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BitTorrent Admin Monitored by US Government, Forced to Dump GNU/Linux

Sk0t, an ex-administrator of the EliteTorrents BitTorrent tracker is to have his internet connection forcibly monitored by the US Government. If that wasn’t bad enough, the monitoring software is Windows based – which means he is being forced to ditch GNU/Linux – or face being barred from the internet.

Scott McCausland (sk0t), the ex-administrator of the EliteTorrents BitTorrent tracker isn’t having much luck lately. Back in September 2006, he pleaded guilty to two charges – ‘conspiracy to commit copyright infringement’ and ‘criminal copyright infringement’. Both charges relate to him uploading ‘Star Wars: Episode III’ onto the internet hours before the theatrical release, earning him 5 months in jail and 5 months home confinement.

Sk0t has now been released from jail but this doesn’t mean that everything is back to normal.

Back on 17 July, sk0t had to see his Probation Officer for the first time and two days later he had to have a special ankle bracelet attached. This monitoring device is there to enforce the terms of his release: Monday to Friday 08:30 to 21:00 he is free to do as he pleases. Weekends are more restrictive – freedom is allocated between 08:30 to 17:00. The one good thing about this device is that it will be removed before Christmas (Dec 19th).

According to a post on his blog, following another meeting with his Probation Officer, it seems sk0t is having more trouble:

So, I am getting shafted by the Justice Department again…”

sk0t was informed by his Probation Officer that he has to have special software installed on his PC so that the government can monitor his online activities. However, what is a more bitter pill to swallow for him is that the monitoring software is Windows only and as sk0t is an Ubuntu user, the Justice Department is forcing him to switch operating systems.

I had a meeting with my probation officer today, and he told me that he has to install monitoring software onto my PC. No big deal to me, that is part of my sentence. However, their software doesnt support GNU/Linux (Which is what I use). So, he told me that if I want to use a computer, I would have to use an OS that the software can be installed on.

Sk0t is left with a tough choice. Give in to the evils of the monitoring software, format his hard drive and install Windows – or be barred from using a PC completely.

Sk0t told TorrentFreak: “I think that this whole situation is just one more way that they can impose their will onto me. I have contacted my attorney, and we are going to fight this. It isn’t the fact that I have to be monitored that bothers me, it is the fact that I have restructure my life (different OS, different software on that OS) and that they would require (force) me to purchase software while I a currently unemployed and relatively unemployable with the 2 felonies that they gave me. It is just a ridiculous situation. Why should I conform to them when I am consenting to the software… they should have software that conforms to me.”

Unfortunately, thanks to the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act, some BitTorrent users are considered criminals these days, which means these unusual measures can be forced upon them. In a society where ‘the punishment should fit the crime’, you can’t help but think that somewhere along the line there’s been a big miscalculation when regular citizens are turned into criminals for sharing files.

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  • Quasit

    “format his hard drive and install Windows”

    Partitioning HDDs isn’t a new invention.

  • Mike

    [quote comment="150798"]“format his hard drive and install Windows”

    Partitioning HDDs isn’t a new invention.[/quote]

    Seeing as how the software is required to RUN while OPERATING, partitioning a HD seems pretty moronic. You can’t boot into two OS’s at once.

    He COULD however run a VMware computer ontop of his windows installation.

  • sk0t

    I AM NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE AN INTERNET CONNECTION THAT ISNT MONITORED. Which means I cant be on the computer unless I use windows… so partitioning a useless drive for 2 years is worthless.

  • hansel

    what about using this software with Wine or crossover ?

  • hansel

    oh i forgot to mention: only in the U.S. a private person is forced to buy a commercial product by government. is that what u understand of liberal capitalism ? sounds kinda communism to me…

  • VashTS544

    The point is, he doesn’t have money to pay for $100-$500 dollars worth of Microsoft software just so some cops can put their crappy VB.NET monitoring software on his computer. Unless the Justice Dept. buys him this software so that their software would work, he should not be subjugated to changing his primary operating system and selling his organs to do so. This is serious, if they want to, they can throw him back in jail for refusing a court order/probation terms. There needs to be a compromise somewhere…

  • VashTS544

    @ Hansel
    No, this is Corporate Capitalism…

  • John

    Oh dear, the land of the free, ey?
    The way things are going, they’ll tell you what to eat and where to defecate sometime soon. Repugnant Administration.
    Cheer up sk0t!

  • sk0t

    Well, what it comes down to is this… they cant support Linux… and even though I AM CONSENTING TO THE MONITORING SOFTWARE… the software cannot be installed because I do not use windows… so basically I have to switch to comply with their rules…

    I will keep you posted on the rulings in this matter.

  • JD2

    he needs to tell them that he has to find a torrent so that he can download a copy of windows… :)

  • afgod

    Bah.
    Poor guy.
    Poor country.

  • commiebstrd

    I’m sure he’s thought of this but don’t they have some sort of router or modem that will monitor him, and if it is taken off the internet it can send a message to our wonderful government when it’s reconnected. Sorry your gettin screwed by the system man.

  • Jeff

    What about less acceptance and more resistance from normal people in that obviously fucked up country? Good Heaven, I just can’t understand this passive attitude you’ve got there.

  • Nitrate Row

    That’s horrible. You upload digital files to people over the internet and they do this to you (i’m talking about the whole thing; jail, monitoring, etc, them forcing windows on to you is bad too :P).

  • Alan

    Give me a break, pop another HD in the machine and set up a dual boot. It’s your own fault that you need to face the “hardships”.

    It seems that people that have no compunctions about breaking the law scream the loudest when they have to pay for the crime.

    Put on some Big Boy pants, Sk0t.

  • Alan

    [quote comment="150810"]oh i forgot to mention: only in the U.S. a private person is forced to buy a commercial product by government. is that what u understand of liberal capitalism ? sounds kinda communism to me…[/quote]

    He is not forced to install Windows. He can always just not access the internet.

  • shinku

    Alan you are a dick. You probably work for the MPAA nazis.

    sk0t you should set something up where you can accept donations. I would send you some money to help you through the hard times.

    A lot of people sympathise with you because they know you are not a criminal and that millions of other people are just as “guilty” as you.

    You have been made into a martyr for the cause of freedom. You just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and got fucked by the corporate greed machine.

    Fuck the system and fuck the MPAA nazis. Long live freedom.

  • IhateTHEM

    Sk0t TAKE THEM TO COURT AND TELL THOSE FUCKING PAKI’S THAT YOU’RE NOT GONNA DO WHAT THEY WANT!!

  • eltopo

    oh how my heart bleeds! how about just using a windows server as a router and have the spyware run on it. better yet, install vmware on the ubuntu machine and route from ubuntu to vmware and back, while monitoring on vmware.

    and dont tell me that’d just cost more money.. any half-assed geek has at least two computers. I’ve got three I own in the same room as me right now.
    what about an msdnaa version of xp or vista, or whatever he needs. it’s really not hard to get ahold of an account. scratch that – all he needs is an msdnaa key.

    oh dear, how my heart bleeds for this sob story.

  • sk0t

    OK guys, for all of you with the bleeding hearts…

    Lets weigh some things:

    And we will see how thine heart bleeds:

    Lets weight returning back to prison by bypassing their monitoring softwares, and we will weigh that against putting up a legal stand against an unjust sentence requirement forcing me to switch to conform to their standards…

    I wonder if eltopo and alan would be willing to serve my sentence if I follow their methods… I doubt it.

  • An0nym0us

    sk0t,
    its in your best interests to have your lawyer put his all into this because you are seriously getting “1 Ass RApinG by thE Government AfTer anotHER & UNder the unITED states”

    “The Vision”
    i feel deep inside you will be assisted … but be warned as things aren’t what they seem at first. be sure to DIG DEEP to find the hidden truth. you will know when its time from a sign “161315 4:20xx”. . .

  • RC

    “Unfortunately, thanks to the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act, some BitTorrent users are considered criminals these days, which means these unusual measures can be forced upon them.”

    He is a criminal. I’ve got no problem with ripping your CD’s or DVD’s for personal use but uploading the film before theatrical release? Yeah, that’s criminal.

  • Mike

    I second the VMware idea. Keep using Ubuntu, and setup a Win98SE guest running the monitoring software and ICS (Internet Connection Sharing).

    Then all your Ubuntu originated internet traffic will be routed through the Windows guest. The processor/memory overhead of Win98SE should be pretty low, plus you could also install Peer Guardian in it.

    It’s not ideal, but that’s what I would do in your situation. Good luck man.

  • casey

    sk0t:

    I too have been to jail before, and I know first hand how much it sucks. Its shitty that you are going through all this. I would definately throw a donate button on your site though, I’m sure you would get enough to purchase a legitimate copy of Winblowz, or someone may even send you a legal copy of it before then. However, I don’t think that this would be something that you could win. If it is a requirement of your probation that you must use this specific software to use the internet, than I think that is what it will be. Either use Windows + the software. Or don’t use a computer at all.

    Hope everything works out, and please… keep us posted. Thnx.

  • cwraig

    Can you not install a windows gateway and point your ubuntu machine through that?? that way the windows machine can monitor your traffic but you can still use ubuntu on your desk

  • dave

    Sk0t if you want any form of life, after you’re finished with probation I suggest you leave the country. They will never leave you alone.

    I suggest somewhere in Europe, maybe UK or Sweden ;)

  • Anonymous

    sk0t,

    I have one question. Do you have to have the monitoring software installed for a short period or the rest of your life? If it is for rest of your days maybe consider going over seas.
    Kevin Mitnick fought back when he was not allowed to use a computer. He now can access the Internet through a judge ruling in his favor. I have not seen anything about his computer being tapped as yours soon will be. Good Luck, Long Live Linux.

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  • lamp

    A lot of people have to do way worse stuff when they are on parole. I’m sympathetic to “copyright infringers”, but he just needs to deal. ALSO, you need to pretend to be remorseful and thankful after you get busted so bitching about some little lame thing they make you do is a give away that you aren’t broken. Breaking the person is the whole point of all this shit, otherwise they would have to keep people locked up for a long time instead of shock sentences.

  • Robere’ Renoit

    If it all wasn’t supposed to be some large secret, the court could just acknowledge that his internet use is already being monitored along with the rest of us. In addition to that the RIAA/MPAA etc. already monitor for everything the court is interested in which is how he got busted in the first place. Forcing him to install the courts silly software is ludicrous on its face for any real world effectiveness but then the court is quite likely to be making money from the process.

    In my state the prisoner has to pay substantial fees covering both the bracelet and the monitoring service. Last I recall that cost was approximately $15/day plus the prisoner had to install a dedicated (wired) phone line if not otherwise available. Like phone calls and commissary from jail/prison, all such prices are hyper inflated and the court/police garner a hefty cut from providing the feedstock into these various prison industries which are also co-joined with a multitude of vertical up sells.

    If a person or family has the money, this modicum of additional freedom might be worth the expense but those without the necessary resources simply get to sit it out. Such is not the preference of county governments and municipalities which far prefer to make money from prisoners via work release and or the bracelet for simply incarcerating them in traditional jails is far less lucrative.

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  • David

    OK, use winblows chunks, install their POS monitoring toolset, install virtualbox, and reinstall Ubuntu under virtualbox, profit!

  • doj_stupidity

    Why not to buy vista, latest office, visual studio and charge it all to the justice dep. then ask for a refund for m$ and run the monitor software with wine?

  • me

    Its part of his probation? Probation is not mandatory he can choose to go back in jail, correct? What’s his problem?

    Probation has tons of limitations, its part of the deal you make to give up some rights to stay out of jail. If part of his probation was he had to attend some sort of counceling usually there is a list of places he can go, he can’t choose any random one he finds… if none of the places are local and he can’t afford bus fair or a car then thats his problem… go back to jail if he can’t handle it. Same with this, you can’t afford a Windows OS? Don’t use any. Still not happy? Go to jail. All choices. He started all this making his inital decicsion to break the law. COnsequences are a bitch.

  • d03boy

    Well… Might as well start seeding the torrent again… can’t be charged for the same crime twice can you? Not sure if that applies but it might just be funny enough to look into it.

  • me

    “Well… Might as well start seeding the torrent again… can’t be charged for the same crime twice can you? Not sure if that applies but it might just be funny enough to look into it.”

    You are so clever and smart. When a rapist gets out of jail he can continue to rape the person as he can’t get charged again! YEA! THAT WOULD BE FUNNY, LOL.

  • Ryan

    I suppose you think they should have OS X and Solaris clients as well?

    I’ve done very well in life by not being under someone else’s thumb as much as possible. I think that if you’d tried harder to avoid getting caught, you might have room to complain.

  • John

    This is bullshit.

  • Kra

    Millions of Americans work with felonies. Don’t let that be an excuse – just let it be what it really is: an Experience that you have walked through.

  • quinkin

    Monitoring software?

    Surely their issue is network rather monitoring desktop use, so why use software to begin with?

    I would trust a hardwired network monitor/logger more than software.

  • Cabe

    First (though I’m not surprised) I’m amazed at all of the self serving holier than thou crap comments.

    sk0t, unfortunately this is the way it goes. While you may not agree with today’s copyright laws (and nor do I) this is what happens when you get caught breaking a law. Eventually (hopefully) they will be lifted, and you should definitely fight it. You knew the consequences when you broke the law and it eventually caught up to you. That doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference, it just means life is going to suck for a while.

    Playing the “this law sucks” card isn’t going to work for you, you need to be as professional as you can be about this. Suggest changes and maybe compromises and show you are willing to work with the legal system instead of against it. This doesn’t always work but you never know. If you can, fight it and let them know in a professional matter why you use Linux and that its not some ‘copyright infringement hacker tool.’ Provide solid reasoning and you might be surprised of the outcome.

    You may be innocent in the moral (though subjective) sense but you are not in the legal sense, and that was proven by the sentencing.

    Don’t listen to the ‘use a VM’ and comments of the like. You don’t want to rock the boat. If they say ‘use windows’ and you skirt by using something else however creatively, it will be viewed as a violation of your probation. Remember, your not dealing with smart IT guys and in a lot of cases, you already have a mark against you as ‘that hacker kid.’ It doesn’t happen as often as it use to but it still does.

    Good luck.

  • Dragon64

    This is the RIAA having it’s way!!

    If you want it to stop, protest and boycott the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)

    boycott the RIAA’s offices and stop buying CD’s and DVD’s and going to the Movies!

    The only way it will stop is if it hurts their pockets!!

  • Matt

    Oh poor f*ckin boy.

    You break the law and now your bitchin because you are made to use Windows.

