Anti-Piracy Blunder Shuts Down BitTorrent Tracker
Written by enigmax on April 22, 2008A large BitTorrent tracker dealing only in documentaries has been shutdown after an anti-piracy company wrongfully identified content being tracked by the site. The 150,000 member site, which has had just “one mildly upset” copyright-related email in 4 years of operation, is moving to a new host.
During the last few days, TorrentFreak has been getting emails asking why the MVGroup tracker is down. It’s fairly normal to get lots of emails when when any of the high profile trackers goes down but the number of worried people around our inbox and on various forums seemed surprisingly high for a small tracker dealing only in documentaries. Well, I thought it was fairly small – turns out MVGroup has an amazing 150,000 members. So where has it gone?
The tagline for MVGroup is “An Education in P2P”, so TorrentFreak caught up with the tracker admin Merrin for a quick history lesson. Turns out that some anti-piracy company got it wrong – again. Who needs an education now?
TF: Please give us a little background on MVGroup before we find out why you were shutdown.
Merrin: MVGroup started with one aim in mind, an aim to fill a gap that I noticed 5 or 6 years ago on the Internet. A lack of availability of good quality educational material. We are here to give those that can’t get it, access to all the knowledge they need. A sort of video wiki of documentaries I suppose. Starting on ed2k we branched into torrents as they became popular and now I suspect that thanks to the wonderful staff and members over the years, we are getting close to being the biggest – and we hope best – free, no ratio, documentary site on the web.
TF: No ratios is great! How does this operate? Do you have seeding issues?
Merrin: We have torrents that are over 4 years old still going due to an adoption scheme where members choose a series and the seed upon request, the rest is on trust.
TF: Lots of fans have been emailing and starting forum threads, all worried about your sudden disappearance. What happened?
Merrin: Ok, the simple fact is that the whole thing is a cockup – by both a movie studio and our host/datacenter. The studio said (I suspect a bot trawling torrent dumpsites) that we were tracking a movie called “The Eye” – we obviously don’t carry that kind of thing. Never have done.
TF: So why the confusion?
Merrin: What we did have however was a documentary series also called The Eye.
TF: If it was case of mistaken identity, why is the site still down?
Merrin: The sudden shutdown is down to our host, who panicked, so basically we were taken down for the wrong reasons. Not very fair, but the host got paranoid, so we have had to move anyway. We have now found a new host and have more powerful server, for the same outlay financially.
TF: MVGroup has a good reputation and is known for being careful and considered with the material indexed by the tracker, with no mainstream movies, music or any type of warez. Do you get any takedown requests?
Merrin: As the modern MVGroup of 4+ years operation, we haven’t had more than one mildly upset email, and in fact have had a producer and writer of a series we torrented actually linking to us from his homepage.
TF: Do you have a message for the worried fans, currently hanging out in TorrentFreak’s inbox waiting for news?
Merrin: The main thing here is that we will be back, we have all our data, and nothing has been lost, the donations are safe, we’re safe and we’ll hopefully be up again in a day or two. We’re doing basic installs on the new server as we speak.
TF: Thanks for talking to us today, we’ll be over to MVGroup for our next lesson in a day or two.
For those interested in checking the site out, signups will be open with no invite needed.
Previously: BitTorrent Tracker Software “Gazelle” Debuts on What.cd
Next: Most Popular DVDrips on BitTorrent (wk16)
76 Responses
At least, this story made me aware of MVGroup! :D
I’m definately signing up there when it gets back, even though I don’t like the ‘no ratio’ thing. What’s the average speed there? 50 kb/s?
Hmmm….concerned about the no ratio business…but this sounds interesting!!!
so how does this site compare to bitme?
mvgroup has the best documentary selections on the internet. Good to see they’re still going strong, I’ll have to get some more! :)
What makes things interesting, is that in many cases (including the DMCA) anyone making the sort of assertion about copyright that these people did, make it under ‘penalty of perjury’ that the information is accurate, and they are authorised representatives. Depending on the notification sent to the host, either the anti-p2p org, or the host may be liable in court.
