Help Scott to stay out of Prison
Written by Ernesto on September 15, 2006Scott McCausland, the man who pleaded guilty in a BitTorrent case this week, now invites everyone who sympathizes with him to write a letter to the judge on his behalf.
Scott admitted to the judge that he was involved in managing to popular “private” BitTorrent tracker Elitetorrents.org. He also told the judge that he uploaded copyrighted content more than once, including a copy of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith”, several hours before it was officially released.
By pleading guilty to “conspiracy to commit copyright infringement” and “criminal copyright infringement”, he now faces up to a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
In a response to our previous article Scott links to this statement.
Dear Users/Geeks/Techies/All-In-Between,
This is Scott McCausland, yes, the one who just plead guilty to a BitTorrent case held on September 12, in Erie, PA.
The reason I am releasing this is because I am going to ask that anyone who feels the need, or, feels some type of desire to see me not spend the maximum of 5 years per count in prison, if you could please write a letter directed towards the judge on my behalf.
Please direct it towards: U.S. District Judge Sean J. McLaughlin.
Please send letters/notes to: freeme@sk0t.comIf you want to be heard in this matter please do so professionally and without ill-intent. I will not edit any of the letters (however I will read them first to make sure they wont hurt me in any way).
Please, do not let this become anything more than it has to be. Do not let me get made an ‘example’ of because of the popularity of Star Wars.
Thanks,
Scott McCausland
sk0t/MindHunter
Time for some action!
Previously: How to run uTorrent in Mac OS X
Next: BitTorrent Video Store Coming Soon
46 Responses (Add yours or TrackBack)
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Scott committed a crime,but the punishment should fit the crime. For a family man who works with disabled youth and has never even had a ticket, this punishment that he faces does not.
We have people in hte uS killing, raping children, robbing banks at gunpoint and multiple offenders, that are not getting half the punishment Scott will get, which is 2 years, and 3 years monitored.
The punishment they are giving him is a crime.
Yes I agree. The punishment they are handing him is only because the offense is against major labels, and not just some average joe on the street without alot of money to back them up. I know people who sell drugs to youths who are back walking around in only 3 to 6 months, while this man who was lulled into uploading a copy of Star Wars is facing 5 hard years in prisons.
I don’t think that a crime such as this, that is committed for the first time should lead to such a sentence. If after a lighter sentence the offense is committed again, then maybe it is time for such measures…
Kupo!
I feel for Him.
And I agree with Justsomeguy and Soulxlight.
Why are they doing this to him and not out there catching the REAL criminals. Some how seems unfair.
White Collar Crimes should not get such a sentence.
Murders and and those who hurt Childern,(VIA selling drugs,etc.) Those are the ones who should be punished.
You know I thinks it pretty Sad that are taking OUR internet away, and Telling us how and what we can do with it.
if it was not for people like us where would the internet be. THIS IS OUR INTERNET!!!! we make it what it is.and I will be writing a letter to his Judge ask him please not to do this to him.
lets pull together and see if we can help out,I mean we have all done it. Why should Scott suffer.
So lets all ban together and help out…
Thank you
Of course the federal gov. is going to try to lock him up for as long as possible since it has a multi billion dollar indutry whispering in it,s ear. Drug dealers and other criminals don,t have any adverse affect on hollywood as a matter of fact they practicly cater to it. Really now does an actor or some rapper really need another 25 million dollars for one movie or album. Please !!!!!!! Who are we kidding, they are trying to set an example to simply scare the hell out of everyone else.
Best of luck Scott -
A bit like David and Goliath -
Lets hope Scott shares the good fortune David benifitted from - prosecuting you and people like you - is not the solution - technology is light years ahead of the judiciary - Im a westerner living in South Korea - the things I see here everyday, make your so-called crime, dwindle into insignificance - and this stuff here continues day in day out -on a grand scale - the powers that be are aware - nobody really cares - laissez faire - people want pirated goods because they’re free or cheaper - give the people what they want -
All hail the mighty Scott - the peoples hero!