    Something about making your bed and laying in it.

    Boohoo.

  • lol

    Would this kid stop crying?

  • Jasper van Weerd

    Maybe try this skOt…

    Use a porting program, install it on the windows computer thats connected to internet with the listening program, thats allows your computer to share its internet connection. This way you can run Linux on your next computer and they monitor all they want, isn’t it? *would be fun to send encrypted data from Ubuntu in this situation…*

  • Mike Reiner

    sk0t, your an idiot. You’re getting exactly what you deserve.

  • Ed

    If windows is supplied along with their monitoring software, then I’d probably say he has to deal with it. But no way should he have to buy windows in order to comply.

    Still, to have to agree to the windows EULA would suck.

  • NItrate Row

    [quote]I second the VMware idea. Keep using Ubuntu, and setup a Win98SE guest running the monitoring software and ICS (Internet Connection Sharing).

    Then all your Ubuntu originated internet traffic will be routed through the Windows guest. The processor/memory overhead of Win98SE should be pretty low, plus you could also install Peer Guardian in it.[/quote]

    Peerguardian? You expect someone to use torrents while being monitored by fascists?

    [quote]go back to jail if he can’t handle it. Same with this, you can’t afford a Windows OS? Don’t use any. Still not happy? Go to jail. All choices.[/quote]

    Well now isn’t that a lot of choice…

    [quote]I suppose you think they should have OS X and Solaris clients as well?[/quote]

    Well, if the government was to serve the people, then that would be a good idea. BSD too (though if the government served the people then people wouldn’t go to jail for sharing). But this is the time of people serving government, it’s not gonna happen…

  • Chris Taylor

    I would refuse to install the software and simply tell them shut off my internet for 5 months. Thats all his probation is right? after that he can do what he wants. I would rather have no internet for 5 months than put up with this.

  • Chris Taylor

    FYI what he did WAS criminal and he should and was properly punished for it. (sorry facts are facts no matter how much I hate the MPAA etc..) but a FELONY it is not and should never be. This should be a CIVIL matter AS WAS INTENDED buy original copyright laws. Remember the DMCA is NOT LAW. its illegal and was null and void the moment it was signed. The problem is the law has no real meaning. ENFORCEMENT is everything and even though the DMCA is not lawful and null and void its ENFORCED. See the problem ??

  • JoeE

    not to be obvious or anything, but is anyone else not thinking that maybe skOt should have used a different username, and encrypted the upload… maybe put a few redirects in the way. sure it would have slowed the upload, but then he would never have been caught in the first place and we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now. But those restrictions are a little harsh for filesharing. And there is no f’ing way I’d let the man screw with my OS. If they told me I couldn’t use my computer the way I choose to use it, I would get out of the country, and find somewhere else to live. Go underground. Basically , FUCK THA’ MAN!

  • Mike

    I haven’t read through all the comments but…

    He could run a virtual machine on windows and use his linux formatted partition to get the image from (a bit tricky though)

    Second, windows supports ICS so he might be able to route his traffic through an old box.

    Either way requires money though, just less of it.

  • Stephen

    I’m a little confused:

    Is it part of your probation that your internet access is to be monitored, or that your computer usage is to be monitored?

    Because this demand seems to lean towards the “computer usage” side of things. Or else, wouldn’t it be easier for the government simply to use the already-in-place CALEA functions of your ISP?

  • me

    ” go back to jail if he can’t handle it. Same with this, you can’t afford a Windows OS? Don’t use any. Still not happy? Go to jail. All choices.

    Well now isn’t that a lot of choice…”

    Why not put in the rest of the quote?

    “He started all this making his inital decicsion to break the law.”

    That was the only important choice to make. Bunch of whiners, go cry to mommy.

  • George

    If I were you sk0t, I would comply with whatever they want, but then go to an internet cafe for an hour a day. Beating the system that way will make you feel better.

  • chronos

    we all know the penalties..no use bitching about them after the fact

    man up

  • Shadow

    Sk0t, get an old computer and throw windows on it, and then use ICS to use it as a gateway. Assuming their monitoring software isn’t absolute shit, it will see the packets going through the windows box.

    If their monitoring software is shit, then perhaps offer them a deal while in court: You’ll keep pcap output from wireshark or something. If their monitoring software doesn’t actually monitor _network_ traffic, then they have issues.

  • mynous

    Why not just use your linux box as you normally do sans internet surfing and file sharing. Then when you HAVE to use the internet for email or just your browsing pleasure you use their monitored connection. This would even allow you to keep using things like OpenOffice and just transfer it to the Win-Crap-os box when you need to send a document or the like. Its not an ideal situation and you wont be in one until the whole ordeal is over but it sure as hell beats using/buying all the programs you would need to use on the monitored machine.

    Good luck fighting it though. Im rooting for you!

  • mynous

    By the way i would NOT recommend any of the internet sharing that people have suggested. That just has going back to jail written all over it.

  • badnews

    “Why should I conform to them when I am consenting to the software… they should have software that conforms to me.”

    Another Linux user moaning because the world doesnt revolve around him and his choice of operating system. Ill keep that statement in mind if ever I get myself a felony and argue that their prison clothes goes against my sense of fashion.

  • Mike

    [quote comment="151079"]Peerguardian? You expect someone to use torrents while being monitored by fascists?[/quote]

    @NItrate Row – Peer Guardian can block advertisements and spyware. Quite useful on Windows don’t you think? Peer Guardian does not imply torrenting in any way, dumb ass.

  • You Got Owned

    Haha

    OWNED SO HARD

  • USA RULESZZZ

    USA is based on Freedom. Your government attacks other countries cause they are not as free as USA. Tell you what, this is another case which proves to the world that USA is not free, and it has no morals of FREEDOM. Pffft how ridiculous is USA government! They are torturing their people and telling the world they are free!

  • Mike Jones

    Get your neighbour to set up a wireless network and buy yourself a new laptop ;)

  • smartalec

    he mate, im on your side
    but then your fighting the goverment an there so called laws,
    there tryiny to make you stuff up big time so they can put you in jail.. saying for the win soft only was there way of baiting you
    I myself have gotten into trouble an have a felliony as well due to the internet, but i agree i was stupid (i got caught), so i did what they said for 3yrs, moral of the story, put up with there shit cause it wont happen for too much longer mate.. (think of happy days, goverments getting bommed..lmao)

  • Vos

    Flee to canada/mexico while you can!

  • Manjan

    Hey Government: Why don’t you go after FOX for not paying their taxes, THEN go after the little guy.

    “Newscorp Investments had made £1.4 billion ($2.1 billion) in profits over the previous 11 years but had paid no net corporation tax. It further reported, after an examination of what was available of the accounts, that Newscorp would normally have expected to pay a corporate tax of approximately $350 million.”

  • Vos

    On second thoughts you should Object on the grounds that Windows is patently insecure and that you could not in good concious use it and comply with the court order at the same time. Quote a few security experts on the availablity of exploits for Windows and point out that your status in the media and as a cyber criminal would make you a prime target for those exploits. It may also be advantageous to suggest that allowing you to have the monitoring software may reveal secret technology to 3rd partys, like hackers. And that such revalations would be outside of your control as you didn’t choose the O/S and therefore didn’t choose the vulnerabilities that came with it.

  • Wow

    Boohoo. You got caught. Pay the consequences, and STFU.

  • zorg

    wow, lots of cluelessness here. Allow me to explain. Reality here is defined by the justice system, not geeks. Any deviation from their directions results in instant jail, and new criminal charges, and more jail. Even if he complies, visiting one web site they don’t like = instant jail. The monitoring software is just an invitation to incriminate himself. To these people, ‘ubuntu’ is an illicit criminal tool – and they know a judge who will believe that.

    Sk0t would be better off with no internet or computer use for now. If he finds a job, they will have less or no influence over the employers computers.

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  • badnews

    Could hve been worse, they could have banned him from going anywhere near a computer ala Gary McKinnon. Or would that be better? At least then there would be nothing to complain about. Fact is, unfortunately, he now has 2 felonys, one more and it will be bumsecs for life. Sell your crap and find something else to do with your time.

  • A-Train

    :D Know what’s awesome? This bullshit would -never- happen in my country!

  • h4xp3t

    Those of you who are complacently using Windows anyway in your everyday lives probably cannot begin to understand what a punishment it is in and of itself to be forced to use Windows.

    Perhaps you could alert the judge to the fact that this additional burden ought to be compensated by reducing some other part of the sentence.

    Seriously, it’s not about the money, it’s about the principle to be forced to sponsor Microsoft even though the free alternatives are superior in terms of flexibility and utility.

  • Sam Liddicott

    Either use internet connection sharing so it can monitor linux traffic, or do what I did and install coLinux which can boot a real linux partition as a windows service.

    Cygwin’s X server then lets you login.

    You have to freak the ubuntu startup slightly so it doesn’t startx or die when it can’t find a graphics card, so maybe boot into singleuser more first and start services 1 by 1 till you find what makes it stick.

  • youreahat

    To all those who are telling sk0t to put up and shut up, why the hell are you even on this site in the first place? You’re either grubby little leeches who don’t bother to help seed the torrents they download, or the world’s biggest hypocrites. We sympathize for sk0t because in a “normal” country, this wouldn’t even be a crime, let alone a felony. This would be the same as someone recording a movie via tape recorder, and taking it to a buddy’s house to watch it with a few friends, who also want copies of it. It would be nice for Canada to take sk0t, but not sure if he can even get in here considering he has a 2 felony criminal record attached to his name.

  • Seven Alive

    I can’t believe it. Here is what you do, install windows. Then if you need to go “off the record” for internet access (lol), use a cellphone, psp, OR THE WII, YES GET A WII. FULL NET ACCESS THEY CANT MONITOR AND ITS NOT A PC! I can’t believe nobody thought of that.

    It sucks ass, i got in trouble also. Paramount Pic’s got my isp and shit. Said i was seeding Hot Rod. Uh No, i downloaded the avi about 45%, stopped the torrent, played in media player, and yes it was that fake bs about downloading a player thats really a virus. Damn morons, it was a STING OP lol.

    Anyway, wtf good is a plea deal, the one i took for something related didnt, said i get probation, and i could get fines, jail, blah blah blah. So wtf is the point of the Deal?

  • ChevronX

    Niceone yourahat. I second it!

    “To all those who are telling sk0t to put up and shut up, why the hell are you even on this site in the first place? You’re either grubby little leeches who don’t bother to help seed the torrents they download, or the world’s biggest hypocrites. We sympathize for sk0t because in a “normal” country, this wouldn’t even be a crime, let alone a felony. This would be the same as someone recording a movie via tape recorder, and taking it to a buddy’s house to watch it with a few friends, who also want copies of it. It would be nice for Canada to take sk0t, but not sure if he can even get in here considering he has a 2 felony criminal record attached to his name.” – youreahat

  • Jason Scott

    just like some poor country, in usa there is no law…”big” bosses just make whatever they want and not caring about anyone else…so usa is no better then some afganistan or iraq…war and money rules…no law

    (but as a little hope…bush is stepping down in less then 1½ year…maybe then innocent peoples stop dying…FFS just buy the oil, dont go to war for it!!!)

  • DiGiToL_WaRRioR

    All you people giving him options on how to abide by his condition, while keeping ubuntu forgot oneof his issues. Out of principle or his budget, he stil would need to install windows. Maybe Mr Bill Gates will issue him a complimentary copy as a good gesture for leaving the linux community.. lol. anyways.. Im with you sk0t. By the way.. what is this software. Who makes it. And I wonder what else this mandatory software does.

    That whole double jeopardy thing is an interesting concept though. May just work.

    Im praying for you bud!!

  • Jason Scott

    [quote comment="151162"]:D Know what’s awesome? This bullshit would -never- happen in my country![/quote]

  • Galleic

    Tell him to leave the US after his Probation is up. TELL HIM TO LEAVE THE FU*KING USA.

  • Max101

    This is a fake message.

    Don’t believe this guy.

  • nathan

    his fuck-up, his problem.

  • Goofball Jones

    Wait, is this FOREVER? Or just until your probation is over?

    I mean, for the rest of your life you can never ever use Linux again and you’ll always have to be monitored? How could they impose that at all? After a while, you will have paid your dept to society and done your time…therefore it should be over.

    Also, since when did copyright violations equal jail time? I thought this was all a civil matter.

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  • AbdouRetro

    Well He Should Move to Russia or some other country that accomodates Hackers and pirates ,and Ditch the USA ,as he knows well that living within the USA will no longer be any good

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  • videoman413

    Wow, some rabid readers here.
    First he broke the law, that you all don’t like it is irrelevant.
    He doesn’t have to comply, he can go back to jail, or as has been suggested, just give up the net for a while. I have a third idea… Why not offer to write a linux based version of the monitoring software. It helps you, or anyone else who might get in your position in the future.
    Whine less, think outside the box. (god I hate that phrase). Be PROACTIVE. Your probation officer might even be impressed with your efforts, and good reports are important for early release.

  • T D

    The US Government can’t code for Linux?

  • anonymous

    Dear Skot. I have read a lot of suggestions on installing the spyware under vmware or wine in Linux. However, as you state this kind of legal shit is not to be played with (guy, it is your life, fuck what all of us say).

    However I could recommend you to do following. Install Windows, install nothing but the spyware over there. Then just install VMWARE (the player or the server, which is free too). You can then install Ubuntu on the virtual machine. All the traffic will still be passing through the Windows spyware, and you will be able to use your Linux system with all the apps.

    That is the way I have Linux at home, with VMWARE server + xming+putty+Ubuntu, I can run whatever Linux app (I personally use Kile a lot) and still have Windows running.

  • mnml

    Are they going to offer him the Windows license?

    :x

  • Nitrate Row

    [quote]@NItrate Row – Peer Guardian can block advertisements and spyware. Quite useful on Windows don’t you think? Peer Guardian does not imply torrenting in any way, dumb ass.[/quote]

    Peerguardian is mainly used for P2P.

    Odd how you insult people over the internet for something as frivolous as this :)

    Anyway, move to a country that doesn’t hate freedom as much as America (which happens to be many countries in the world).

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  • Some Guy

    hey sk0t, I’ve got an idea. go ahead, do it their way. get the windows, install the software, make it a router and use linux or whatever. Then encrypt all of your traffic. Just make sure that it’s all useless traffic. You know, maybe make a program that sends an email to the Justice Department regarding your unfair treatment. Send it ever hour on the hour. Encrypt all traffic, then when they tell you to stop, tell them you’ll happily supply the passphrase, then change the encryption type/passphrase. Do this every single day. Your situation sucks, don’t bitch about it, have some fun with it. Make the tax payers pay for it. The money is being wasted one way or another, might as well play with it yourself somehow.