So the place is complaining after it was shut down because a letter said it was tracking a specific piece of pirated content when it’s actually just tracking lots of other pirated content…..?
“No ratio” is great (TPB FTW!) – BT protocol was optimized for fast downloads, NOT for best ratios. So, uploaders are usually those who have a bigger pipe, not those who have the lowest ratio.
thanks for the info, i was always wondering if there was a documentaries only site
great success!
wow, cool site, can’t to check it out.
It is a very cool site. Not flashy cool but just a hell of a lot content. Speeds were pretty quick too.
MVG is a cool site, glad it will hbe back.
I’ve been using MVGroup for about 1 year now and i can say that it’s the best place to find documentaries. Great job guys!
Get well soon MVGROUP!
Thanks for the good wishes folks, hope to see you all soon :)
Thanks to our supporters, members and of course the dedicated staff who make MVG possible.
Merrin
Of course the carry copyrighted material. Virtually every BBC DVD is ripped and on that site, how is that not breaking copyright. there are also rips of the BBC Connections series from james Burke. That is definitely available commercially at the tune of about $60 per DVD box set. To pretend that there are no copyright violations is simply BS. I’m speaking from someone who has an account at MVGROUP.ORG
Never said we didn’t break it, just making the point that most of it is free to air and/or free to those in the relevent countries. Education and knowledge should be free, Jack Bauer may be entertaining but he ain’t gonna teach you much. How many teachers we have educating their classes with our stuff is heart warming to say the least.
Should sue the movie studio and MPAA for their infringement on your site by spreading lies and unsubstantiated allegations and the harm your reputations.
I think we’d love to but laying low may be better ;)
cock observed and asked
Virtually every BBC DVD is ripped and on that site, how is that not breaking copyright.
if they are not under that rediculous british IP law that even made tranfering your own CD illegal …
.. american copyrightlaw exception “teaching” for example!
“Virtually every BBC DVD is ripped and on that site, how is that not breaking copyright.”
Because everything produced by the BBC is public domain by British law.
anonymous has it right. we all pay a licence fee, if you pay a licence fee for the bbc. it is publically run.
MVGroup is a great site for documentaries of any sort. I hope they get back quick, I need to feed my brain with the good stuff.
[quote comment="355787"]“No ratio” is great (TPB FTW!) – BT protocol was optimized for fast downloads, NOT for best ratios. So, uploaders are usually those who have a bigger pipe, not those who have the lowest ratio.[/quote]
Unfortunately, especially in large open communities like TBP, quite the opposite happens. No ratios means no incentive for extended seeding, which means small swarms, which means slow downloads. Ratio systems are there for 1 purpose, to provide the motivation needed to keep swarms large enough to max out your downstream.
No ratio works on mvgroup because our members don’t need to max out their downstream on years old torrents.
And the adoption scheme makes sure there’s always someone seeding or able to seed after a pm.
If something is important enough to you, you care about it, and We Care about Documentaries.
It Just Works.
ill sign up if they introduce ratio=) meh ok lies iwill check this site anyway, thanks tf for bringing the news about this page=)
I think everyone here would gladly take 20kBps over no seeders, and that’s what the “Adoption” scheme does on MVGroup. People have no patience these days.
The main difference between MVG and any a ratio site is that once the initial swarm has died down on a ratio’d site the release dies. At MVG the initial swarm provides the speeds expected from any ratio’d site but you can still find 20+ seeders and 20+ peers on a torrent started 2+ years ago. Releases aren’t dependant on some member re-releasing a file in the hope of boosting their ratio.
I’d rather get something slowly than not at all.
=))
MVGroup is a really good tracker, cant wait to see it back online. :)
Had some really interesting docus from MVG over the years.
Best wishes for the move & with the new location, guys. =]
STUMBLED!
Heres to a quick return.
