BitTorrent Releasers Slice The Top Off Movie Piracy Pyramid
Written by enigmax on July 27, 2010Online movie piracy has largely enjoyed a fairly predictable structure during the last decade. New releases have generally hit the Internet on high-security ‘topsites’ first and then trickled down to become widely available on peer-to-peer networks. TorrentFreak now takes a look at a new wave of release groups who operate with a fresh and BitTorrent-powered philosophy.
In a nutshell, this is how online movie piracy has worked in recent times. Using their connections, so-called ‘Scene’ release groups – who inhabit secretive and highly exclusive servers, off limits to regular Internet users – obtain copies of freshly released movies. On their ‘topsites’ they share material with fairly close contacts for their own entertainment, usually along with strict instructions not to leak material to the outside world.
By now, everyone knows that the ‘Scene’ is just as leaky as the movie distribution model Hollywood would also like to protect, and within minutes their releases have begun to appear on peer-to-peer networks, especially BitTorrent. For those in the ‘Scene’ this is generally a huge disappointment. For millions of regular file-sharers, it’s a dream come true.
However, increasingly over the last few years, big movie releases have completely bypassed the usual routes to the Internet. In 2005, Star Wars Episode III appeared on the Internet to a fairly surprised ‘Scene’, which led to numerous groups ‘rebranding’ the release as their own, a ‘crime’ usually reserved for those lower down the pecking order.
And who can forget Wolverine? The leak of this unfinished ‘Workprint’ copy generated hundreds of mainstream news headlines. Did it come from the ‘Scene’? Absolutely not. It was leaked straight to the general Internet, bypassing the well-worn structure of the so-called ‘piracy pyramid’ altogether.
This phenomenon has been increasing rapidly, with some normally staunchly pro-Scene news outlets having to admit that times are changing. VCDQuality, a site which for years has been dedicated to reporting how quickly the ‘Scene’ releases movies onto the Internet, recently announced a significant change. They would now begin reporting when the new breed of releasers are first to introduce new movies to the Internet.
After all this time, the dedicated P2P release groups had finally been acknowledged. As can be seen here, their achievement list is growing with big movies and big releases. From Cams, through Telesyncs to DVD Screeners, it seems no format is escaping attention.
Following on from VCDQuality’s decision, a couple of weeks ago P2PElite was quietly launched. Its admin, KoOlWaReZ, told us that the site was designed and created to provide a home, profile and a central location for P2P release groups to get feedback, ratings, and interaction with the public on their releases.
While the site is still in development, the suggestion that release groups could interact with their audience is a major departure from the hide-away attitude demonstrated by ‘Scene’ groups.
Nevertheless, groups are indeed supporting the project. Among others, PrisM, iMAGiNE, Rx, FLAWL3SS, KiNGDOM, Noir, MAGNET and 420Demons (soon to be known as THC) are participating, names which will be familiar to huge numbers of BitTorrent users.
For Scene groups, leaks to BitTorrent and the wider Internet are the last thing they want. For the new wave of P2P release groups such as the above, this is the main aim.
TorrentFreak has managed to interview some Scene release group members before, so when we had the opportunity to speak with some straight-to-BitTorrent releasers, we jumped at the chance.
In the next part of this series we’ll look at the P2P release scene a little closer and chat with a couple of BitTorrent release groups to see what makes them tick.
Previously: Peter Sunde Banned From Operating The Pirate Bay
Next: uMap: Show Your uTorrent Peers in Google Maps
46 Responses
omg… late observation..
Check out the U.K. TV torrent site scene.
Show cappers ,schedules, organised releasing.
much better than “”scene”".
most importantly…..
NO GOOD user upload is nuked because a scene release is available.
Good development.
Thx for reporting, TF.
Not really news, but a good read :)
More attention to this area is not a good thing.
KiNGDOM, you guys pwn
That P2P Elite site is horrible to look at, maybe a total redo and i might take another look. Will be interesting to read more of these P2P release group articles. Personally i stick with scene stuff as you are almost always guaranteed a quality release :)
I think the whole “scene” is silly. Who cares having access to a movie 24 hours before the general public? It’s really just a bunch of antisocial nerds trying to out-l33t each other. There is also of course lame private trackers that try to make a business model out of this.
I think the real reason the “scene” is in decline is because it’s a lot easier to do-it-yourself. Seedboxes and fast connections are easier to come by these days for fast distribution. A lot of the software that goes into production of 0day movies and stuff is readily downloadable and simple.
People who take the time and put forth the effort to provide popular original content are maturing beyond the scene. They’re realizing that information is free, and hiding behind the shroud of the scene is only bolstering the mafiaa’s position that what their doing is illegal.
Just to defend the design, the design of p2pelite I did not put any time into it. The most important things im working on are the functions. This site has only been coded and up for maybe 2 weeks. If that. I professional layout/template will be done when the script is done with bug testing or shortly sooner.
You can view the p2p pre database here: http://pre.p2pelite.com
@P2P ELiTE, sorry hopefully it didn’t sound like i was bagging your site too much :p The idea seems good if you can pull of being that one central site every knows to go to for information. Good luck!
login.php
preDB… where…. hidden in your site ?