    Not that I condone any of the activities that led to your unfortunate circumstances, but hey, grow some ballz. Got screwed, guess what, gonna stay that way, might as well spit in their eye while they’re doing it.

  • Mike

    [quote comment="151297"]Peerguardian is mainly used for P2P.[/quote]
    Care to quote sources? Out of the box, PG can block 5 different lists: Spyware, Advertisements, Government, Educational and P2P addresses.

    [quote comment="151297"]Odd how you insult people over the internet for something as frivolous as this :)[/quote]
    Odd how you insult those monitoring internet activity by labeling them “fascists”. It’s their job. If you want someone to blame, maybe the judge, legal system or probation officer is a better place to direct your teenage angst?

  • Daleus

    Can you not open an SSH connection from your Forced windows machine to a server owned by you, or a friend on the internet?

    I’m not sure if SSH2 has been cracked, or how easy it is to sniff, but better than nothing.

    (oh, don’t forget that in firefox you need to go into about:config and set network.proxy.socks_remote_dns to true to stop DNS leakage.

  • Nitrate Row

    [quote]Care to quote sources? Out of the box, PG can block 5 different lists: Spyware, Advertisements, Government, Educational and P2P addresses.[/quote]

    http://phoenixlabs.org/pg2/

    “PeerGuardian 2 is Phoenix Labs’ premier IP blocker for Windows. PeerGuardian 2 integrates support for multiple lists, list editing, automatic updates, and blocking all of IPv4 (TCP, UDP, ICMP, etc), making it the safest and easiest way to protect your privacy on P2P.”

    “Phoenix Labs and the PeerGuardian team do not condone copyright infringement. There are many legal uses of P2P and we are sick of being treated like criminals! We want to keep organizations and individuals from collecting data about us without our consent.”

    [quote]Odd how you insult those monitoring internet activity by labeling them “fascists”. It’s their job.[/quote]

    Monitored by fascists / Monitored by the government.

    I wasn’t talking about the individuals doing the actual monitoring, but what they are doing is still bad.

    Just saying “it’s their job” isn’t an excuse to do it.

  • Jason Godsey

    Spend the time going to university. Don’t play their game. Better yourself in the 5 years they have you under their thumb.

  • DiGiToL_WaRRioR

    [quote comment="151287"]The US Government can’t code for Linux?[/quote]
    It aint that. Bill Gates probably gave a nice donation to the state’s senate or something..

    a few years from now “The Microsoft Supreme Court”

  • Richard M

    those mother fuckers! that would piss me off so bad if they were looking over my shoulder like that… i would find a way to get around that though..

  • DiGiToL_WaRRioR

    Now that I think about it… and keep in mind I support this guy, and Im on his side… but he is lucky he isnt banned from using electronics, or computers all together for a couple years. It could have been worse.. Thank god for the internet almost being refered to as a nessesity for life like water and hydro.

    So governed internet is better than no internet at all. If he looks up porn he should just look up ugly/fat chicks just to bug the monitoring people

  • AvangionQ

    I’m quite amazed that the US Government doesn’t have the resources to hire a programmer to create a spyware program to monitor Linux based Operating Systems. I mean, they’ve invaded our privacy and reduced our civil liberties in most other ways I can think of, why not add one more to the growing list.

  • Dave

    Somebody needs to develop some Linux open-source net monitoring software… :P

    I feel for you sk0t, but I doubt the government cares that you can’t use Linux. =( It might be a hopeless fight but hang in there.

  • Anonymous

    My answer would be “fine then, I will have no Internet connection for X long” followed by “then you can put me back in jail because I WILL NOT use M$ bugware” if they still insist.

    (Also, this sort of possibility is a reason that all my computers after this one will be likely be non-x86.
    Something nice about having hardware that, put simply, CANNOT run Wincrash. :) )

  • soullexx

    sk0t if u need a new hard drive and WIndows OS I’m willing to help if the fight doesn’t go well.

  • John

    Don’t give in you pussy.

  • dl-ku

    [quote]Thank god for the internet almost being refered to as a nessesity for life like water and hydro.[/quote]

    ?!?

    Water is hydro :P

  • Mark

    My god, what an insane sentence for downloading a movie. Scott, you’re like a dog on a fucking leash because you ‘let your friends sneak into the drive-in movie theater’! Agreed, you must have had about a million friends, but still no reason to treat you like a criminal.

    If the government can now also let you pay for things they force upon you, well… You are en route towards a fascist state. Basically, there is no more control over your money, because the state can order where it should go.

    You know, people get killed. In your country they sell firearms openly in the store for God’s sake! Let the Justice Departement go after some real threats.

    Oh wait, I forgot, we are the real threat…

  • Mark

    [quote comment="151365"]I’m quite amazed that the US Government doesn’t have the resources to hire a programmer to create a spyware program to monitor Linux based Operating Systems. I mean, they’ve invaded our privacy and reduced our civil liberties in most other ways I can think of, why not add one more to the growing list.[/quote]

    Maybe this only shows that they haven’t figured out Linus yet.

    Hmm… Now that’s a nice thought.

    *Switches to Linux*

  • a

    If I were you, I’d just spend the time in jail and get the free food/housing on the taxpayers’ dime.

  • Kristian Poul Herkild

    Seems to me that the politicians in USA have forgotten the three legal principles of proportion, legality and equality.

    This punishment would be illegal in Denmark (§77 in the Danish Constitution). And the punishment is out of proportion. Completely out of proportion. Too bad the left and the right in USA have managed to undermine the US Constitution – and completely disregard the Human Rights.

  • Crom

    Let’s see.. at this point I’d probably try and leave the United States. Sweden!

  • DDT

    Welcome to Amerika
    It’s called Fascism.
    Scott must have had an idiot for a lawyer, “ABA”. Have all of you here got your national ID card yet?

    No Sympathy For The Ignorant.

    http://www.infowars.com/

  • Onektwenty4

    wasnt there somebody recently who got windows to boot from a usb-key? but then again, that software might be copyright infringment as well.

    oh well…

  • Bale

    Keep fighting Sk0t, and thank you for putting yourself at risk for other peoples pleasure and benefit!

    What all you haters seem to forget is that this man did something that is getting very rare nowadays, doing something for others (sharing a movie) without any personal gain + a lot of risk!

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  • shawners

    YOu get all this freeshit from ELITE TORRENTS and bitch because you have to spend 200 bucks for windows xp.. You need a reality check.. THe governement didnt screw you, you screwed the government and now your just have to do your time and instead of bitching about it.

  • Emperor

    [quote comment="150939"]Alan you are a dick. You probably work for the MPAA nazis.

    sk0t you should set something up where you can accept donations. I would send you some money to help you through the hard times.

    A lot of people sympathise with you because they know you are not a criminal and that millions of other people are just as “guilty” as you.

    You have been made into a martyr for the cause of freedom. You just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and got fucked by the corporate greed machine.

    Fuck the system and fuck the MPAA nazis. Long live freedom.[/quote]

    I agree, we should start fighting these guys one way or the other.

  • Damned

    These kinda stuff kan only happen in US. In the name of law f**k everyone.

  • Damned

    eh “shawners” r u a police dog!

  • NItrate Row

    [quote]THe governement didnt screw you, you screwed the government and now your just have to do your time and instead of bitching about it.[/quote]

    He didn’t harm anyone. He just shared a digital file to people over the internet.

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  • StoneCold

    You’re a F’N MORON!!!

  • BadMoodGuy

    While it is true that probation is optional (don’t like it, go back to jail). It is also true that they can’t make arbitrary demands for probation. “You can have probation if you hop around on one foot 3 hours a day” doesn’t work. So the question is, is forcing MS Windows use, reasonable or not? Some judge that doesn’t know that the internet explorer icon on his gateway computer isn’t what the internet is, will decide that. Sk0t is so screwed. Say hello to clippy for me.

  • easyemu

    This reminds me of A Clockwork Orange when Alex can no longer listen to Beethoven’s ninth.

    Can someone not get a legal copy of the software and figure out a way to get this to work for sk0t?

  • easyemu

    [quote comment="151512"]This reminds me of A Clockwork Orange when Alex can no longer listen to Beethoven’s ninth.

    Can someone not get a legal copy of the software and figure out a way to get this to work for sk0t?[/quote]

    Edit: I meant get this to work under wine for sk0t.

  • Bill Jones

    Knoppix. The government apparently is not too bright (ok, really not bright). The family entertainment and copyright act makes me look like a crimminal too, because I use bittorrent to get linux (full versions), and related software, plus movies created under the cc license. OH NO! He’s downloading movies via bittorrent, CRIMMINAL! They will all shout, even though the license allows it all legally, and the original owners wanted and intended it to be distributed this way (went out of their way to distribute this way too).

  • xeon

    at least they arent making you use an apple…

  • Falcon4

    Well, sk0t, lemme get you set on the right foot with Windows. nLite. It’s required with any Windows installation. Never let plain Windows touch your computer. Best of all, it’s legal to use. ;)

    Hopefully you’ll learn to ninja Windows the same as you can probably already ninja Linsux. Except Windows doesn’t suck, and has many millions more users. ;)

    Fuck Vista.

    http://nliteos.com

  • StoneCold

    [quote comment="151448"]YOu get all this freeshit from ELITE TORRENTS and bitch because you have to spend 200 bucks for windows xp.. You need a reality check.. THe governement didnt screw you, you screwed the government and now your just have to do your time and instead of bitching about it.[/quote]

    Hey shawners you’re a F’N moron and he didnt screw the Government they screwed him instead dumb ass!!! Hey sk0t fuck the US government!!! The only way they will take my computers is over my DEAD F’N body. If they want to stop me they will have to KILL me otherwise I won’t be stopped from using the internet and torrents and usenet. Also I am well armed and an expert shot as well. Im not afraid of the F’N PIGS if they want some then I say come get some!!! I’m well prepared with 3000 rounds of teflon coated hollow point armor piercing 9mm rounds and then the PIGS will have a bloodbath on their hands for what sharing some F’N video files over the internet? F-CK THE MPAA, RIAA, BSA, FBI, CIA, US GOVERNMENT, ETC. Face reality file sharing will never, ever be stopped no matter how much they would like to think they can stop it because Information is POWER and the sooner they realize that fact and figure out they will never stop ThePirateBay.org or the usenet as much as they would like to do so. The Pirate Bay in case you people forgot gave Hollywood the middle finger 2 days after they were taken down and the MPAA and RIAA can F-CK off forever as far as Im concerned!!!

  • ruinevil

    Stop using a computer and read alot for the next five months.

  • Michael B. Trausch

    [quote comment="150808"]I AM NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE AN INTERNET CONNECTION THAT ISNT MONITORED. Which means I cant be on the computer unless I use windows… so partitioning a useless drive for 2 years is worthless.[/quote]

    Did the insanity of using a software-based solution on the PC to be monitored evade them? Wouldn’t it make more sense to preserve the freedom to choose to avoid proprietary software altogether, and use a monitoring device at the connection’s entry-point into the residence? Or monitor the connection from the vantage point of the ISP (and make *damn* sure that it’s limited to just the involved party)?

    This wreaks of injustice to me.

  • Michael B. Trausch

    [quote comment="150815"]The point is, he doesn’t have money to pay for $100-$500 dollars worth of Microsoft software just so some cops can put their crappy VB.NET monitoring software on his computer. Unless the Justice Dept. buys him this software so that their software would work, he should not be subjugated to changing his primary operating system and selling his organs to do so. This is serious, if they want to, they can throw him back in jail for refusing a court order/probation terms. There needs to be a compromise somewhere…[/quote]

    Except that if the government buys yet another license of Windows for this purpose, then *we* have to pay for it. That’s not a desirable solution, either. I abhor paying for the licenses of Windows that I pay for every year on April 15 as it is.

  • StoneCold

    F-CK BUSH. HE IS NOTHING MORE THEN PRESIDENT ADOLF “COCKSUCKER” HITLER!!! And if you dont like that fact tough titty said the F’N kitty and the milk is still shitty!!!

  • torrent

    So… This seems pretty easy to me…

    Don’t break the law, moron.

    If I get a DUI, and later I want to drive, I have to buy special expensive insurance. Same type of deal here. You have a choice, you just don’t like it.

    This guy wasn’t a casual file sharer, his actions were tantamount to grand theft.

    Stop complaining.

  • ben

    Why don’t you start a blog? You need a job anyways… obviously, by the string of comments on this bulletin board, plenty of people are interested. You could keep them reading for months. Publish your story. It’s an important one.

    Also, videoman413 had a decent idea: make linux monitoring software yourself!

    Whatever you decide to do (or not do), good luck!

  • Drood

    Can you run the software under WINE?:)

  • sergio

    Do you have any open wireless APs in your area? If so, get a decent antenna and a amplifier and connect to one of these APs for your internet connection.

    But, of course, that requires some spare money to get the equipment.

  • StoneCold

    IF the American Government and the US military is as great as they claim to be then why havent they captured Osama Bin Laden yet? I’ll tell you why cause he has more brains in his pinky finger then President Cocksucker and the US Military has because IF they can’t catch Osama Bin Laden after 5 years or more then they are FAILURES at what they get paid to do and are wasting the taxpayers money. Im not being Unamerican I’m simply stating the TRUE facts whether the US Government, the news media who is CENSORED in the USA, or you republican supporting assclowns are willing to admit it or not.

  • peter stuart

    maybe the justice dept could provide SK0T with a confiscated pirated windoze for free:-)
    or the OLPC project could donate a laptop he could use in any hotspot.
    call it One Laptop Per ‘Criminal’ as the MPAA likes to depict sharing citizens as criminals.
    America, the land of the Brave and the Free, I suppose? Thanx, but no thanx.
    Anyway, almost everybody on the planet has access to the star wars 3 movie by now. so why punish only the one who published it, and not the rest who watches it. plain hypocrisy imho.

  • Kev

    He is a criminal. I’ve got no problem with ripping your CD’s or DVD’s for personal use but uploading the film before theatrical release? Yeah, that’s criminal.[/quote]

    No, what Lucas did to a perfectly good movie is the REAL crime, here.

  • Patrick McFarland

    I don’t like the MPAA/RIAA, but sk0t did release something _before_ it even hit the theaters.