VOTED for this post at:
http://www.newsdots.com/industrynews/piracy-blunder-shuts-down-bittorrent-tracker-torrentfreak/
great site!! hope it will be back soon. great docs there. nuclear stuff, WW2, all great ones! long live MVgroup!!
MVGroup sounds like you guys have something good going on there as an avid fan of documentaries (despite what most may think some are actually very useful in everyday life) i may have to come have a look also more on topic sounds like your better off coming out of this if your getting a better server
Never heard of it until now but there are several documentaries I would like to see. Thanks for making me aware of this and I hope MVGroup gets well soon!
That’s not the whole story. That’s not the true story. That’s not even a story.
Who cares? As long as Torrentfreak, the BT fan blog posing as news service, plugs another big one.
That’s called marketing, enigmatix style. Or call it cheap Telemarketing.
Why not change change your url to Telemarketingfreak.com? It would be the only truth to ever come off these pages.
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Nows your chance!
All the latest Movies,Appz,Albums, etc from a fast private ftp server.
releases are available minutes and seconds after they are released.
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MVGroup is THE BEST site for great documentaries of any sort. I hope they get back soon. We love you
Sorry to hear that MVGroup and I hope you are back soon. Many thanks to the content you have helped make accesible in the past and also many thanks to letting us (anon site here) host your content from time to time (keeping the mv tag of course). Good luck and see you again soon :)
regards
A tracker admin.
[quote comment="355768"]So the place is complaining after it was shut down because a letter said it was tracking a specific piece of pirated content when it’s actually just tracking lots of other pirated content…..?[/quote]
Ignorance is bliss, hey?
[quote comment="355943"]Of course the carry copyrighted material. Virtually every BBC DVD is ripped and on that site, how is that not breaking copyright. there are also rips of the BBC Connections series from james Burke. That is definitely available commercially at the tune of about $60 per DVD box set. To pretend that there are no copyright violations is simply BS. I’m speaking from someone who has an account at MVGROUP.ORG[/quote]
I believe material provided for educational purposes is not subject to copyright issues. What’s your problem?
love mvgroup glad to her shes still all good, was worried for a few days
I see Americans posting comments here.
Yet another example of the kinds of collateral damage that will become ever more common as the legacy copyright monopolies get ever more desperate. The same pattern occurred during alcohol prohibition, and was arguably one of the primary reasons it was repealed. The costs to society of both the enforcement efforts and the market corruption it caused far exceeded any benefit claimed by the prohibitionists.
The legacy duplication and distribution industries are fighting a dooms-day end of *their* world campaign where any and all means are justified in the defense of *their* interests. From their perspective this may be valid since losing will mean the end of those parts of the legacy industry that fail to adapt to the digital marketplace. Worst of all is that this aggressive no-holds-barred defense is doomed to failure since it seeks to hold back the irresistible tide of technological change.
The legacy duplication and distribution industries are intent on repeating the insanity of “we had to destroy the village in order to save it”. Only this time the “village” being destroyed is our free society, and the cause we are being “saved” from is technological progress.
Seems to me this issue is far larger than music and movies.
Great site for documentaries, particularly BBC. A definite bookmark. Thanks for the update.
Thanks MPAA for making us aware of this site. I love documentaries, and a torrent site dedicated to them sounds awesome.
I was worried. MVGroup is the best tracker around. But it’s totally awesome to hear that it’s going tobe up again.
Actually login page seems to be “working” already but login fails.
So server is up and running. Just site needs some tuning. ;)
What is the link?
thanks i reached to this answer at last :D
This is a huge relief. I’ve been going to MVGroup for a few years now and loved the site from the start. A great collection of documentaries and a great community spirit. Just a few weeks ago I finally donated for the first time and the site vanished. Thought it was bad omen or something :)
on post #51, Joli asks what is the link?
The MVG forums are at http://forums.mvgroup.org – but still not up at this moment.