Login to see…. NO CHANCE.
The “scene” is still stuck in the year 1995 with 28k dial up modems, and billions of 15mb rar files for one movie.
It’s sad to see them still living in the past, so everyone needs to volunteer to bring them Back to the Future.
@lag
You can see the database as guest. Just select Guest or follow this link:
http://pre.p2pelite.com/database_list.php
@7
Where do you think most of the material online is from?
Yes, the “Scene” happens to be where it all begins. Scene wasn’t about “out-l33ting”. It’s a race.
Because of the “Scene” the rest gets trickled down. Have you ever heard of any release groups taken down ? Didn’t think so.
Pretty stupid to talk shit about something you know nothing of.
“The Scene” proves a very valid point. For years they have been able to circumvent Standards and give the rest of you freedom.
Here’s an analogy for you.
“The Scene” is like the spooks in the government. You’d be surprised that even Actors, Emmy Award Previwers, last but not least some Cinematographers contribute to the “Scene”
Don’t be naive.
@6 scene doesnt always mean quality because they are always trying to beat other scene groups to release their copy first, to win the race they may sacrifice quality
p2p groups(most) on the other hand actually care about quality, they arnt racing cause they are already 10 copies out
many times i passed up scene releases for say a stg release, i sure do miss his releases, they where always the best
80% of p2p releases are scene reencodes, but yeah in HD and movies p2p is def sometimes better, but in games ,DOXs , apps p2p is nowhere !!
most of the time nowadays scene is too busy pre ing and nuking rls that they have forgotten how to rip them correctly frist .
The “scene” is still stuck in the year 1995 with 28k dial up modems, and billions of 15mb rar files for one movie.
@12 when u nubs realize rars are a must for ftps :P
Opps wrong person i was referring to.. there are some serious fast posters out there. well my point originally as stated for those who do not clearly understand who, what, and why about the “scene”. sorry #8 .. I meant for those who don’t get the picture.
and yes p2p is for mostly movies/tv shows, everything else scene all the way
i dont even think ive heard of a p2p group releasing a game or apps, etc
@16
It’s obvous either you don’t know what your talking about or most likely have minumum knowledge when it comes to P2P releases. Visit http://www.vcdquality.com and stay awhile. The newest and quickest cams and r5′s are always P2P first. Sorry to burst your bubble.
@80% reencodes
The way in which this site sometimes engages in actual journalism puts it above what, 80% of “traditional” media. The bar is low, but that doesn’t make the accomplishment any less significant.
P2P ELiTE
“”
You can see the database as guest. Just select Guest or follow this link:
http://pre.p2pelite.com/database_list.php
“”
Sorry. Nice db.
….
@”"all the scene lovers (blinded by love )”"
P2p RULE the TV releases here in the U.K.
You have to be a member of torrent sites , with the cappers/uploaders.
Sites like http://thebox.bz and http://www.uknova.com.
The scene is great at racing releases. But releases get missed / posted late.
@4 14:53 by moose
I second that! Fight club style.
@19 r5 releases hit p2p the same way as many p2p ts releases, Russian video source with English(hopefully .line) audio often lifted from anther release.
p2p groups do come up with a lot of DVD and Blueray rips, but apart from prereleases, they pretty much have no risk anyway. The reencodes, which account for most of it, usually add nothing new – just ripped public content. Props for them applying their skills, but they don’t deserve to take up all the credit for the release.
The p2p camera phone cams always give me a good chuckle though…
Don’t be so naive, the scene is set up the way it is because it works. It keeps the scene groups several steps removed from the general public and the feds, protecting their anonymity. The rise of P2P groups is a good thing for the scene, it takes unwanted attention away from the people who do the real release work.
Why does anyone care?
You can bitch and fight how scene is b33tter than p2p (or the other wy round), i really couldn´t care less.
As long as SOMEONE releases the stuff i am interested in i am happy.
And grateful.
So chill, folks. be nice to one another, it´s not a competition.
Save your rage for others…MPAA and sorts ;)
Well, if it’s speed you want and low-quality junk, sure go the way of p2p.
But since I only download TV-XviD/x264 & DVDRip-XviD or Bluray-x264, I can confidently say that The Scene is way ahead of P2P on those fronts. Think it through, those Scene basement dwellers are the best at what they do, their level of technical know-how is way beyond what your average p2p group can put out. You wouldn’t believe the number of arrogant, insecure little pricks on p2p to which terms like ‘IVTC’, ‘de-interlacing’, ‘PAR’, ‘DAR’ and ‘mod16′ sound like greek.
Also, thank god for the nuke system.
Oh, and it’s funny that somehow, a few cam/screener releases makes a few p2p groups feel so good about themselves. Particularly when you find re-encoded scene releases on p2p all the time.
Well.. I’m just going to ppoint this out.
Scenes stay mostly with friends.. so we wouldn’t really get anything unles it was leaked OR we got into the group. In the mean time, p2p is open so everyone can get it and is not limited to just x (that’s what private trackers do anyway).