    If I paid for a list of computer parts from an online store and had those parts get stolen as they were en route to my house, I’d be furious and would want those responsible to have an appropriate punishment.

    sk0t if you are reading this, don’t make a big deal out of it (any more so than you’ve done already) so as to lessen the suspicion that you are just a trouble maker, then after you’ve served your time, see if you can skip on over to Sweden.

    Best regards.

  • FBI

    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
    You got fucking owned.
    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
    *snort*
    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
    hahaha
    hah
    hahaha
    *sniff*

    Oh man, you got owned.

  • HEIL HITLER 4 LIFE

    The Jews has controlled Hollywood, **AA, Democrats and Republicans, financial and IT industry, law enforcement, and many other industries etc.

    Your only way is to utilize the second amendment of the constitution, which give you some rights to take over Washington D.C. and declare presidency, or move to China immediately.

    HEIL HITLER

  • charlie

    So it says he HAS to run that software, not on what OS. So he should try it in WINE and go on with his life.

    Really, shouldn’t the gov better monitor his IP? rather than having him install the software on his pc? it’s like keeping the key of the cell inside it and tell him not to use it.

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  • Anonymous

    Can they provide you with the software installed on a windows “server” acting as a router of sorts? Then you could use that machine as a router for any device “behind” it.

  • Donnn Washburn

    What else is new about the USA government? As they say “follow the money”

  • Solution…

    Install VMWarer Player and a GNU/Linux image with non-persistent writes. Then use SSH2 to tunnel a socks proxy connection.

  • jas

    “relatively unemployable with the 2 felonies that they gave me”

    sorry, but you earned it. they didn’t just grab you off the street and give it to you. yes, alot of people are guilty of the same thing, but that doesn’t make it any less illegal.

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  • Daud Lambert

    I think preventing Mr. Sk0t from using Ubuntu sends a really bad message. A standard Ubuntu installation, no matter how much software is installed, has no pirated software. The fact that he’s using it means he’s on the right path (away from using cracked copies of Windows and the pir4ted gam3z that run on it); this would be like a parole officer telling a recovering alcoholic to drink a glass of beer every day after dinner, or a rapist that he needs to keep up a subscription to Hustler and Penthouse.

    Even if some particular monitoring-program won’t work, it’s quite possible to monitor a Ubuntu installation. The parole officer just needs to set a root password, turn off sudo, turn on process accounting and set the append-only attribute on a few log files.

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  • Billy BAD

    I feel for this guy I really do, but all you hacker wannabe’s yes you can part the HDD, but if caught he will be banned from his PC and possibly go back to jail.

    would you want to go back to jail?

    back up your movies don’t share them, lend them…….

  • Horst Herb

    Hi Scott,

    ever considered emigrating to a free country? One where the government is not a corporate franchise, and the judicial system not mere corporate hitmen? One with a better standard of living and much better life expectancy than your current human rights backwater?

    There is intelligent life outside the bible belt, especially in countries where your court sentences would not be in the way of gaining employment adequate to your level of skills – where in fact this obscene parody of justice never would have happened. Check out the Netherlands, Denmark etc.

  • Billy BAD

    [quote comment="151517"][quote comment="151448"]YOu get all this freeshit from ELITE TORRENTS and bitch because you have to spend 200 bucks for windows xp.. You need a reality check.. THe governement didnt screw you, you screwed the government and now your just have to do your time and instead of bitching about it.[/quote]

    Hey shawners you’re a F’N moron and he didnt screw the Government they screwed him instead dumb ass!!! Hey sk0t fuck the US government!!! The only way they will take my computers is over my DEAD F’N body. If they want to stop me they will have to KILL me otherwise I won’t be stopped from using the internet and torrents and usenet. Also I am well armed and an expert shot as well. Im not afraid of the F’N PIGS if they want some then I say come get some!!! I’m well prepared with 3000 rounds of teflon coated hollow point armor piercing 9mm rounds and then the PIGS will have a bloodbath on their hands for what sharing some F’N video files over the internet? F-CK THE MPAA, RIAA, BSA, FBI, CIA, US GOVERNMENT, ETC. Face reality file sharing will never, ever be stopped no matter how much they would like to think they can stop it because Information is POWER and the sooner they realize that fact and figure out they will never stop ThePirateBay.org or the usenet as much as they would like to do so. The Pirate Bay in case you people forgot gave Hollywood the middle finger 2 days after they were taken down and the MPAA and RIAA can F-CK off forever as far as Im concerned!!![/quote]

    Holly Crap this 110ilb NERD has played way to many FPS’s theft is theft. and if you can sit there and claim to go Waco over a ripped copy of your favorite porn. then you have bigger problems than the government

  • Nitrate Row

    [quote]If I paid for a list of computer parts from an online store and had those parts get stolen as they were en route to my house, I’d be furious and would want those responsible to have an appropriate punishment.

    [/quote]

    Bad analogy because he didn’t steal anything.

  • Dude guys

    Dude guys… I use both, Windows stinks, and so does Linux.

    Both has issues, and always will have issues. It’s comparing apple and apple.

    sk0t, live with it. Or move out of USA. There are no real fair law, just at best, “Almost” fair.

  • hwertz

    I do believe I would go the “no internet access” route, plus sic your lawyer on them as you are.

    1) All you guys saying “just use Windows” aren’t getting the point. It’s PAINFUL to use WIndows at all after having used Ubuntu for long. I use gentoo, and Windows is crap compared to that. Ubuntu is even better (I just haven’t wanted to do the ol’ backup and reinstall yet on my personal systems.) Compared to Windows it’s faster, needs less RAM to operate, easier to use, more secure, among other advantages. The update is slick like “Windows update”, except it updates all apps instead of just supposed OS components like Windows update.

    2) Security! Using a Windows PC risks probation. It’s easy to get (additional..) spyware and virii under Windows, which could easily do probation-breaking activities. Plus, if sk0t is required to ALREADY install spyware on his machine, he clearly won’t be able to install good antispyware software since it would detect and remove the government-mandated spyware.

    3) What about a separate box? As a side note, running a Windows VM UNDER Linux wouldn’t work, the VM can be bypassed easily without the VM knowing. But, yes, if traffic monitoring is the goal, why is the gov’t wanting to put on tameperable spyware ON the computer, instead of a tamper-resistant, tamper-evident external box between him and the internet connection? He can run Linux, the gov’t can know he’s not generating naughty traffic.

    4) Again, sk0t is right, being expected to buy software from a convicted monopolist is unconscionable. I liked the analogy of someone having to install an in-car breathylizer, but being told “Nope, we only install it in Chevys.. .you must dump your (awesome car of choice) and purchase a Chevy.” Again, if the choice is no internet or purchasing windows, I’d go for no ‘net. It’s only 5 months.

  • deadmoo

    1) install vmware/virtualbox/qemu or w.e in ubuntu, install window$ in there and run it full screen to fool them since they wouldnt figure it out

    2) tell them to tell his isp to monitor the traffic, that way all his computers would be monitored

    3) refuse to use the internet, buy a wifi adapter and steal from neighbours

    4) get out of the damn country

    :)

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  • PenHall

    Guys, this is not about whether Sk0t deserves this or not, its about the ‘extra’ punishment he’s getting for being a linux user. Sk0t is complying with the rules, served his time etc etc. If you were caught speeding and given a fine, well that’s how it goes. If you had to pay that fine in person to a place 5 states away because the government hadn’t got the facilities anywhere near you however, that would seem a little unfair. People next to it have far less of a punishment then you.

    Sk0t is being forced to use a different OS that costs more, works differently and will have quite an impact on his life, any other offenders who happen to use windows already will not suffer from this, so he is being unfairly penalised.

    Sk0t good luck if you chose to fight it. Its a silly situation, and one that really shouldn’t exist. My best suggestion is to offer to make a version of the monitoring software for Linux (if your skills extend in that area). If not, would you be allowed a Linux computer that’s not connected to the internet? Might suck but it’d be something.

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  • Donovan

    Sk0t:

    I’d be quite tempted myself to just say, “disconnect me” than have to suffer the indignity of using Microsoft products.

    Best of luck.

  • Anonymous1

    To you losers blaming Bush for sk0t’s fate: joke’s on you, Bill Clinton signed all these new stupid craptastic copyright laws, so put the blame on ol’ Slick Willie and stop knocking out your own teeth with the knee jerk reaction.

  • eyrieowl

    i second the people who say that this is much better than it could be. however, in the interests of thinking people should be able to compute the way they choose….can’t they run the internet connection through a windows box, which has the software? and the linux box only goes through that to get to the net? they could log each and every packet (or at least the headers), regardless of what os is being used. just a thought.

  • db

    Such a non-story. The guy could build and install a Windows gateway running the monitoring software in less than 2 hours and be done with it. Instead, he’s drawing this out so that you random fanboi types keep feeding him your sympathy. For the love of Pete, knock it off. You look like idiots.

    sk0t, stop being a baby and deal. You got off easier than most, and you still have it better than a lot of people who haven’t committed any crimes whatsoever.

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  • Arsehat

    [quote comment="151530"]Do you have any open wireless APs in your area? If so, get a decent antenna and a amplifier and connect to one of these APs for your internet connection.

    But, of course, that requires some spare money to get the equipment.[/quote]

    It’s also theft of service, which is … drumroll… A FELONY! Yay! He already has two strikes – a third will land him in FPMITA prison, which I don’t think is desirable.

    I don’t know the software concerned, but I’d imagine it’d monitor not just network data but also be a keylogger. If that’s the case, there should be no problem with using Ubuntu inside VMWare – provided those reviewing the logs aren’t complete arsehats out for technicalities to screw him on, which means that in practice the safest way forward is to bend over and do exactly what they want him to do and thank them for the privilege, because you can guarantee they’ll be looking for the slightest reason to come down on him like a tonne of bricks. The smart thing is to not give them an excuse.

  • Kevin

    OK, let me get this straight – he obtains and uploads a copy of a major motion picture 5 days before it’s in theaters for everyone to download. What part of that doesn’t sound like he’s breaking the law? Get real, guys – he stepped over the line.

    I’m all against the MPAA, RIAA, DRM and all that BS, (see my blog at http://www.themonsterjam.com!) but there’s a HUGE difference between copying a song or movie for personal use and sharing a major motion picture release with the rest of the internet! I’m sorry, but I’m with the courts on this one.

    We’re asking the copyright nazis to be reasonable, I think they should expect the same from us, and what he did is not reasonable. This is a prime example of why the RIAA has been on a lawsuit spree for the last 5 years.

    With that said, it’s a sad, sad thing to have to use Windows (I’m a hardcore Mac user – can’t STAND windows!) and I agree that he shouldn’t have to change OS’s to run their monitoring software – if they’re going to impose it, they should provide a version for the OS he’s on. Not doing so infringes on our rights to choose, that’s the core issue that he’s fighting on, and with good reason. It’s not a matter of “oh, poor guy has to run windows” but a matter of the government setting a precedent that takes away our freedom of personal choice.

    I agree with many here that there needs to be a compromise. If they’re packet sniffing, the software could be installed on a seperate win box acting as a gateway. Surely they could find an old govn’t surplus computer capable of running windows and their software…

  • DiGiToL_WaRRioR

    [quote comment="151548"]The Jews has controlled Hollywood, **AA, Democrats and Republicans, financial and IT industry, law enforcement, and many other industries etc.

    HEIL HITLER[/quote]

    Go F*ck yourself you pathetic-jealous dumbass. What the hell does that have to do with un-ethical treatment

  • STFU

    “I am… unemployable with the 2 felonies that they gave me.”

    Please.

    sk0t EARNED these felonies. He PLEADED guilty. He got off easy.

    He’s a thief. He got caught. When faced with the opportunity to have his actions judged by a jury of his peers, he broke down, punked out, and copped a plea. Pay the price and shut up.

    The time to fight the system, to really “stick it to the man” was presented to him for real. Rather than stand up when it counted, he bent over and dropped trou. Now he want’s to complain that the system is doing him wrong. Take it like a man and shut up you whiny b**ch.

    You had your day in court and you folded. You backed down when you had your chance, now you want to leverage the court of public opinion cause you don’t want to use Windows? Shut up. Take your lumps.

  • Onyros

    The illusion of Freedom in the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave is what really deems your form of government a truly fascist one.

    For fuck’s sake, Big Brother is watching but he’s a fucking cyclops. And it doesn’t even matter.

    For those who keep on suggesting he moves out of that godawful country, which part of “home confinement” is hard to understand?

    Best of luck, Sk0t.

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  • Bozo

    Sk0T; how are you connecting at the moment ?

    You’ve been online for a while … it seems !

  • foo

    it’s getting to the point where some old version of Word is a requirement to deal with large organizations – for the simplest of documents!

    when the government starts requiring people to run particular versions of Windows XP, and have multiple (possibly conflicting!) old version of IE (with dangerous features like ActiveX enabled!), and to go out and replace some hardware to:

    *pay taxes
    *fulfill agreements with the government
    *renew driver’s license
    *submit to universal monitoring

    …people will finally see what the real complaint is. a company directing the government (through various forms of technical lock-in) is much like the Big Government nightmare scenario we always claim to worry about.

    we got a situation where we need IE6 with activex turned on to do basic administrative tasks; at a security company where we handle malware and zero-day exploits as part of the job.

    these requirements are foisted upon us in part by all the various third party web developers that support particular browsers rather than coding to standards. it is exacerbated by our own people who in the face of this have simply given up on making their little piece of the puzzle standards compliant.

    but this nightmare is far worse when it comes to government documents, because such documents may need to be maintained for many years after your license for the document editor software is expired or wont run on any current and patched operating system.

  • Brohamman

    There are alot of a**holes that post here and there are alot of people who have good points. But face facts , he did his crime and is doing the time. If they cant monitor linux then they need to get the software. If they are making him run windows then they supply or he doesnt use a computer. Thats it. And for all the people with their heads up their asses saying ” If you dont like it go back to jail” Fuck Off and try it yourself !!! Fuckin Queers

  • Bozo

    Great Sk0t ! – so you don’t have windows – and so how exactly are you connected to the net (aren’t they supposed to me monitoring your a55) ?

    “Well, what it comes down to is this… they cant support Linux… and even though I AM CONSENTING TO THE MONITORING SOFTWARE… the software cannot be installed because I do not use windows… so basically I have to switch to comply with their rules…I will keep you posted on the rulings in this matter”

  • phusion1337

    There’s really nothing to “do” here that isn’t already on the table. He can either “use Windows” for the period that the monitoring is required, or he can simply choose to not use a computer at all.

    That might sound harsh, but he doesn’t need to give them an excuse to say he’s violating his probation. He needs to back down from the hacker mentality, subverting the system, and be greatful that he’s not in jail, and can use a computer at all.