I would just like to add - although Scott acted in a manner that was technically illegal, there ought to be some leeway - his sentence is preposterous - I said before that I hoped Scott would share David’s good fortune - but I did not mean he should choose a stone and with his sling cast it at the honorable Justice Sean J.Mclaughlin. That would be pure folly - two wrongs dont make a right - but for a man to be incarcerated in - what state is this in ? -whatever state - he isnt looking forward to it - I’m sure that most people would kill, or even be killed rather than be couped up in an antiquated, ineffectual, hard, cold, penal system like those found across your great country -”Home of the brave, land of the free” oh oh no there’s something wrong there - if some guy tried to imprison me for copying a movie which made how much money ????? well Im sure it was enough to pay several judges salaries and build another prison or two - well done - yeah !! money well spent - WHY IS THE WORLD RUN BY FASCIST MORONES ?
No matter what you think of the law or punishment, writing to the judge is futile. He’ll never read a single letter. Don’t waste your time.
Poor guy… He should have gotten max 10 days or a 50$ fine in my opinion.
This is what happens when a country is run by corporate intersts rather than the interests of the individual. Of course murder and child abuse would rank as lesser crimes than an affront to corporate power. The lawyers prosecuting this case are such tools of corporate hegemony its absurd and really could ONLY happen in America to this degree (5 years per count! thats obscene). America is so defiantly backwards it is shocking.
Yeah, it is amazing how a country based on the rights of individuals could evolve into such a tool of corporate power.
http://www.cafepress.com/sk0t
It’s about time the judicial system woke up and started addressing real issues instead of picking on easy targets.If corportate America hadn’t been so greedy this mans life and reputation would not be getting dragged thru the courts.Who has Scott hurt?.NOBODY. Please folks, don’t let Scott do time for having a hobby.It’s in ALL our interests as pc users and file sharers.
Good luck Scott
I’m sorry your life has been put on display and you’re now being made a scapegoat.
If he gets maximum sentence and even half sentence is life is broken. And he is only 23. I propose that we wait and see what comes from it. The letter might help a bit, but the judge might be blind from the interest at stakes.
When he comes out, WE SHOULD ALL USE THE INTERNET for what it is. Build a network to put him back on rail with his life. Sending (for example) 1 € or 1 $ per person might seem useless but the internet and its broadcast might turn it into a tsunami. 5it is one way of helping the poor guy) Send a message to the world as well. That is one of the main interest of internet anyhow… to link people together. I know it is a crime he has done. We are all on thoses sites.
What is the use of punishing one guy? It is beheading one man on the public place to scare the entire population. History books have many examples. And it is still going today literally.
Internet has educated me more that any teacher and any educational system because it is free. Imagine what societies can become if they have (full) access to information. It should not only serve 20% of the world’s population but the maximum.
Linking people is the basis of this system (post cold war military system at first), morality is the foundations of humanity. What are we afraid of? Are we afraid of writing a new page of history and a new society with it? And who is afraid?
I have never been so in contact with music, art, news, information, people from different cultures that with internet. It is obvious, the world is going to be well managed only through a well managed network. Do not let it die out like this. You will not only send a message to scott but as well send a message to the network. The message that you want to send is : you are alone man but thanks for the information you scattered, or dont’t worry scott we’ll back you up!
at least I hope my community would react with adequate response when the tools are available and almost free (an internet connection + cpu) when I am in the hole.
WTF?!?! There’s no more freedom!
Neither in internet you can share your songs (that you made with YOUR garage band) or whatever. That’s ridicoulos, I just hope that other sites (ig those hostes in Europe, Sweden) still resist.
Brazil is with you !!
I´m with you !!!
I will only know if somebody copied my music for illegal ends if the same be sold to the some price.
TOLEDO ESMAGA JUIZ
The internet should be a place with no rules like this, knowledge should be shared no metter which way it’ll take.
You a nerd man!!! fuck!!!
Concordo com sua causa.
Espero que se saia bem e livre deste evento.
Cordialmente,
F@bio - BRASIL
Espero que nao seja preso por essa besteira.
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