So: If scene released to public p2p their releases.. it would be fun.
If you are worried about security, read developer comments here:
http://filenetworks.blogspot.com/2010/07/p2p-elite-pre-database-ranking-system.html
Great. Now you’re going to blab about the private trackers they upload too. Less attention needed you ‘tards
@14, many scene groups have been taken down by the FBI, MPAA mm ..
Some big groups witch have been busted or had members who had been busted:
DiAMOND, SVENNE, Centropy, RELOADED, F4CG, TFCiSO and Hoodlum
Smaller groups:
KNIGHTS, Cinemaniacs, German-Friend, ParadieseBeach, Klapsmuehle, Unreality, DRAGON, Laboratory, Heaven, code talk, GTR, ECP, TRCD, AOS, MRM, SITH, GWL, Cine VCD, AHE, Cinemaniacs, dump station, IOH, TBE, HAFVCD, FLAMES and SAGA
ps. Don’t think that the scene is silly/bad or anything, just pointing out that the scene have it’s flaws two, and isn’t as secure as they used to be. Manly because all the leakers, and all the n00bs witch have been let into the scene.
Love the scene, in the manor of quality, the scene holds the standard high, if there only was p2p releases, then there would be much more shit out there :)
LMAO
ACS Law are getting Butt FuKKED here on TV, BBC 1, in the UK at the mo :D
BBC one, The One Show
@28
If you think the scene is better at encoding HD video then you are sadly mistaken.
The scene is all about speed. To create a good HD movie encode you need to do several test runs with different settings to find the optimal settings for that movie.
There is a reason why actual x264 developers are members of HDBits.
Many blu-ray discs are released on p2p and encoded faster than the scene can too.
i have been in a major p2p group releasing everything from cams to scrs and am now in scene rls group. its not as clearcut as p2p and scene with 90% at least of scene groups having used p2p sources. most decent p2p groups have links with the scene with some even being gadmin for scene groups. moreover p2p groups often sell sources to the scene (u can get thousands of pounds for scrs). imo the reason why p2p is growing over ftp for sources is more to do with inflexible, outdated scene rules and nukenets.
its also worth mentioning id rather have scene axx than the best tracker. good sceners can securely, quickly dl from archives of TBs at one search command. its like having all the worlds media at ur fingertips – the predb is huge and ancient. p2p doesnt have that yet.
another reason p2p gets the sources is that their nfos get more coverage so their ads work better. tbh i think traditional sceners wud b happy about all this as security is #1
What came first, the chicken or the egg ? Lol who cares as long as the egg or the chickens there when I want to eat it. On the other hand though I prefer to support the P2p world myself due to the fact p2p is about sharing. The scene does not want to share with the general public so for me there’s never a question about which releases will be promoted and shared by me.
p2pelite looks like the hexagon.cc model minus the torrents
while i trust Gary this KoOlWaReZ sounds like a cop name. i once met an undercover cop selling coke and his name was ShAdOw wtf
yeah i can see the sense of starting a site to collect all the bittorrent release groups into one tidy place. looking at some of the names who have joined up this is gonna end in tears
@38, Sorry bro. I been a part of the p2p scene for a long time. I am a administrator at scenepalace.com, a uploader at IPT and friends of these release groups.. I use to release myself. PLZ dont spread rumors about stuff u know nothing about.
I can stick my whole middle finger in my bum.
Aaah the Hydra. Yet more heads are being born everyday. MAFIAA must be wetting their pants in fear of losing another 2 or 3 billion to this new threat (or so they’ll claim).
Kudos to the ones who share. But thanks for the ‘scene’ groups for providing us (even if not willingly) with quality and accessible content.
And shame on you MAFIAA for not doing the same. You know, ppl would pay for it.
This was a very interesting article. I love the Kingdom releases, I have recently started looking out for ‘em even if I have not heard of the movie.
They usually have a good selection, and pretty quick too.
I hope this doesn’t undermine the quality of releases, soon enough ANY ol user is going to think they can form a group and the networks will get flooded with shitty releases.
Not like they aren’t already, of course.
@27 and @37 I think you two have nailed it for me. Who gives a rat’s pa-toot as long it gets out? Nef, you said it well when you stated
“So chill, folks. be nice to one another, it´s not a competition.
Save your rage for others…MPAA and sorts ;)” Well put Nef, sir!
Also @37 aka Mustangx you nailed it too, could not have put it better myself. Share, share share. Viva la revolucion!
Like me You are a day late. But glad to see this getting press, I have been a bittorrent releaser since 2006 and have watched this trend evolve.
The scene folks always seemed a bit greedy, but were where most of the goods used to come from. These new groups are the new Heroes of the Internet and are the folks paving the way for our cause. Some I know and some I don’t but to all I would like to say, keep up the excellent work.
This is really dumb and backwards… you know all the big groups used to have IRC channels and interactions with public? Fairlight once posted a merry christmas message on ISONEWS? Guess why all that changed…
The scene isn’t being deliberately ‘greedy’ like some of you idiots are suggesting. A lot of these people who made the changes have friends who have been arrested and jailed. The system of distribution is there for a reason.
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