    What can he do with a computer during this time that makes it worth the use you might ask? Read/study, online billbay, apply for work, send/receive e-mail, IM, yada yada. Plain fact is that this is better than the alternatives, which are jailtime, or no computer at all.

    Yeah it sucks, yeah I don’t agree with it, but the fact of the matter is that it happened, and the last thing he needs to do is give them an excuse to say he’s violating his parole, and ending up back in the slammer. I feel for him, but I hope he isn’t going to be stupid about it.

  • Timon

    He should just run VMWare. But still i’d be pissed if I had to have my internet monitored. Don’t understand why he isn’t..

  • Brian

    Would they let you run the software under WINE on Ubuntu? The terms of the probation would need to be read to see if they specified the OS that you had to run. Being able to run the software on the PC would be met by running an emulator like WINE.

    Other than that, I’d say you’re screwed as you’ve agreed to the terms of the probation. The law will be read first wholly to look at intent, then literally, and finally with equity in mind. If they did not specify which OS that you had to use then you have room to move if you can make the software run on your PC.

  • nagyorgy

    I do not know whether they defined the list of prohibited site.
    If I were you I would write a script which randomly opens websites in every second and their loglist would be huge and they should hire 6 or 10 people to monitor it.

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  • Alan

    [quote comment="151069"]This is the RIAA having it’s way!!

    If you want it to stop, protest and boycott the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)

    boycott the RIAA’s offices and stop buying CD’s and DVD’s and going to the Movies!

    The only way it will stop is if it hurts their pockets!![/quote]

    I don’t believe the RIAA, the Recording Industry Association of America, has anything to do with the bootlegged copy of a Star wars movie that Sk0t was convicted of trafficing. If you are going to try to point a finger, at least point it in the right direction.

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  • Alan

    [quote comment="151666"]The illusion of Freedom in the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave is what really deems your form of government a truly fascist one. [/qoute]

    So I guess your definition means that it’s ok to break into a store and steal a bunch of copies of the newest video game, dvd, or sneaker – whatever, and distribute it to the public for free. That, in effect, is what Sk0t was found guilty of. If you are ok with that, then yes, I guess your perception of freedom has been violated.

    [quote]For fuck’s sake, Big Brother is watching but he’s a fucking cyclops. And it doesn’t even matter.
    [/quote]

    Call me stupid, as I’m sure many will, but this statement just doesn’t seem to make sense.

    [quote]For those who keep on suggesting he moves out of that godawful country, which part of “home confinement” is hard to understand?

    Best of luck, Sk0t.[/quote]

    I would never suggest that 1) Sk0t move out of the country, confinement not withstanding, or 2) this is a godawful country. Every society has a system of laws in place and adherence to them is the fiber that holds any society together. Sk0t was found guilty and must live with his punishment. But, hhe has not been mandated to “dump Linux”, as this article so tittilatingly claims. He will have to (horror!) live without the internet or (horror of horrors!!) use Windows, for a FIVE MONTH PERIOD!

    It is absolutely ridiculous that this minor inconvenience to one man has caused such a flood of heated and hate filled responses. It’s like getting upset that “So-and-so got out of jail and is on parole and they told him he can’t drink alcohol for SIX MONTHS!!!” Do the crime, do the time.

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  • Hi

    Simple, create a 2GB partition, install a pirate copy of windows onto it, let the bloke do his stuff then reboot into Linux when you next use the PC.

  • Ben De Wilde

    Just open a Paypal account if you need to comply and install Windows… I’ll be sure to give you at least a buck so you can get Windows 3.11… :P

  • BillyBond

    soon it will be manditory that everyone has monitoring software so the terrorists dont send an encrypted email from whatever country you live in.

  • Dan

    So damn true, I love how my country tauts itself as the pinnacle of freedom yet puts more of its own citizens in jail than any other country.

  • Harold

    Next time : make your releases on freenet ;)

  • Dan

    Shawners you f*cking law dog. get off the internet and go stuff a donut down yer piggly @ss.

  • V15+4 Pyr4+3

    As Beretta once said,”Do do the crime if you can’t do the time.”

    I have a bootlegged copy of vista I’ll mail you if you like. :)

  • Q-tech

    All you have to do is to buy & install a Windoz XP then download and use a VMWare Linux appliance and forget about any trouble with the authorities. They will be able to monitor your Internet traffic as VMWare uses host’s OS networking and you can use your favourite software as much as you want…

  • Zaris

    So, by this court ruling, the state has officially sentenced the whole state (or US) as MS only.

  • TheConstruct

    Surely you could look on this as a case of you having to provide equipment that the government should provide. All they have to provide is a Windows based gateway.

    Im guessing that you didn’t have to take your own towels, cutlery and padlock into jail with you?

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  • hurricane john

    why not use ReactOS ?

    http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html

    Quote:

    ReactOS® is an advanced free open source operating system providing a ground-up implementation of a Microsoft Windows® XP compatible operating system. ReactOS aims to achieve complete binary compatibility with both applications and device drivers meant for NT and XP operating systems, by using a similar architecture and providing a complete and equivalent public interface.

  • Human

    Just to keep all of you informed: the gateway monitoring scenario is useless because VPN software packets can get through — and because they are encrypted, cannot be deciphered. That is useless.

    The monitoring software probably tracks end-user GUI activities (clicking, drag-and-drop, etc) — in a similar way qa/testing software works. Unless a 100% compatible Linux versions exists, only Windows exposes the GUI in such a standard way.

  • Cypress

    America sucks. This is so stupid.

  • Anonymous

    Sk0t, there’s an old saying, “Never ascribe to malice, that which can be explained by incompetence.” Napoleon Bonaparte.

    My suggestion is not to feel put upon by this ruling and instead try to make lemonade from lemons. I think by accepting the software, you are honestly trying to do that.

    Here are my thoughts on the matter:

    1) Have your lawyer suggest that you can comply with the ruling if they purchase you a copy of Windows.

    2) Also, have him ask them if it is alright if you download a copy of VMWare Server that VMWare has made available for free so that you may run Linux on top of Windows.

    Docks, teamsters, grocery stores, and many other establishments provide ex-cons a new lease on life and a viable income.

    Unless it is prohibited by the ruling, you could attempt to set up your own online business. You seem to have skills at running hosting services. This time, make it legitimate. You can use all the bad publicity this story is generating to help you market it.

    What you make of all this will define you.

    Everyone deserves a second chance. Good luck.

  • Richard

    You have to ask about the security of running monitoring software on the machine of someone that you (the government) necessarily don’t trust. I mean, a decent hacker should surely be able to bypass that, especially if it’s software running in userland on Windows!

    What else is it logging anyway? Online banking transactions? More private stuff that I’d think they don’t have a right to know about?

    If you need to be monitored then surely an external dedicated box that’s somewhat harder to hack would make a lot more sense. Even then I expect someone interested would think of ways around it. The rules would have to include “No SSH tunnels or suspiciously long lasting connections over HTTPS”

    The anklet thing sounds a pain. Presumably you have to be in the proximity of the control box during the curfew times. Better than jail maybe.

  • bla

    Are u living in florida?
    I heard they made a law which allows you to shoot at everyone in your house.
    So if you are living there, just kill them when they are coming to check which OS you have installed :D

  • dfgd

    P2P technologies are good, but they are useless until we have something to share. It appears that most of what people wants to share are still things they can’t share… So the solution is not to ditch the technology, it’s to create a culture we can share. Boycotting the Hollywood mafia would be very good start, and it’s easy: just don’t watch their movies. Why ruin some perfectly good bandwith on Star Wars?

  • Frank

    Five months in jail, okay… but being forced to switch from Linux to Windoze… do the words “cruel and unusual punishment” mean anything to them? I’m sure this violates some human rights legislation… :-(

  • noone

    First off Thanks for starwars!

    and as much as the probation rules suck and i agree they do, it could have been worse, they could have banned you from net completely or something

  • Phishybongwaters

    Guys, there is no need to install anything on his machine. They can, and are, monitoring him from the telco office. There is no legitimate reason to force him to use windows so they can install monitoring software, when they can just monitor him right from one of the switching stations, anything coming over as encrypted traffic would redflag him.

    Installing the software on his pc serves 2 purposes.

    1, to make it much easier for the lazy inept monitoring of his actions (I’m assuming something like vnc).

    2, the real reason, to show him that he is little, and powerless, and they can and will do anything they want. Why force you to switch to linux, are there no linux system monitoring software available? Bull, there most surely is to the government, it’s because most linux users hate windows, and would rather die than switch.

    Actually, having the monitoring taking place at the software level on the machine in question is retarded, anyone with skillz can get around that. The real monitoring will be taking place right on your isp connection, either at the local dslam (dsl) or switching station. If not, anything on your connection is being watched from the telco.

    And remember, anything going over that line that would be in port ranges for p2p or encrypted traffic, would be redflagged and looked at, this is theoretically when your banking and anything else secure would show up, and be ruled out.

    They don’t need to prove you are uploading or downloading anything illegal, just having 1 packet from a bittorrent session would be enough to send you back to jail, regardless of the files in question, they simply do not care.

    Or 1 encrypted session that you can’t explain as a banking session or anything else. Don’t even need to prove it’s a torrent, encrypted traffic that’s not banking or something legitimate = parole violation.

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  • Fawkesey

    Land of the free & the brave!, but it sounds like the Soviet Union.

  • J3sse

    Maybe he could download M$ Windoz from a torrent….. hardy har har….

  • billhedrick

    Let’s see if I get this right. He gets a copy of a movie before it’s released and uploads it to the internet. -Crime check- Is this a crime? Yes it is, it violates a couple laws. He doesn’t get tossed into jail but his computer use is limited and monitored. Sorry gang, I don’t see the fascism here. And to you idgits that say that this sort of thing can’t happen in your country: the country you live in allows thieves to steal without consequence? Boy, I’m glad I don’t live there.

  • ToshyWoshy

    euhm no offense to the authorities, but are the just not plain and simply STUPID, monitoring software CAN (and should be) CRACKED. And isn’t contacting your ISP for restrictions another more possible and tangible way, as I believe it was they whom provided your smoking gun.

  • Willow

    Take a break from the internet, just pull the plug, and learn a new programming language. Hell, go do something completely different. Read a pile of books or better, write one. About the scene for example people love to read it, and you’re an expert. Your prison sentence actually is a benefit here making you more interesting. Make an extra buck and make a statement at the same time.

    Face it, it’d be pretty stupid to continue in the wares world. They will certainly keep their arrows pointed at you. And the next time they will be even harsher.

    Figure out something new. Hit that reset switch in your brain and reinvent yourself… Show em that you’re not a victim.

    Or would you rather spend your time and energy with the rest of the troglodytes roaming the internet moaning about rights and how the world aught to be? They’re really not worth it.

  • Nitrate Row

    [quote]Dude guys… I use both, Windows stinks, and so does Linux.[/quote]

    Linux works fine for me…

    [quote]OK, let me get this straight – he obtains and uploads a copy of a major motion picture 5 days before it’s in theaters for everyone to download. What part of that doesn’t sound like he’s breaking the law? Get real, guys – he stepped over the line.[/quote]

    Who said he didn’t break the law?

    The law is wrong.

    [quote]He’s a thief. [/quote]

    For the record, to be a thief you have to have stolen something.

    Sharing is not stealing.

    [quote]For those who keep on suggesting he moves out of that godawful country, which part of “home confinement” is hard to understand?[/quote]

    After it’s done they recommend to move…

    [quote]Every society has a system of laws in place and adherence to them is the fiber that holds any society together.[/quote]

    Spoken like a true statist :/

    [quote]He doesn’t get tossed into jail but his computer use is limited and monitored. Sorry gang, I don’t see the fascism here.[/quote]

    He does get tossed in jail. Look at the top of this page, it says he has now been released from jail.

    It’s fascist because he didn’t harm anyone. He didn’t steal anything. He just shared a movie online.

    [quote]And to you idgits that say that this sort of thing can’t happen in your country: the country you live in allows thieves to steal without consequence? Boy, I’m glad I don’t live there.[/quote]

    Sharing is not stealing. Why can’t people like you understand that?

  • LittleSnowMan(LSM)

    I would like to say thank you for starwars and I feel sorry about your punishment.
    I gonna take revenge. I work for an american company and I will not do anything for a day.

  • billhedrick

    “sharing is not stealing”
    it’s distribution of stolen property, under any law, that’s the same as theft.
    “He didn’t hurt anyone” Well of course George Lucas won’t notice that he’s $10 poorer, but the movie theater owner will, as will the poor slub who loses his job at the theater when not enough people frequent the theater to justify the boss keeping as many people employed. When you support a system that destroys an industry, you may not have stolen anything, but you’re just as guilty.

  • Kildjean

    Hey Sk0t;

    I’ll ditch in and give you a full original copy of Windows XP registered to your name and brand new in a box.

    If you want it email me an addy i can send it to… and it will be in the mail tomorrow.

    Kildjean

    PS. email me to kildjean@mac.com

  • Nitrate Row

    [quote]it’s distribution of stolen property, under any law, that’s the same as theft.[/quote]

    Maybe the law considers it theft, I don’t know, but the actual definition of the words “theft” and “stealing” don’t apply when someone shares a file over the internet.

    The government can make a new definition, it can reconize that definition, but it doesn’t make that new definition valid.

    [quote]Well of course George Lucas won’t notice that he’s $10 poorer, [/quote]

    He didn’t actually loose any money from the sharing of the movie online. No money was taken from him.

    [quote]but the movie theater owner will, as will the poor slub who loses his job at the theater when not enough people frequent the theater to justify the boss keeping as many people employed.[/quote]

    Star wars episode III made $849,997,605 in theatres. I don’t think any theatre owners or employees are starving.

    Anyway, if an industry isn’t profitable enough for someone, they can choose another one.

    [quote]When you support a system that destroys an industry, you may not have stolen anything, but you’re just as guilty.[/quote]

    Have any proof sharing destroys anything?

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  • LIONDJ

    how about someone will give me direct link for their sofware if u cant even do that ( find it on torrent sites ) then u deserved what u got dumb fucks

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  • me

    wow theres a lot of comments on this, seriously everyone should get together and crush the legal system for this outrageous demand. SLASH AND BURN THEM ALL!

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  • fdisk

    You been in jail asshole? For sharing a movie on the internet? Fuck you. This country is FUCKED.

    [quote comment="150931"]Give me a break, pop another HD in the machine and set up a dual boot. It’s your own fault that you need to face the “hardships”.

