Latvia’s Largest BitTorrent Tracker Shutdown, Admins Arrested
Written by enigmax on August 27, 2008Much to the disappointment of more than 100,000 users, Latvia’s largest BitTorrent tracker has been shut down by the authorities. Following a joint operation by Lativa’s Economic Police and a local IFPI-affiliated anti-piracy agency, two administrators were placed under arrest.
File.lv, Latvia’s largest BitTorrent community, was taken offline a few days ago. The 100,000 member tracker reportedly went dark after a joint effort by the Latvian Economic Police and the IFPI-affiliated Latvian Music Producers Association, otherwise known as LAmpA.
According to various Latvian reports, the site was taken down and two of the main administrators placed under arrest. Other gaming and sport related projects connected to the tracker also disappeared. Reports suggest that up to 40 servers were seized.
The two admins, believed to be known as FileX and Tralivali, are believed to have been detained by the Economic Police, an outfit similar to the Dutch FIOD-ECD which was involved in the closure of OiNK. As usual, rumors are circulating that prolific uploaders are also being investigated, although that is far from certain at this stage .
Reports indicate that in 2007, admin ‘FileX’ received a letter from a German media company which requested the shutdown of File.lv. Failing that, it was demanded that File.lv should at least block users with a German IP address, with legal action threatened should they not comply. It’s unclear whether or not the site complied with the request, or if the threatened action is connected to the site’s recent disappearance.
Almost exactly 12 months ago, the Economic Police and public prosecutors met up at a ‘cyber-crime’ summit in Sigulda, Latvia, to discuss how piracy on the Internet could be detected and recorded in a fashion acceptable to the courts. One of the guest lecturers at the meeting was Jeremy Banks, head of Internet anti-piracy operations at the IFPI.
With this news about File-lv, it sounds like it took them a year to get organized.
If you are Latvian and have any further updates, please email us at tips@torrentfreak.com
Update: It appears that most of the other well known Latvian trackers that were hosted in Latvia at the time of the raid have now temporarily shut down as a precaution. This is the first time in Latvia there have been actual arrests in connection with a torrent site.
Update2: Additional details coming in from this report. According to the site’s host, 3 servers were seized. Additionally, it’s being reported that the site used a “buy upload credits via SMS” system.
Previously: RIAA’s Anti-Piracy Trade Agreement Wishlist
Next: LimeWire Music Store Adds 1.2 Million Tracks
65 Responses
that sucks ass
#1 put it best…
sucks
Headline came as total surprise. Im from Latvia. Actually i didnt even know that was the largest one.
fcuk police.
file.lv is not the largest..
i think it is. if not which one is the biggest iyo?
Do not answer that!He is a SPY!
100,000 members? That is slightly more than 4.4%. Surely this population can have a huge voting impact?
*sigh* pigs busting file sharers..
if only they had saved that little girl who got raped..
Arrested? Where the F**K does it say that if you torrent/run a tracker, you go to jail??????!!!! [READ TO ME THE LATVIAN/EU LAWS IFPI PLZZZ!]
RIAA & IFPI/MAFIAA are slowly building their own coffin, can’t wait to spill some dirt when it’s done!
This is horrible news. I hope they don’t take too long in realizing the grave error that has been made.
oh shi..!
Arrested for fucking what? Running a tracker, this is bull..
@ahum: where’s the money in that?
to #Antihypnotic!
Latvian piracy law was recently changed and you can actually be sued for running a bittorrent tracker now.
Have any of these torrent sites that’ve been forced to close ever led to any operators being charged with anything at any point, anywhere?
Just wondering…
theyve been charged with attempt to gain freedom.
USA - Land of the free (If you do what we say)
Actually, a lot of file.lv tracker users come from other countries, local residents use other, more localized trackers (only for LV residents).
(uzconfirmed information) file,lv have trouble not from Latvian, but German authorities, who started lawsuit against sharing movies from file.lv to German users.
P.S. A lot of trackers from Latvia right now migrate to other countries :)just in case.
population is what, barely 2 million? why is this news? it aint the MPAA or RIAA having to do anything with some latvian site, 100,000 users in a small country wouldn’t be worth it. it’s their own feds and gov’t, people, quit blaming the US. it’s obviously because they weren’t very smart about security if LATVIAN feds can shut em down. that’s pathetic.
file was one of biggest tracker in Latvia, can say biggest… thats right - they recive letter from German DVD company or something like that… other tracker owners are closed trackers and searching new host not in Latvia….
wow, I am a Latvian, and I had no idea this happened, but what is even more, I had no idea there was a file.lv tracker. There are some which are a lot more popular among Latvians, so I would not be surprized if file.lv was used by a lot of Germans.
I’m from Latvia, too. There are a lot of torrent trackers in Latvia. After this incident quite a few of them pissed in their pants and cleaned out servers. Some are talking about moving servers to UK or some place. But I’m not quite sure if that gonna do any good.
It was latvian tracker with 99% russian users :P
It was one of the lamest trackers among us. I`m happy it’s gone.
Fuck the Police!
Most of our (latvian) trackers are in other countries now…
Run awaaay!!! Run awaaay!!!
A year or so ago there was the first strike of LAMPA. I don’t quite remember, was there any lawsuits involved, but a lot of trackers already got the message: do not distribute Latvian music. Some of them already then migrated to other countries.
Either way, I suspect that file.lv was closed not due to problems with German media companies, but due to the fact, that they distributed Latvian music, since, as I understand, LAMPA only cares about the music industry. I can’t prove this (since I was not a user of this tracker), so it would be good, if someone, who was a user there, could tell all of us, was file.lv distributing Latvian music.
Latvia has an economy?
Interesting as Latvia was one of the former soviet republics that sold out to the west. Don’t be a slave to the east or west!
lilmoder, as far as I know only bithack has moved outside Latvia so far. Some more are about to move…
So… stop talkin bullshit
I’m from Latvia… this article needs some update…
First of all:
file.lv was not truly a latvian tracker, it was mostly russian language based tracker who didn’t accept the fact, that they aren’t allowed to share latvian music (it forbidden here :D) for starters…
Second:
The owner of this tracker was one of the russian activists here in Latvia, who for example supported Russia’s recent war… pictures with him and his colleges can be found here
http://www.tribine.lv/articles/5727/1/Sledz_lielako_LV_failu_apmainas_trekeri_File.lv_(PAPILD.)?PHPSESSID=ogmm0k2l7blduftj976g428ml2
if you know something about Latvia, than Latvia’s flag is red/white/red… heh…
there are quite confident rumors that this was a political issue here.
Third:
The new anti-piracy law in Latvia says, that you are guilty, if you help in some or other way to piracy (that technically means, that even the power company is responsible) if you don’t do a thing when asked to… that means, if somebody was really asked by the music company to stop spreading their stuff, then if the responsible person does as they say - he is free (if I am correct) - a bag of bs, if you ask my opinion… till today - every latvian tracker has stopped spreading latvian music and none of them have been bothered again (here no one cares about foreign stuff, they have their hands full with work as it is).
So really, this isn’t a real threat to all of us, couse, none of this was with no reason at all, reasons where many and few of them where really good.
Hope this clears some things up :)
Forgot to mention, that the owner faces a real 3 to 5 years behind the bars sentence with today’s laws in Latvia… Quite harsh…
I agree with #19, while the United States has its fair share of unfair policies this really has nothing to do with us.
Too bad they got shut down though, even if they weren’t that good of a tracker it still sucks to see people losing the war.
wouldnt bother me at all if demonoid is next
the mod who police the place are nazis, power corrupts absolutely
these areretards treating adults like children and children like theirslaves
they treated us like their slaves
actually we’reslaves thats why i hate
i resent them for abusing their power
all i can do is complain about it
i doubt they care, just gangster picking on individual who stand out of the crowd.
i will never furget this
their days are coming to an end
these fools have pissed me off beyond anything i have encountered
a bunch of immature pricks are not worth my time but hey god is watching them. i doubt he’s happy either.
damn it, where do i download brainstorm’s (prÄta bÄ“tra) new album now? : (
According to some news sites, the founder and owner of the site is facing criminal charges - jail time, but the other admin arrested will get oly fined up to 40 minimum wages = 40*160=6400 LVL ~ 6500 GBP i believe….
plus they have also gone after some uploaders as well and confiscated their PC’s.. ;)
they shared RÄ«gas Sargi on their tracker….next day they were shut down for all the reasons above
also many other torrent portals have been closed, possibly because are afraid to have same fate as file.lv
Examples: http://www.outlaw.lv, http://www.danger.lv, http://www.crimebt.lv, http://www.shadow.lv http://www.vergs.lv, http://www.lench.lv, http://www.torrentcity.lv, http://www.torrentiem.lv, http://www.x-masbt.lv
Its getting hard times here.
If you live in the US remember Barak’s #2 Biden is very pro-RIAA. Google for “Biden RIAA” and weep. Don’t let this guy get in.
history repeats itself a few years ago there was source.lv which was closed and later it reborned to file.lv
—,Original Message—,
From: РуÑÑ-МультимедиаРуÑÑ ÐœÑƒÐ»ÑŒÑ‚Ð¸Ð¼ÐµÐ´Ð¸Ð° [mailto:russ-multimedia@mail.ru]
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 12:17 AM
To: file.lv@mail.ru
Subject: Предупреждение-ÐÐµÐ»ÐµÐ³Ð°Ð»ÑŒÐ½Ð°Ñ Ð´ÐµÑтельноÑÑ‚ÑŒ Ñайта http://www.****.lv
Importance: High
ЗдравÑтвуйте
Мы Ð»Ð¸Ñ†ÐµÐ½Ð·Ð¸Ñ€ÑƒÐµÐ¼Ð°Ñ ÐºÐ¾Ð¼Ð¿Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ñ Ð·Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ð¼Ð°ÑŽÑ‰Ð¸Ð¹ÑÑ Ð¿Ð¾ продаже и раÑпроÑтранению Лицензионного Видео на территории Федеративной РеÑпублике Ð“ÐµÑ€Ð¼Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ñ Ð° также Европы ÑовмеÑтно Ñ ÐšÐ¾Ð¼Ð¿Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ñми “КиномоÑÑ‚” и “МоÑфильм” при ÑодейÑтвии Главного земельного Ñуда Landgericht Hamburg(Deutschland) , Ñообщаем что вы вызываете нам трудноÑти по продаже и раÑпроÑтранению нашей продукции(и не только) путём нелегального раÑпроÑÑ‚Ñ€Ð°Ð½ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ñ Ð½Ð° Ñ‚Ñ‹ÑÑчи Пользователей вашего Ñайта http://www.****.lv через метод Битторрент(bittorrent) Ñкачивание, от которого ущерб ÑоÑтавлÑет Ñотни Ñ‚Ñ‹ÑÑч Евро
Ð’ ÑвÑзи Ñ Ñтим мы вам ПоÑтановлÑем и Предупреждаем прекратить такого рода деÑтельноÑÑ‚ÑŒ по нелегальному Ñодержанию и раÑпроÑтранению Видео.
Вам дан Ñрок в течении 2-Ñ… недель прекратить подобную деÑтельноÑÑ‚ÑŒ или как минимум заблокировать доÑтуп поÑÐµÑ‰ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ñ Ð½Ð° вашем Ñайте ПользователÑм имеющие ГерманÑкие IP ÐдреÑа(Deutschland).
Ð’ Ñлучае Ð½ÐµÐ²Ñ‹Ð¿Ð¾Ð»Ð½ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ñ Ð¾Ð´Ð½Ð¾Ð³Ð¾ из вышеопиÑанных требований мы подаём ИÑк на вашу Компанию в Главный Земельный Суд Федеративной РеÑпублики Германии который при ÑодейÑтвии Верховного Ñуда ЛатвийÑкого гоÑударÑтва займётÑÑ Ð²Ð°ÑˆÐ¸Ð¼ делом до Полного Ð·Ð°ÐºÑ€Ñ‹Ñ‚Ð¸Ñ Ð²Ð°ÑˆÐµÐ³Ð¾ нелегального реÑурÑа Ñ ÐºÐ¾Ð½Ñ„Ð¸Ñкации вашего Ñервера.
Ð’Ñе данные будут переправлены по ÐдреÑу:
Верховный Ñуд ЛатвийÑкой РеÑпублики,
Бульвар БривибаÑ, 36, Рига, LV-1511
Ответчики за открытие и раÑпроÑтранение ÑÐ¾Ð´ÐµÑ€Ð¶Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ñ Ð²Ð¸Ð´ÐµÐ¾,а также ÐдминиÑÑ‚Ñ€Ð°Ñ†Ð¸Ñ Ð²Ð°ÑˆÐµÐ³Ð¾ реÑурÑа и некоторые пользователи вашего Ñайта понеÑут Строгую ОтветÑтвенноÑÑ‚ÑŒ.
Данное решение было Ñформулировано при ÑодейÑтвии компаний “КиномоÑÑ‚” и “МоÑфильм” при поддержке Landgericht Hamburg(Deutschland), и не требует официальной подпиÑи.
————————————————————————————-
также вы можете подать заÑвку о правoморноÑти еÑли таковой ÑвлÑетеÑÑŒ по адреÑу:
russ-multimedia@mail.ru
Dieser Kommunikationsweg steht ausschließlich für Verwaltungs-angelegenheiten zur Verfügung. Verfahrensanträge oder Schriftsätze können auf diesem Weg nicht rechtswirksam eingereicht werden. Sie sind auf dem üblichen postalischem Wege oder mittels Telefax dem Gericht zuzusenden.
————————————————————————————,
original e-mail and translated using google translator:
From: Russ-MultimediaRuss Multimedia [mailto: russ-multimedia@mail.ru]
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 12:17 AM
To: file.lv @ mail.ru
Subject: Warning-Illegal activity site www .****. lv
Importance: High
Hello
We have licensed the company responsible for sales and distribution of Licensed Video on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany and Europe in conjunction with the Company “Kinomost” and “Mosfilm”, with the assistance of the General Land Court Landgericht Hamburg (Deutschland), announce that you call us difficulties on our sales and distribution products (not only) through the illegal distribution to thousands of users of your site www .****. lv method through Bittorrent (bittorrent) downloads, from which damage to hundreds of thousands of dollars
In this regard, we warn you Postanovlyaem and stop such activities on the spread of illegal content and Video.
You during this period 2 - weeks to cease such activities or at least block access to visit your site users with German IP addresses (Deutschland).
In the event of failure of one of the above requirements, we claim to serve your company in the Land Court Chief Federal Republic of Germany with the assistance of the Supreme Court of the State of Latvia will take your case to your Full closure of the illegal confiscation of the resource with your server.
All data will be transferred to Address:
The Supreme Court of the Republic of Latvia,
Brivibas Boulevard, 36, Riga, LV-1511
Respondents for opening and distribution of video, as well as your resource administration and some users of your site will suffer Strict Liability.
This decision was made with the assistance of companies “Kinomost” and “Mosfilm” with the support of Landgericht Hamburg (Deutschland), and does not require a formal signature.
—————————–
You can also apply on the rights o mornosti if such is at:
russ-multimedia@mail.ru
Dr Doom is gonna be PISSED
Fuck Germany!
latvia ? come on stand up goto the streets and beat them senseless take over your country and kick the mpaa, riaa , bsa lovers out
TIME TO get a bat and start cleaning house on earth
Did they really think the worst than nazi u$a would be a better master than the sovietics?
burn mohrfucer(file.lv) burn
Great, musicplace.lv is also gone.
Well, if people bought their credits by SMS then all they have to do is change their phone number and simple, no one knows who they are.
Hey everyone, u are more then welcome to my new torrentsite http://www.hdtransmission.com, only english but we going to make a forum for every language. Join and have fun with us, its 8x upload right now.
//Amira
On a lighter note … Bingo and beer party, August 1st 9pm, The Kremlin.
Nostrovia!
this is very good news.
Looks like even the noname latvians can’t even put good people in government. There is some messed up agenda happening across the world. The IFPI are running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
#36, fucking buy it, you cheap crap. Support your countries musicians.
i heard they were keeping some files on their servers or something like that
Actually Latvian government is completely corrupted and full of lobbyists’n’shit.
Some facts:
1) This LAmpA has managed to make a tax on every IT product that gets bought. If you buy a blank dvd, hdd, pc, portable or a flash card for your digital camera you are paying them a tax(to music industry). Free money FTW!!!
2) They pushed a law that allows to put under arrest and sue for “facilitating copyright infringement” (same shit that are TPB guys charged with). This “law” smells of crap a mile away. With this they could sue power plant company for providing electricity to tracker servers.
Anyway this is another(maybe) lost battle for p2p community. So sad.
I hope they will get some good lawyer and gonna fuck them real hard, because this law goes agains constitution for what I know.
a bunch of American jews fucks up the whole world( in many ways, not only the torrent world ). it’s time to wake up and kick some arse before will be too late. They ( esp. these greedy lawyers) spread like virus. The Latvia case is certainly a big & sad surprise. Why not go try that in Ukraina or Russia clever police punk arses.
That sucks but don’t they know the pirates will always win and find away :P
i loved that site. (im russian american)
bitchslap (#23) where are the better trackers? i haven’t found any that as good as that one. they always had the best movies and tv shows available on file.lv
http://www.file.lv - work fine ;)
Well I am from Latvia and I can tell you that its such a big thing because Latvia is the world’s second fastest country in seeding, in trackers like http://www.ishunt.com and http://www.thepiratebey.org your lucky if you have 50kb/s in latvian trackers for some people it exceeds 10Mb/s so thats the big deal, also another really big latvian tracker closed recenty called http://www.outlaw.lv
Oh yeah, did you know that the gamer hacker team reloaded is mostly from Latvia…
Well Im back to this forum lurking agai as i have for several years..It’s always a bummer when a nation or place fall to international pressure of this type..but when big bizz and money makes a call its usually heavy especially in the form of pressure against a not so wealthy nation…
I myself dont have alot of exp with torrents past piratebay, btjunkie more than 100 times or so… I found that the quality of content got crappier over the years as the pressure against ppl like us built. I share on a p2p that not too many are on .. but we have managed not to catch any headlines… Id like to get into torrents again just to see if there is anything with quality out there.. this will be my first post here… Ill keep reading too.. thanks to all commenters here.. knowledge is power..
Soundmst
Bad luck …. :(
One closed 5 new created… :)
Responses are closed
All remaining responses will continue to be archived. Use the TorrentFreak forums if you want to discuss something.