Anyone not familiar with the titles hosted on MVG tracker can take a look at Mininova for a list :
http://www.mininova.org/search/?search=MVgroup
… returns 500 titles (and there’s a lot more).
Glad to know about the move to a better host. The old one was overpriced, imo.
MVG torrents are usually posted at Mininova and other sites. It’s a great place for documentaries and educational material, plus the user community is top notch, intelligent people. ;-)
While the MVG tracker is down, people with Usenet access can get a lot of items posted there (and enjoy top speeds).
A quick search finds lots of items :
http://www.nzbindex.nl/index.php?go=search&searchitem=MVGroup&age=30&results=25&sort=age_desc&min_size=100&showmoreinfo=1
With all the abuse of power from ISPs in Canada and elsewhere nowadays, Usenet is becoming the best way to go. ;-)
MVGroup has always been the best & is still the best for quality stuff! i’m not aware of any other site where you find these kind of collections. if MVGroup is in need of donations, I’ll be glad to put in a bit – maybe not huge amounts, but definitely smaller amounts, from time to time.
Hey Merrin- MVGroup IS the best site for documentaries, no question about it. IMO, it is a class act- members are friendly and helpful and there is material that sometimes you can’t find anyplace else. I’m going through a little withdrawal so I will be happy to see the site back. And as for ratio nonsense, bah! Through the adoption program or reseeding, you get everything you need.
Should’ve known they exist, i love a good documentary. Thanks torrentfreak.
Thank god!
I’ve been worrying all week about this sudden down time
Mvgroup is the greatest torrent site in existence, no competition.
I couldn’t recommend it more
ps. Thanks torrentfreak for the news..couldn’t find anything about the matter for days
just FYI:
MVgroup servers/trackers are online! so if you have any downloads stuck midway, now is the time to restart them!
of course their main (forum) page is not accessible, yet, but hey at least things are moving!
YAY!
lol the eye. hollywood needs to stop buying asian movies are reguritating them into pile of shit remakes.
Nabbed all the BBC Planet Earth’s from there a few years back. Nice site.
Having no ratio on some sites means that people don’t stick around and seed but MV Group is a bit different in my experience.
I think because most of the users of MV Group are more mature and pro-community than the typical PirateBay user is, even tho its not enforced that members keep seeding their downloaded torrents people still seem to do it.
^^^ because they know they got a good thing going on
P.S. Thank you S E E D E R S !!!
[quote comment="357218"]Thanks MPAA for making us aware of this site. I love documentaries, and a torrent site dedicated to them sounds awesome.[/quote]
I’m really looking forward to this site now that I know its around.
this is a little off topic, but could a moderator confirm the LACK of an IRC channel for this place?
i am positive it would be full of dedicated HELPFUL people….
and i wouldnt leave the place….
i love the site have been going there for yrs now… if you donate to torrent sites they are a good place to spend the $$$…
to me it looks like mvgroup could sue warner brothers for the mistake… they proudly wont sue but for me its the principle of the thing…
good story!!!
there is an irc channel, and it’s at irc.station51.net #mvgroup
[quote comment="358023"]this is a little off topic, but could a moderator confirm the LACK of an IRC channel for this place?
i am positive it would be full of dedicated HELPFUL people….
and i wouldnt leave the place….[/quote]
They do have one, and its active
irc://irc.station51.net/mvgroup
We’re back, site and trackers open, thanks for your support folks. Read the announcements when you log-in.
Thanks again.
Merrin
MVG is back up – enjoy, everybody :victory:
http://forums.mvgroup.org/
noratiofags.
up yours lolpants
I love MVGroup and have been a member there for about 3 years.
The only minor gripe I have is the site is a bit confusing to the newcomer. Other than that it’s a super site.
Keep this up, it’s the last post of Merrin, RIP
This is very stupid we do not break the law
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Long life MVgroup !
All we share is about knowledge….Anti-piracy should think about it !
I use to upload all the docus i buy and i'll continue as long as possible :)
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