    It seems that people that have no compunctions about breaking the law scream the loudest when they have to pay for the crime.

    Put on some Big Boy pants, Sk0t.[/quote]

  • next

    I am amazed that some posters do not see “sharing” a movie as illegal. Especially one that was pre it’s release.

    Where did he purchase his copy? Did he read the license terms? If you do not like the product, including it’s terms, don’t buy.

    I do not have a problem with copying movies/music/software for my use. I paid for the license I should use it how I like, but that does not include “sharing” with someone else. If they like it, they should buy their own copy.

    Who are we to say what the business dynamics are for theatre owners, musicians and others and decide they made too much money. Maybe someone will decide you made too much money and cut in to what you make.

  • foo

    Put windows in vmware, and hide the Ubuntu hop point using some routing & iptables magic (-j TTL –ttl-increase; always forwarding windows traffic).

    Or, use a tiny windows router between Ubuntu and the cable modem. Then, use lots of SSL and IPSEC :->

  • foo

    Actually thinking about it, why not ask the neighbor to do NAT for you?

  • torrent

    [quote]It’s fascist because he didn’t harm anyone. He didn’t steal anything. He just shared a movie online.[/quote]

    Let’s see. He stole a product that wasn’t released yet and then shared it. Yes, that is a crime. Why can’t people like you understand that?

    You know why we have all these stupid draconian copy protections and laws in place? It’s because people like you who have no respect for intellectual property.

  • gred

    people like here is our friend sk0t are not going to jail because he shared one single movie, he go to jail because he downloaded/uploaded who now how many terrabyte stuff. Guys like this NEVER download only 1-2 thing, they do mass warez, tons of dvds even in the wc everywhere in his house, all computer filled up with warez. So don’t be dumbass by protecting him everyone know he is dirty as hell. So pathetic minions go home and hang urselves.

  • NItrate Row

    [quote]I am amazed that some posters do not see “sharing” a movie as illegal.[/quote]

    I don’t think it’s not illegal. I’m saying it’s not wrong and he shouldn’t be punished for it.

    Legality has nothing to do with right and wrong.

    [quote]He stole a product that wasn’t released yet and then shared it. Yes, that is a crime. Why can’t people like you understand that?[/quote]

    I don’t know how he got the copy of star wars, if he got it from the scene and distributed it from there, or if he stole the actual copy from someone then that’s stealing. Sharing it isn’t.

    [quote]You know why we have all these stupid draconian copy protections and laws in place? [/quote]

    Because movie and music companies like control. Anyone with any reasoning ability knows that DRM doesn’t hurt pirates much, but it does hurt people who bought it.

    [quote]It’s because people like you who have no respect for intellectual property.[/quote]

    I have no respect for intellectual property because it isn’t real. It’s just a concept used by people to try and sell you something and still retain ownership over it to maximize profit.

    If I made up my own property concept called external property, where I owned everything in the world, would you see it as valid? I hope not because it isn’t a real form of property.

    Just because governments and corporations reconize this psuedo-ownership doesn’t mean I do.

    Oh, and Property is Theft, Intellectual Property is Intellectual Theft ;)

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  • Jim

    Good – the guy’s a freaking loser moron anyway!!

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  • Prados

    What I find most revealing about the article is Mr. McCausland’s reference to “… the 2 felonies that they gave me.” Seems you got those all by yourself.

    Hard to be sympathetic when you don’t seem willing to truly accept responsibility for your actions.

  • Chris

    stop your whining…

    I’d be amazed to see what kinds of jobs you people have in real life.. Especially after reading these gems:

    “I don’t think it’s not illegal. I’m saying it’s not wrong and he shouldn’t be punished for it.”

    “Maybe the law considers it theft, I don’t know”

    The guy committed a crime and he now has to own up for it..

  • Chris

    @NItrate Row: “I have no respect for intellectual property because it isn’t real.”

    You, my friend, are an idiot.

  • Alan

    [quote comment="151905"]America sucks. This is so stupid.[/quote]

    Spoken like a true idiot.

  • Alan

    [quote comment="152076"]Good – the guy’s a freaking loser moron anyway!![/quote]

    Also, spoken like a true idiot.

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  • Martijn

    Oh big brother ‘FREE AMERICA’ is back to save the world from -so called- evil! This planet is being totally wasted by one single government!

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  • NawaMan

    I’ve just happend to see a new that Linsey Lohan got in jail for 1 days for Drunk Driving and posession of Cocain. .. 1 DAY for Drunk driving and 5 months for upload a movie (that may a lot of money anyway).

    This country is fucked.

  • t0mcioo

    mabe do like this:
    - sell PC
    - by some egzotic hardware like m64k
    - install linux/m64k distro on it

    You will be still using Your favorite distro. You still will not able to install their software, but You can still install Windows – so what – they force You to buy new computer ? i do not thikt that this was still OK if they want to do so.

    :)

  • nagyorgy

    [quote comment="152128"]5 months for upload a movie (that may a lot of money anyway).

    This country is fucked.[/quote]

    I am afraid, A lot of us are face to death penalty OR 5xx years in prison.

  • GothamCityProject

    Hmm. When I was on probation they made me pee in a cup every two weeks…
    *shrug* different laws for different crimes.
    I get where you’re coming at, but I really don’t think you’re in an appropriate place to call foul. You DID upload a hollywood release BEFORE it debuted in theatres, right??? They make examples of people who commit crimes THAT ballsy.

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  • NItrate Row

    [quote]You, my friend, are an idiot.[/quote]

    Would you like to actually make a counter point, or just insult me?

    (by the way, you took what I said out of context, but heh)

    Would you like to explain how you reasoned that this psuedo-ownership (copyright) is valid and why you think I should reconize it, besides “the government says so”?

    If you have a CD in your posession then I consider you to be the owner. I don’t consider the owners to be the people who sold it to you, because they have transfered posession of it to you, even if they say “well, we sold it to you, but we still own it”, it doesn’t make it true.

  • Chloe O’Brian

    well what software are they installing? does this software have a name? if so just burn it and give it to some one. torrent it and then we can see wtf they are Monitoring and maby hack em for this :O

  • Bob Robertson

    Not “corporate capitalism”, the correct word for the “third way” between socialism and capitalism is FASCISM.

    Erstwhile private ownership of property, but only under restrictive licensure and regulation of government.

    I guess no one noticed that the Axis won World War 2.

  • Mit

    … he could always ask to have his parole/probation revoked and return to prison. My heart bleeds for this felon.

  • dynam1te

    WHY do they need to install software on your PC to do online monitoring? THey could force your ISP to do traffic monitoring, that would be much better for them and you. I guess they want to install a rootkit, one that is similar to those ones that are installed by the NSA on each Computer that is brought into the US.
    If they want to install software, allow them to do so under Linux. they will fail, but they are responsable if their software doesn’t work.

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  • Alan

    [quote comment="152185"][quote]You, my friend, are an idiot.[/quote]

    Would you like to actually make a counter point, or just insult me?

    (by the way, you took what I said out of context, but heh)

    Would you like to explain how you reasoned that this psuedo-ownership (copyright) is valid and why you think I should reconize it, besides “the government says so”?

    If you have a CD in your posession then I consider you to be the owner. I don’t consider the owners to be the people who sold it to you, because they have transfered posession of it to you, even if they say “well, we sold it to you, but we still own it”, it doesn’t make it true.[/quote]

    So basically, what YOU are saying that if one person buys said CD it is ok for them to distribute it to the world, robbing the artist/publishers/whatever of the money they should get for their work? In your world, an artist would have no motivation to create for the public and would move on to selling shoes or something. There would be no movies or cds produced and we would be stuck trading youtube fart lighting videos back and forth.

  • Alan

    [quote comment="151972"][quote]it’s distribution of stolen property, under any law, that’s the same as theft.[/quote]

    Maybe the law considers it theft, I don’t know, but the actual definition of the words “theft” and “stealing” don’t apply when someone shares a file over the internet.[/quote]

    How is it not theft to take something that doesn’t belong to you? Where did he “purchase” the prerelease copy that he “gave” to the world?

    [quote]
    The government can make a new definition, it can reconize that definition, but it doesn’t make that new definition valid.

    [quote]Well of course George Lucas won’t notice that he’s $10 poorer, [/quote]

    He (Lucas) didn’t actually lose any money from the sharing of the movie online. No money was taken from him.[/quote]

    George Lucas “gets paid” via ticket sales and DVD sales, among other things. If one person downloaded the movie from Sk0t, that is theoretically one person that will not pay to see it in a theater or buy the DVD. If 1000 people downloaded it, well you do the math.

    And again, George Lucas is admittedly not hurting for cash, but he is also not the only person that received compensation from theater and DVD sales.

    [quote]but the movie theater owner will, as will the poor slub who loses his job at the theater when not enough people frequent the theater to justify the boss keeping as many people employed.[/quote]

    Star wars episode III made $849,997,605 in theatres. I don’t think any theatre owners or employees are starving.[/quote]

    It is not your right, my right, nor Sk0t’s right to decide that they have enough or too much money. They should be paid for the work they’ve done, regardless of how much they have. you seem to have communist leanings, where all wealth is redistributed back to the people, in theory.

    [quote]Anyway, if an industry isn’t profitable enough for someone, they can choose another one.

    [quote]When you support a system that destroys an industry, you may not have stolen anything, but you’re just as guilty.[/quote]

    Have any proof sharing destroys anything?[/quote]

    Yes, it’s called common sense. If it was suddenly ok to swarm into McDonalds and steal cheeseburgers, guess what? McDonald’s would go out of business. It doesn’t seem to be such a hard concept to grasp, I don’t know where your blind spot comes from. Or is it ignorance?

  • Arthur

    This is ridiculous. Copyright infringement shouldn’t be a felony. It was a civil offense, not a criminal one, at least until the gigabucks prolefeed industry hijacked the government.

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  • S. M. Das

    Definitely consider leaving the country (emigrating; not skipping your probation). Try Finland, or the Netherlands (poss. Denmark). If you’re courageous, there are beautiful places to live in Africa or Micronesia.

    Finland might even grant political asylum, under the consideration that your software choices (possibly your livelihood, if you do GNU/Linux consulting from home). I would say this is an example of oppression of the highest order.

  • phreak2545

    Uh, he PLEAD GUILTY.

    Quit your whining, boy, and take it like a man.

    The Government didn’t “give you two felonies…”

    You earned them.

    Welcome to the real world.

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  • sk0t

    I have a blog guys.

    http://www.sk0t.com

    And thanks for all the comments… negative and/or good, keep them coming… I read them all, and listen attentively.

  • NItrate Row

    [quote]How is it not theft to take something that doesn’t belong to you? Where did he “purchase” the prerelease copy that he “gave” to the world?[/quote]

    I already said that if he personally stole the physical actual copy from someone then that’s theft (I don’t know where he got it, maybe from the scene, I have no idea at all).

    But uploading it to the internet isn’t theft.

    [quote]George Lucas “gets paid” via ticket sales and DVD sales, among other things. If one person downloaded the movie from Sk0t, that is theoretically one person that will not pay to see it in a theater or buy the DVD. If 1000 people downloaded it, well you do the math.[/quote]

    Still, he didn’t loose anything. He potentially might have gained some more (one pirated copy does not equal one lost sale though), but that is not a loss.

    Saying he lost something is like saying someone walking by a theatre and didn’t go in so the theatre lost money. They could have gained money if the person went in and gave them money, but they didn’t loose anything. Should we force people not to walk by theatres, so they have to go in and pay money so the owner doesn’t starve?

    [quote]It is not your right, my right, nor Sk0t’s right to decide that they have enough or too much money.[/quote]

    And it’s no ones right to control what I do with a DVD I buy just so they can have bigger profits.

    [quote]you seem to have communist leanings, where all wealth is redistributed back to the people, in theory.[/quote]

    Anarchist, not communist. Communism has a dictatorship of the proletariat after the revolution, where the revolutionaries get power and are supposed to give up power and transition into a stateless, classless society, but whenever someone does a communist revolution they just give up on communism and keep the power and have a state capitalist government/economy.

    [quote]Yes, it’s called common sense. If it was suddenly ok to swarm into McDonalds and steal cheeseburgers, guess what? McDonald’s would go out of business. It doesn’t seem to be such a hard concept to grasp, I don’t know where your blind spot comes from. Or is it ignorance?[/quote]

    I’m sorry, but cheeseburgers (a physical, tangible object) are much different from a digital representation of a movie stored on a DVD (which have a nearly unlimited supply because they can be copied digitally).

    It is suprising the ammount of people who are unable to grasp the differences between a physical object and a digital file. For the record, incase you can’t figure it out, one has a limited supply and one has a practically unlimited supply. Copyright intends to restrict that unlimited supply unnaturally for profit. Yay for capitalism :/

  • ehh

    He could just use knoppix or something couldn’t he? Unless his probation officer is going to give him a PC with windows on that he can’t tamper with.

    If the justice dept was smart they would simply monitor him from the ISP end. Maybe he should get with his neighbour and share a wireless connection on a laptop or something. Without knowing the exact setup, it seems a bit of a feeble monitoring attempt.

    The problem with the entertainment industry is that I would have subsidised so much shit that I never wanted to watch or hear through paying for products that I have little sympathy for the industry. No one there has to expend one ounce of energy or one cent for another copy of the file to be created. They don’t need to gather the artists to make another copy of the album.

    If someone copies my CDs, I don’t walk into my lounge and go “OMFG! My CDS! They’ve been copied – nnnNNOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”.

    If I step outside and my car has been stolen, I will notice I have set of keys that don’t fit anywhere.

    Where I am if a barber shop owner has the radio playing in his store he has to pay a royalty. For years we payed an undisclosed levy on blank audio cassettes to the record industry. I was talking to my video store guy and he has a screen that he watches videos on. He has to pay extra for that, because that’s a public display, then he tells me they wanted to charge him again for the soundtrack that’s playing on the movie.

  • J*** F*****

    I would just go buy a laptop and on the computer simply place a bot which would surf the net on a list of sites I would okay so when they monitor it they will thing it is being used for legal means.

  • Jack

    You probably should have taken some precaution (I presume none was taken) in the first place although I sympathize with you in the fact the chances of being caught were so low it made little sense to bother. As far as being a GNU/Linux user goes I don’t think what they are requiring of you for probation is right. You should seek access to the source code while your at it (as has been done in breathalyser cases under different circumstances). Also, how are you posting this all? I find it pretty hilarious and all that you have Internet access (you do, right?) and yet can’t afford Microsoft Windows. Did you in fact comply? Are you violating probation? or find another way around the problem? or are you out and not yet required to comply for some other reason? It seems like the virtual machine idea might technically comply depending on the order depending on how it is written. I recall with Kevin Mitnick that they ordered him not to use a cell phone, yet may have been able to use a PCS phone (it may not have been PCS, but it was some similar wireless-phone based on a different technology that wasn’t ‘cellular’).

  • blablabla

    you may be smarter than me than me in manyways but your still an idiot i enjoy having my encripted keyboard and zone alarm firewall suite to protect me wile i jump in to popular torrents :D.

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  • ewl

    The way to go is to get a pirated version of Windows and use cygwin. ;)

  • freedomlover

    this sounds to me this way. u go to dairy and buy a carton of milk. ur neighbour talks to u and says he doesnt have any more milk and he’s gonna go to the store to buy some. u say, wait man, u have some surplus milk. so u share some milk with him. the dairy finds out and they arrest u for sharing the milk, coz, hey, ur neighbour cud have come over there, bought some milk and given them more money, a higher profit. u have ruined their business, they r gonna starve coz they sold one carton less. and if u have shared more of the milk with more neighbours, then u r a criminal. business killer. u dont understand how much effort it takes to produce milk. the dairy is gonna fold up its business now. u have disrupted the dairy industry. they form protective organizations and stringent laws which says ‘one milk carton should be used only within one family, not shareable around the household’. anyone who violates this is conned. they attach rfid tags to the milk carton, but cow milk has averse reaction to the tags, so they tell u to switch to yak’s milk, so they can monitor the carton without affecting the rfid tag. cool isnt it?
    for humanity’s sake stop glorifying these stupid things like dmca, intellectual rights and the like, coz copies shared r not gonna ruin business. only the profits will b cut a little bit. those who want fresh milk will still go out there and buy it from the dairy. those who like the movie and want the original dvd quality 100% will still go out there and buy dvds and any special effects lover will still rather see it on the gigantic theatre screens. if the movie is really worth it, no one after a hard week @ office minds spending and indulging in the weekends. this ruining of business is all excuse for badly made movies to which people dont wanna go and waste their time.

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  • 2101

    каменты жгут))

    очень печально что MS уже подсадило на себя и гос. органы США. так быть не должно!

    2Sk0t: привет из России ;)

  • torrent

    [quote]If you have a CD in your posession then I consider you to be the owner. I don’t consider the owners to be the people who sold it to you, because they have transfered posession of it to you, even if they say “well, we sold it to you, but we still own it”, it doesn’t make it true.[/quote]

    Yes, but this is different. He illegally obtained a pre-release of a multi-million dollar movie and distributed it. He did not go buy a CD from a store. Just because it’s not tangible and it’s a bunch of bits doesn’t make it any less real. If you do not like it, stop using the product, don’t steal it.

  • NItrate Row

    [quote]this sounds to me this way. u go to dairy and buy a carton of milk. ur neighbour talks to u and says he doesnt have any more milk and he’s gonna go to the store to buy some. u say, wait man, u have some surplus milk. so u share some milk with him. the dairy finds out and they arrest u for sharing the milk, coz, hey, ur neighbour cud have come over there, bought some milk and given them more money, a higher profit. u have ruined their business, they r gonna starve coz they sold one carton less. and if u have shared more of the milk with more neighbours, then u r a criminal. business killer. u dont understand how much effort it takes to produce milk. the dairy is gonna fold up its business now. u have disrupted the dairy industry. they form protective organizations and stringent laws which says ‘one milk carton should be used only within one family, not shareable around the household’. anyone who violates this is conned. they attach rfid tags to the milk carton, but cow milk has averse reaction to the tags, so they tell u to switch to yak’s milk, so they can monitor the carton without affecting the rfid tag. cool isnt it?[/quite]

    Horrible grammar, but you made a good point :P

    [quote]Yes, but this is different. He illegally obtained a pre-release of a multi-million dollar movie and distributed it. [/quote]

    I already said that if he himself actaully stole the physical disc from a movie company then he stole it. Uploaidng it to the internet isn’t stealing though, it’s sharing.

    [quote]Just because it’s not tangible and it’s a bunch of bits doesn’t make it any less real.[/quote]

    Right, it just makes it possible to copy it a lot easier. Companies don’t like this, so they try to unnaturally restrict it. If they can’t make enough money in a market with nearly unlimited supply and limited demand, then they shouldn’t be in it. It would leave more room for real artists to get their music out.

    [quote]If you do not like it, stop using the product, don’t steal it.[/quote]

    I don’t steal, I share :)

  • ORB

    This is hilarious, robbers’ condolences for a robber.

    Even hilarious is how u thieves don’t understand what ‘sharing’ and ‘freedom’ means.

  • Justice Dept

    We owned you.

    Get over it. :D

  • igorsova

    It’s first try in history as far as i know, when person is denied his freedom in OS choice. Looks like big guys want to make precedent so in future they can force person to use specific OS by the court order so basically some OS will become “more legal” from others. It is OS discrimination.
    That sucks. It’s like someone for robbery ordered by court to use only wheel-chair to move outside his home, without any financial possibility to do so.
    There’s definitely way to win the appeal in court.

  • I

    The jail of windows is better than prison isn’t it?

  • I

    I had a friend get in trouble from apple. that has cured me from pirating

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  • Dark Phoenix

    People need to wake up and realize something very simple. If they say it’s a felony, it’s a felony. If you have to go to jail, you go to jail. HOWEVER, it is BULLSHIT for the court to order him to spend money on something he doesn’t need and has no interest in. If they really want to monitor him, there are better ways than ordering him to buy a Windows license and saying “tough luck”.

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  • itchy8me

    i hope that this so called ‘american dream’ never spreads to my country. What a limit you people have on your freedoms. Unluckily i constantly hear people talking about conforming to the american model in this country. i suppose it won’t be long and the entire globe will be ‘americanized’ and the lobbies will have reached their goal!

  • Arlé

    I don’t understand, why don’t they just monitor the internet connection itself instead of the computer. Doesn’t make sense IMO…

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  • Valen

    The way i see it there’s no escaping the govt pricks . They will eventually have their way and no vmware ics routing whatever will do . Sk0t will obviously have to put up with this retarded demand of theirs if he is to avoid the 5 month computing drought . The thing is conformity in this case is sheer madness . It’s not even a matter of whether he should ditch Ubuntu for M$ , i think some people here are definitely missing the point . THE GUY IS TO HAVE EVERYTHING HE DOES ON HIS MACHINE UNDER SEVERE 24/7 MONITORING . They’ll be able to read his mail , check out his IM , monitor sites he visits , know the damn desktop wallpaper choice , you name it , they’ll obviously be able to keep tabs on . That’s way to insane to put up with , even though i admit i’d have a really tough time if i was to undergo web deprivation for 5 months . Tough break man , don’t make it tougher on yourself by playing along .
    Now don’t take this the wrong way but- the Star Wars ??? And the lousy prequels for that matter … Well , you get the idea :P

  • Nitrate Row

    [quote]I don’t understand, why don’t they just monitor the internet connection itself instead of the computer. Doesn’t make sense IMO…[/quote]

    Maybe it is more then just something that logs his internet traffic, maybe it is a keylogger too.

  • StoneCold

    [quote comment="151545"]hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
    You got fucking owned.
    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
    *snort*
    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
    hahaha
    hah
    hahaha
    *sniff*

    Oh man, you got owned.[/quote]

    FUCK YOU COCKSUCKING PUNK ASS BITCH MUTHAFUCKERS AT THE F.B.I. YOU’RE ALL A BUNCH OF FUCKING COMMIES WHO SUPPORT THAT COMMIE ASS DICTATOR BUSH. FUCK THE MPAA, FUCK THE RIAA, FUCK THE FBI, FUCK THE RICH GREEDY FUCKERS WHO WHINE AND BITCH ABOUT WHAT THEY LOSE DUE TO THE INTERNET. YOU ASSHOLES ARE JUST MAD BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY HAS PASSED YOU FUCKERS BY AND NOW YOU’RE MAD CAUSE YOU WON’T ADAPT TO THE INFORMATION AGE AND ALSO BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT YOU STUPID ASSHOLES DO TO TRY AND STOP THE USENET AND TORRENTS AND FILE SHARING YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO STOP PIRATES AND FILE SHARING AND I LIVE EVERY DAY TO ROB YOU RICH GREEDY MEDIA FUCKERS AND GIVE TO THE POOR PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET. THE ONLY WAY I WILL GIVE UP MY FUCKING PC’S OR INTERNET CONNECTION IS OVER MY DEAD FUCKING BODY SO IF YOU ASSHOLES AT THE FBI WANT SOME THEN I SAY COME GET SOME FUCKERS CAUSE IF YOU SHOW UP HERE YOU FUCKERS ARE GOING TO BE IN A WORLD OF SHIT CAUSE I HATE ALL PIGS, I’M WELL ARMED AND THE BEST PIGS ARE FUCKING DEAD PIGS AND I WILL NEVER CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT THAT OR FILE SHARING. SO COME AND KILL ME CAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU ASSHOLES WILL BE ABLE TO STOP ME. AND THEN I WILL STILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH CAUSE IT WILL BE MAJOR NEWS WHEN THE FBI KILLS SOMEONE FOR SHARING FILES OVER THE FUCKING INTERNET AND I’M NOT AFRAID OF DEATH OR DYING CAUSE IF ITS YOU’RE TIME TO GO THEN YOU’RE DEAD BUT IF IT ISN’T YOUR TIME TO GO THEN 100 BULLETS WON’T KILL ME AND THAT IS A FACT!!! I ALREADY RAN INTO A 1500 POUND 18 POINT ELK IN ARIZONA 5 YEARS AGO AT 75 MPH ON I-40 NEAR THE GRAND CANYON AND LIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD CAUSE RUNNING INTO A 1500 POUND ELK AT 75 MILES AN HOUR IS LIKE RUNNING HEAD ON INTO A TREE AT 75 MPH. I SURVIVED BECAUSE OF DIVINE INTERVENTION AND GOD SAID TO ME IN A DREAM AFTERWARDS I WANT YOU TO SCREW THE MPAA AND RIAA OVER FOREVER SO I DO IT AND LOVE IT.

  • pyr3

    [quote comment="151025"]sk0t,

    I have one question. Do you have to have the monitoring software installed for a short period or the rest of your life? If it is for rest of your days maybe consider going over seas.
    Kevin Mitnick fought back when he was not allowed to use a computer. He now can access the Internet through a judge ruling in his favor. I have not seen anything about his computer being tapped as yours soon will be. Good Luck, Long Live Linux.[/quote]

    I never followed Mitnick’s case that closely, but I thought that his probation period was only supposed to be 2 years without the internet or a computer.

  • pyr3

    [quote comment="150975"]“Unfortunately, thanks to the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act, some BitTorrent users are considered criminals these days, which means these unusual measures can be forced upon them.”

    He is a criminal. I’ve got no problem with ripping your CD’s or DVD’s for personal use but uploading the film before theatrical release? Yeah, that’s criminal.[/quote]

    it didn’t used to be criminal. it was a civil matter (the copyright holder would sue in court similar to a trademark dispute), but the government criminalized it at the request of the movie/record industry. i think that is utter bullsh!t. the movie/record industry wants the government to do their enforcement for them just so that they don’t have to have their bottomline affected by pursuing these people. the taxpayers shouldn’t shoulder the burden of corporations just so that the ceos can impress teh shareholders with improved quarterly earnings reports.

  • DEP

    Maybe you all ought to be thinking about Voting Ron Paul. He doesnt’ want government intervention in the internet or government pushing products for corporations.

    Join the Ron Paul Revolution.

  • TheExpatriot

    Boy, am I glad that I am living in a country that really values democracy and freedom.

  • Andy

    I am amazed at how many people here are truly shocked that the government gets to set the conditions for your probation/sentence. They support the operating system used by the overwhelming majority of computer users, and I can’t really say I’m that amazed that they don’t go out of their way to cater to the needs of people they just convicted of felonies.

    Do I think the copyright laws in this country suck? Definitely. Do I think that the government should be forced to alter its sentencing to accomodate the operating system choices of those it is sentencing? Of course not.

  • nano

    I agree that this should have been a civil case of copyright violation and should have been treated as such. The punishment here is bizarre, and you have my deepest sympathies.

    Those who advocate jail time for copyright violation, I ask you have you ever hit ‘record’ on your VCR? Listened to a friends’ mix tape? Plagiarised half your school essay? Grabbed an avatar from somewhere for an online forum? How many years do you think criminals like these should serve?

  • sorin

    this is the consequence of a word dominated by jewish. we loose all the liberties; they get all our money.
    I begin to understand hitler.

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  • Al-QuedaKev

    [quote comment="153425"]this is the consequence of a word dominated by jewish. we loose all the liberties; they get all our money.
    I begin to understand hitler.[/quote]

    Dude, you are on crack!! Jews had nothing to do with this. And Hitler deservered a worse death than what he got. This is nothin but good old fashioned corporate greed. You want someone to blame, blame the idiots WE ELECTED into office in Washington for turning this country into the festering fecal cauldron it is today. 20 years ago when I was making mix tape off the radio, I never had to worry about being charged with a damn felony. And so what if Sk0t released a movie before it hit the theatres. You really thing George Lucas took that big a hit in his wallet because of it?? Hell, if it weren’t for me pirating DOS and Windows 3.xx back in the day, I wouldn’t have the job I have now. And because of what I did back them, it didn’t put Micro$osft out of business. Sk0t, hang in there mate, I know it sux, but ride this storm out. The rest of you insensitive idiots can all rot in Hell!!

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  • Anonymous

    And WTF would happen if he would agree to run Windows, somebody would break it and would run a BitTorrent client that would share files? The poor guy would get a death sentence for Windows being buggy? Come on, this is hilarious. Fuck USA, the Nazi country with retarded judges.

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  • sean barry

    “Unfortunately, thanks to the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act, some BitTorrent users are considered criminals these days, which means these unusual measures can be forced upon them.”

    He is a criminal. I’ve got no problem with ripping your CD’s or DVD’s for personal use but uploading the film before theatrical release? Yeah, that’s criminal.

    no that is not criminal, what is criminal is how they can charge me for a cd $30 fucking dollers, and yet the recording artists get shit all of that, and these fat cats at the studio get rich, well fuck them the MPIA and everyone else that does not like file sharing, i live by it and if i am ever put in the same situation i would never buckle to them, NEVER

    I have been to jail for 8 year`s for another chatge, so it dont scare me,

    LONG LIVE TORRENTS
    AND SKOT KEEP YA HEAD UP MATE…

  • Pingback: Who are the Real Pirates? | Lost in Technology

  • Scott

    This has been a funny read on a boring day. Just as well no one in the probation office etc will see all these handy suggestions and work arounds … oh wait …no they will as this article is being linked just about everywhere at the moment. Bottom line is you break the law (whatever you think of the law itself) this is what happens – probation comes with conditions, that’s part of the hoop you jump through to get out of prison. So he has to use windows for a few months – big deal. I have to use it at work (use ubuntu at home) and guess what..the sky hasn’t fallen in. There are people out there that have to make real decisions in life and this guy is moaning about this? What are you 12 or something. Just grow up man.

  • George

    jajaj and you are upset because of that????

    North America kills and make war all around the world for oil

    What you spect from such goverment???

    They exist to protect powerfull people no you,the need your vote just that,to sell that you live in real democracy.

  • George

    “this is the consequence of a word dominated by jewish. we loose all the liberties; they get all our money.
    I begin to understand hitler.”

    Well this is the people that it´s more easy to dominate throw hate,you are part of the problem and you even now

  • George

    I have never imagine that the goverment have a such low level of intrusion.

    Just compare a movie like Bourn Ultimatum to this and imagine the dialoge

    “Intercept is node!!!”

    “Dam! is using Sabayon with beryl”

    “He es to god,we give up,nuke the block and search for oil later!”

  • HvS

    “Well He Should Move to Russia or some other country that accomodates Hackers and pirates ,and Ditch the USA” -

    Well, it’s not absolutely true for Russia. Actually, Russia is not accomodating “pirates”, but our copyright laws are not that strict, and in some ways they are even more democratic. For example, it is legally allowed to hack and disassemble ANY piece of software you legally use and modify it to suit your needs regardless of what the EULA says (certainly, the modified version should remain in your private use).
    As for the number of illegal copies of MS(w) and stuff, we were caught in the “first dose free” trap. The first dozen of years the MS&Ko kept the eyes shut to let their software contaminate the country. Now they are fighting the piracy, and people, without knowing any alternative to MS(w), are forced to buy their crap. That is, one more market was forcefully created. But soon that will change.
    The one thing is true – not a single man was ever sued or put to jail for seeding a torrent, even with a copyrighted content.
    So, if you ever deside to leave the USA, you should, true, think of Russia. It’s not as posh as in Europe, but not that bad as one can think. Well, at least here, in Saint-Petersburg the life is good (btw, I pay 1,350 rubles of commodity charges for my 3-room flat, plus 250 rubles for electricity monthly. 1 US $ is roughly 25 Rubles now, so count the difference. My place is as far as 3 minutes by feet from the subway – 14 rubles per ride – so it’s not somewhere in god-forgotten outskirts. Ah yes, I pay 499 rubles monthly for unlimited 512K dedicated ethernet link – but due to a promotion, from september to december I’ll get 1 megabit for the same price).
    And – most importantly – we don’t have any copyright-related lifetime-long punishments and forced use of spying software.
    I think our people will just welcome your coming to us )

  • charford

    I’m surprised nobody has mentioned him being able to go to the library. From what I have learned of probation, if he wants to go somewhere, he just needs to clear it out in advance, like four days or something. Public libraries have internet access for its patrons, and lots of wonderful books, as well as job searching material. Plus, a good reference librarian is indispensable when on a job hunt. Interlibrary loan can get you any book from any place in the United States.

    In your situation, sk0t, it does not seem likely that you would be able to do any of the workarounds other commenters have suggested, since you will be under surveillance. You will be able to rent movies (porn included), and get all the books you need, as well as have time on the internet to do legal stuff for the next five months. Then, afterwards, you can say that you read all the Harry Potter books in less than a week, you have a new job, and you didn’t have to sacrifice your computer to do it.

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  • Bob Butts

    1. He is not a “regular citizen” he is “administrator of the EliteTorrents”

    2. He pled guilty to felonies.

    The whole windows argument is interesting and the government *should* have cross-platform software, but shit isn’t perfect and this is minor. I am angry at the riaa/mpaa and the state of copyright too, but I don’t have much sympathy for this guy.

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  • Cletus

    I’m sure windows will have errors that cause the monitoring software to malfunction ;]

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  • hendoc

    Scott. Just swap machines with a windows buddy for 5 months and spend your days at his house.

  • Bruno

    [quote comment="150975"]“Unfortunately, thanks to the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act, some BitTorrent users are considered criminals these days, which means these unusual measures can be forced upon them.”

    He is a criminal. I’ve got no problem with ripping your CD’s or DVD’s for personal use but uploading the film before theatrical release? Yeah, that’s criminal.[/quote]

    We must not have the same definition of what’s a “crime”. To me, it’s about rape, murder and the like…

  • pARODY

    Its funny how everyone here is telling him to defy the court order and do some lame bypass method to do whats needed. My opinion.. Install windows and just be a good boy online. Once the monitoring period is done, reinstall linux. That is all.

    and to the idiots who complain about being caught for piracy.. sharing copyright material is still illegal, no analogy of milk and sharing will make sharing someone elses intellectual property legal. wake up you dumb fucks.

    sk0t i understand how its shitty but if you’ve got any coding skills.. offer to make the monitoring software for your prefered OS. maybe you can keep unbuntu installed and possibly make some cash.

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  • Dolores

    If I were that guy…I’d pirate windows, then laugh in the governments face. The dude can’t get any worse off.

  • katasuka

    id say f*** you to anyone who wants me to install windows. id rather do without internet.

    as for the punishment fitting the crime, doesnt happen anymore. sad but true. people can do something about it but too many people are just too dang lazy.

  • Skippy

    Can I just say that everyone that has compared copyright infingement to Rape, murder and other things of the same degree is a complete moron. Ya want to know something, if my friend offered to run me off a free copy of his new Ferrari, yeah Id be down with that. Look at box office takings and such, they make an insane amount of profit from these movies already the only thing that the MPAA is doing is INCREASING, the companies already huge profit margins. The problem with saying that “It cuts out the smaller bands” is just complete tripe, usually the people that use torrents are more willing to pay for unusual/small manufacture music and may well find new bands they like through this method.

    Ive got to say that a jail term is way out of order in this case and charging somoene for bracelets etc. is just criminal in my opinion. What next? Are we going to have to direct debit whenever we call 911? Hello yes, standard fire service for 3 hours to fight blaze, thats $800. And that you can pay for bonuses to your parol that just sounds like legalised bribery. What the hell is this country coming to? No wonder celebrities dont care if they get arrested, why yes, we can upscale your jail terms so its only two weeks and you probation actually no longer has any restrictions, that will be $50,000 please.

  • anonymous

    [quote comment="151046"]Well… Might as well start seeding the torrent again… can’t be charged for the same crime twice can you? Not sure if that applies but it might just be funny enough to look into it.[/quote]

    That might be an interesting thought. double jeopardy may apply. Does anyone know.

  • Ellipsis

    Dude this whole thing is bs

  • Digi

    He could use the new hybrid OS, the new monopoly between Microsoft and Linux. I have not tried but seems like the better option, its basically Linux with the ease ability of Windows.

    Just a thought :P

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  • Anonymous coward

    I don’t suppose the monitoring software runs under Wine? Maybe in a Windows virtual machine under VMWare?

  • Anonymous coward

    …afterthought: Add a new hard drive. Install windows on the new hard drive. Install the free VMWare player on Windows. Run Ubuntu virtual machine under windows, full screen, off the real drive.

    When the monitoring period expires, wipe the Windows hard drive.

  • xiayang695

    roof 267 was a guy sent by KFB to hunting the best hackers in the world^_^,yeah that kidding~

  • 9/11 Was A Microsoft Job

    More proof of the fascist corporate criminals treating US like we’re criminals, when THEY are the criminals!

    To ALL software developers: If you don’t support GNU/Linux, you support corporate tyranny and corporate terrorism. And the makers of the monitoring software, by not porting their software to GNU/Linux, are giving aid and comfort to the corporate terrorists. MICROSOFT IS A TERRORIST CORPORATION!

  • Adam

    [quote comment="150944"]Sk0t TAKE THEM TO COURT AND TELL THOSE FUCKING PAKI’S THAT YOU’RE NOT GONNA DO WHAT THEY WANT!![/quote]

    Entirely uncalled for. My wife is Pakistani. Don’t generalize people like that. It’s rude, it’s selfish, and it makes you seem like an idiot.

    If thats too complex for your puny brain, i’ll make it simple.

    FUCK YOU

  • Anonymous

    [quote comment="150810"]oh i forgot to mention: only in the U.S. a private person is forced to buy a commercial product by government. is that what u understand of liberal capitalism ? sounds kinda communism to me…[/quote]

    Well US always knew how to “persuade” their own people “Americans” into paying money, or be labeled as “criminal, communist or whatever” I think this whole thing is just a governments way of showing that downloading is not beyond their control. I think that the whole Torrent community should contact the Democratic party and ask it to overrule the copyright act. I believe that all knowledge should be public and free of charge after a certain amount of time, like 3 months.

  • VIT

    [quote comment="150975"]“Unfortunately, thanks to the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act, some BitTorrent users are considered criminals these days, which means these unusual measures can be forced upon them.”

    He is a criminal. I’ve got no problem with ripping your CD’s or DVD’s for personal use but uploading the film before theatrical release? Yeah, that’s criminal.[/quote]

    Hey wiseguy, that is not a crime. its a misdemeanor.

  • VIT

    I dont know about you people, but i get the feeling that the government is bending rules. monitoring is a form of invasion of privacy, like spying. The government want to monitor (invade privacy) in order to enforce another law, which they will also bend when needed. I believe that there should be another way to go about his probation. Fuck the monitoring, if they want to monitor his intenet activety or his overall pc activity, i want to see every member of congress stand on their heads in from of the capitol building in washington and this event should be broadcasted like the presidential adress to the union.

  • VIT

    [quote comment="151286"]Wow, some rabid readers here.
    First he broke the law, that you all don’t like it is irrelevant.
    He doesn’t have to comply, he can go back to jail, or as has been suggested, just give up the net for a while. I have a third idea… Why not offer to write a linux based version of the monitoring software. It helps you, or anyone else who might get in your position in the future.
    Whine less, think outside the box. (god I hate that phrase). Be PROACTIVE. Your probation officer might even be impressed with your efforts, and good reports are important for early release.[/quote]

    Dude you are an idiot! He is not a criminla, he did not commit a crime, what he did is really a misdemeanr, like stealing gum from a store. He should have gotten no jail time period!

  • LinKaLL

    Man, you guys amaze me.
    Does anybody know if Sk0t is reading this? Really? You guys are like kids in middle school, cryin’, rantin’ and groanin’ for somethin you don’t even know this guy is gonna read.

    Wise up.

    If there’s support, as much as It seems written in here, go bundle up. Go offer him an alternative to comply with the system. Bundle up what he needs to comply and help him comply. Let’s be clear, he has to play their cards, not us. Remember, rules are theirs, and I mean Justice dept’s rules. No street rules, no hacker rules. Sorry ’bout that, but that’s the way you have to play this time.

    Most of all, don’t suggest anything out of context. Fleeing to Canada/Mexico or any other country won’t make too much of a difference. Specially in Canuk-land. Think what you would feel alone in a strange country where you’re not going to get the lifestile you’re accustomed.

    It is not bad to think creative alternatives “per se”, but remember Sk0t has broken somebody elese’s rules and they’re going hard on his arse for it, they’re not stopping at anything.

    LinKaLL

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  • JesusHFuckingKrist

    Dude, you knew the consequences. You got busted. Man up and deal with it.

    i’m not holier than thou, i do the same shit. The only difference is that i don’t have this ill percieved idealogical concept that it’s part of my god/dess given right to…upload digital media to teh intorwebz.

    Fucking kids these days.

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  • CyberBunker

    The Republic CyberBunker provides Politically Independent Server Hosting for Torrent/ Warez/ TV, Movie Link Sites:

    http://www.CyberBunker.com
    sales@CB3rob.net

    Problem solved.

  • jnak

    I respect sk0t. I know what it’s like to be on probation. I don’t know how long you were on probation, but I was only on it for a short time. If I were you, sk0t, i’d just follow their shit for a while, and then when probation is over, start back up. But if you’re on it too long, I’d just get another laptop and hide its use from the government.

  • jnak

    for all you out there who never got in trouble your whole life, learn what it’s like. it’ll do ya some good.

  • HackThePlanet

    I don’t get everyone saying that the government shouldn’t be required to make the software to work on his machine. They already have the software and use it all the time on their own networks. I have worked in quite a few government buildings and I have yet to be in one without at least one Linux box with monitoring software loaded.

    I have held around twenty different government posts and have used a Linux box on every one and they had software on every one of them to do exactly what they want to do here.

    This would definitely have to fall under the ‘Cruel and Unusual Punishment’ side of things. I agree that time should be served for the crime and some extreme measures may need to be taken for some things but a change of OS is totally unnecessary in this case and it is just their way of screwing with him.

    Everything they have done as far as sentencing seems about right but forcing someone to change to a non-secure, unstable and limited OS is definitely too much for any crime. I would be willing to bet that at least a few of the people posting here could figure out a way around this on Windoze and hide it well enough that it would probably never be noticed.

    With Linux they could legally make him give up the root password and change it so that he could not manage what I have done numerous times under a limited XP account. Windoze is too easy to mess with, I’m really surprised that they would want to make it a requirement.

  • HackThePlanet

    [quote comment="227002"]The Republic CyberBunker provides Politically Independent Server Hosting for Torrent/ Warez/ TV, Movie Link Sites:

    http://www.CyberBunker.com
    sales@CB3rob.net

    Problem solved.[/quote]

    Sorry to post again so soon but I had to say something about this one.

    It makes no difference where the torrent file is getting downloaded from, what matters is where your computer is when you are seeding the torrent.

    I hate all of this copyright crap too but as long as it is a law (hopefully some of us can get that changed at some point) you have to play within the law. I’ve seeded a few fairly big torrents before but always something that had been released as public domain.

    Don’t seed what you can get into even a little trouble for because under copyright laws some punishments are worse than murder 2. Not everyone is going to get the big punishment and sk0t actually got off a lot easier on most of this punishment than he could have.

    If they were really trying to make an example it would have bee much worse but the OS thing is definitely out there.

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  • BTGuard - BitTorrent Anonymously

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