000; Violets are #0000FF; chown -R ${YOU} ~/base The DMCA. It really is that bad. : Count for your life.

17th January 2007, 14:00	#19
k_rock923 \m/ (Forum King) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: /bin/bash Posts: 7,850	You can go and buy the island if you want to. Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway.

13th January 2007, 21:34	#2
Omega X Forum King Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: A Parallel Dimension Posts: 2,253	Oh Gawd...

13th January 2007, 22:12	#3
sgtfuzzbubble011 Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 60,839	Great. Let's load the platform up with servers until it sinks.

14th January 2007, 00:59	#5
Wolfgang Forum King Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,069	Do they not need to have the actual servers there? Logistical nightmare, just getting enough power would be a pain in the arse.

14th January 2007, 09:18	#6
rockouthippie Banned Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 11,002	I doubt power would be an issue. Some diesel generators could already be there. I think there is one problem with this scheme though. The US government now prosecutes foreigners for violating our laws. I heard about a guy running an "illegal" radio station in the Gulf of Mexico. Since what he was doing wasn't a crime where he was (on the oil platform), US law couldn't touch him. This is a little different. Copyright infringement is illegal everywhere. So would you make yourself a "man without a country?". Even if you were running these file servers off shore, would you get arrested when you set foot on american soil. I know some foreign guys that are involved in encryption technology. They are afraid to publish some aspects of these technologies, because they are afraid of violating US law. In their own countries, publishing this information would be quite legal. However, they would like to continue to travel to the US without fear of being arrested. This is a relatively new thing. That the US will prosecute you for crimes committed in other countries. The start of this was laws designed to stop child pornography tourism. If you are a foreign national and break US law, they will prosecute you. Of course, they could not legally come to your "country" and arrest you. But set foot in a real country and you'd probably be arrested and looking at fighting extradition. Welcome to the "New World Order". Frankly though, if a guy was going to go to that much expense and trouble to steal movies, couldn't you find something equally cool to do that wasn't stealing?.

14th January 2007, 13:48	#8
Wolfgang Forum King Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,069	I don't think copyright infringement is illegal in Somalia... in fact, they have real piracy there.

15th January 2007, 18:05	#9
rockouthippie Banned Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 11,002	Yeah, I'll run my web during the year and take my vacations in wonderful, scenic Somalia?. Hmmm....

15th January 2007, 20:28	#11
Razzinno Piffle Producer Join Date: May 2006 Location: the secret files of my pc Posts: 2,588	Heh, heh. Forgot about that espisode.

17th January 2007, 11:38	#15
Schmeet Major Dude Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The timid west Posts: 1,444	It doesn't seem right that these guys can go off and buy this so they can distribute material that they haven't paid for, whilst honest consumers spend their cash legitamately (sp?) and in some cases foot the bill (i.e, companies charging more for their product because of pirating).

17th January 2007, 12:07	#16
Wolfgang Forum King Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,069	Seems like isohunt.com has been shut down because of its MPAA lawsuit. I'm sure they'll be back, just like the pirate bay did.

17th January 2007, 13:58	#18
Schmeet Major Dude Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The timid west Posts: 1,444	I wasn't critizing how much companies sell their product for. I'm more than willing to pay the price if I think I'm getting my moneys worth, otherwise I don't buy the product. What I am saying, however, is that Piratebay is wrong to do what they do because it basically says a big 'fuck you' to anyone who is legit and pays money for a product.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode