Meet DtecNet – RIAA’s New Anti-Piracy Partners
Written by enigmax on January 13, 2009DtecNet, the anti-piracy outfit replacing MediaSentry as the RIAA’s chief evidence collector, also operates in several other countries. The Danish company is working for the BPI in Britain in support of its drive to force a “3 strikes” regime, and helping in Australian investigations against alleged pirates. We take a closer look.
Earlier this month it was confirmed that the RIAA was dumping its anti-piracy partner, MediaSentry. After five years of legal action and mass lawsuits it decided its relationship with the notorious tracking company should come to an end. Some commentators believed that this signaled the end of the RIAA’s legal action against file-sharers, but that is definitely not the case.
The RIAA will now be working with DtecNet, a Danish anti-piracy tracking company which employs largely the same techniques as MediaSentry, but the aims will be slightly different in the majority of cases. The new tactic for the IFPI-headed music industry is to target ISPs instead, lobbying governments to implement the dreaded “3 strikes” or “graduated response” scheme reported so often in recent months.
Interestingly, DtecNet is far from an objective investigating firm. In fact, it originally stems from the anti-piracy lobby group Antipiratgruppen, which represents the music and movie industry in Denmark. There are more direct ties to the music industry though. Kristian Lakkegaard, one of DtecNet’s employees, used to work for the RIAA’s global partner, IFPI. Unsurprisingly, the RIAA has now chosen DtecNet to gather the evidence that will cost alleged filesharers their Internet connection.
One country in the thick of the “3 strikes” proposals is the UK. Led up by the BPI, the British music industry signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the country’s six largest ISPs. They agreed to send out letters to alleged pirates on behalf of the music industry, warning them that their illicit sharing habits had been monitored and they should discontinue their actions.
Of course, even without individual prosecutions, an anti-piracy company still has to do the tracking, but despite our requests the BPI refused to tell TorrentFreak how they were achieving this. Some months ago we put it to Matt Philips of the BPI that if their system was robust, there should be no problem in revealing it to us. Unfortunately he wouldn’t tell us who they were using or how they carried out their tracking. But of course, we found out in the end.
It turns out that in common with the RIAA and IFPI, the BPI are also using DtecNet. However, there appears to be no particular magic behind this company’s techniques. Just like most (if not all) anti-piracy outfits, they simply work from a list of titles their client wishes to protect and then hunts through known file-sharing networks to find them, in order to track the IP addresses of alleged infringers.
Their software appears as a normal client in, for example, BitTorrent swarms, while collecting IP addresses, file names and the unique hash values associated with the files. All this information is filtered in order to present the allegations to the appropriate ISP, in order that they can send off a letter admonishing their own customer, in line with their commitments under the MoU.
DtecNet is also active in Australia. Hired by Hollywood studios, DtecNet helped to build the case against ISP iiNet, by gathering evidence which they say proves that iiNet authorized the copyright-infringing activities of its own subscribers.
It is unclear why the RIAA finally dumped MediaSentry, but the fact that its techniques were heavily criticized in court couldn’t have helped. Renowned P2P expert Prof. Johan Pouwelse labeled RIAA expert Doug Jacobson’s reporting as “borderline incompetent”.
The switch to DtecNet is unlikely to prove any more fruitful, since no anti-piracy company is capable of identifying uploads to anyone but itself, which makes mass-infringement almost impossible to prove. It might be some time before DtecNet’s evidence is scrutinized in court but when it is, it will be a big surprise if it’s of a greater ‘quality’ than the data provided by MediaSentry.
Meet the new boss…..
Previously: Top 10 Most Pirated TV Shows on BitTorrent
Next: EU Conceals Anti-Piracy Treaty Documents
66 Responses
Company's like RIAA should realise that they're never going to stop people from sharing files, copyrighted or not. They should focus on promoting legal ways of getting material in a way that is beneficial for both party's.
http://www.fetchmp3.com
So, they figured that the previous company was dis-reputable, and they replace it with a company that is pretty much the same, but with a different name.
You know, with all the horrible things that they are doing, I wonder why not many people want to rally to do something particularly meaningful against the RIAA.
So, they figured that the previous company was dis-reputable, and they replace it with a company that is pretty much the same, but with a different name.
You know, with all the horrible things that they are doing, I wonder why not many people want to rally to do something particularly meaningful against the RIAA.
Roze
You mean legal ways of sharing material. P2P is about sharing, not just getting.
this makes me un proud of being a dane, i'm seriously considering to terrorise the company, i know where their address is, vandalize their property !! and dk police, it's just lol, they dont catch anybody atm.. i could also pull some gasoline and light the building up, but that would also risk innocent neighboor lives.
some share more than others though lol.
That's just plain stupid, Trancefreak. As much as I dislike what these companies are doing, you're taking this WAY too far.
Is he though? They need a message, we need to send a message. Just sitting here at our computers, waiting to either be caught or for some "Pro p2p" law to be passed wont help anything. RIAA and gov's only respond to people who actually do things, even protests and such. Sure, lighting a building on fire is extreme, but it would get the message across.
the roof …..the roof……the roof is ….
The thing i dont like about the Riaa is that they try to go above everyone to change the law. Who the hell do they think they are anyway?
Bringing in a new company doesnt bother me though. They won't deter people from sharing. Infact i think im gona upload a few torrents cos of this news :D
as i said start yelling andcalling actors and musicans assholes might be better then sitting on your butts.
DIrectly confronting htem and saying things like,
I SEE ITS OK TO SUE INNOCENT DISABLED PEOPLE THAT ARE BED RIDDEN
and
LAST I CHECKED BREAKING INTO MY HOME IS ILLEGAL AND YOU ADVOCATE ITS THEN OK TO DO THAT TO MY COMPUTER, YOU CRIMINALS
DOWN WITH ACTORS AND MUSICIANS
get some eggs and toss them close to the actors and musicians start making them relaize where this will really head. Democracy will take care of the rest.
Indeed, political action is all about messages, whether it be the power of words, the power of images, or the power of communication in general. Direct Action is also a message, but it is something that must be done in groups, and in concordance to the power of words and other communication.
My gut reaction to this is it’s encouraging
download-all-you-can-while-you-can behavior.
Knowing that lawsuits were about as probable
as being hit by a meteor, people wanted to
get stuff before it was too late, and online
file sharing boomed. Now, going after ISPs,
the RIAA looks like it will be serious, so
file sharing will probably have another huge
surge as people realize if they don’t use their
expensive broadband connections before this is
implemented, they may be paying for nothing.
When this falls through, the next bright idea
will spur more people to download while
they can. This “we’ll soon put a stop to this”
approach of the RIAA seems to be backfiring.
Someone ought to analyze P2P traffic and match it
with various RIAA press releases and see if
there’s not a spike after the RIAA announces a
cumbersome plan that will be implemented in
a few months or years down the road.
**** the RIAA.
I concur, although I recommend simple vandalism for now, which does not cause too much harm, but which will at least send a message. I think that it is a little too early right now for something on the scale of John Brown's killing of 5 pro-slavery people in Kansas – big things like that would have be done when there is more willing people and more mobilization for it. With all the abhorrent things that they have done, it is a wonder why their real property has not been vandalized by now.
So, they figured that the previous company was dis-reputable, and they replace it with a company that is pretty much the same, but with a different name.
You know, with all the horrible things that they are doing, I wonder why not many people want to rally to do something particularly meaningful against the RIAA. You know, do something like set up a political group against the RIAA, and against actions in general against P2P. Don't you think that this is a good idea?
(The EFF is definitely not a political group, and the U.S. Pirate Party doesn't count, since nobody really takes third parties seriously in the United States, due to the plurality system which disfavors third parties.)
Roze
Think about it, has the RIAA done anything useful lately? Maybe it is because I do not live in the US, but I haven't seen/read anything about the RIAA doing something useful (other than arresting a couple teens and prosecuting them). I know, I know, every pirate despises them. And, even as of 2009, no major ISP has gone with the '3 strikes' rule.
http://shareitup.net
I am not sure what you mean by "can't condone here," because there are certain criminal activities which I do condone. For example, I condone the Boston Tea Party at 1773, and the actions of the suffragettes in Britain at the start of the 20th century, in addition to John Brown's anti-slavery actions (both at Kansas and at Harper's Ferry) mentioned above. The legality of an action (in one's place of jurisdiction) does not determine the morality of such an action, and that includes vandalism of the RIAA's real property.
Don't you think you're being a little extreme here? I mean, for one, you've already created evidence that you're going to burn down a building, or at least conspired to. (I know, everything can be conspiring)
And secondly, setting a building on fire is going to hurt innocent people regardless of neighbors. It's not the staff that are doing this, it's for one the RIAA, and secondly the people who agreed to help them. (Note: Notice the RIAA called for help from someone – they're losing the battle)
DDoS attacks – I agree with
E-mail leaking – Always hilarious.
Infact, anything to damage their computers I have no problem with. If any black hat hackers are reading, I'm talking to YOU.
Thanks for reading.
Don't you think you're being a little extreme here? I mean, for one, you've already created evidence that you're going to burn down a building, or at least conspired to. (I know, everything can be conspiring)
And secondly, setting a building on fire is going to hurt innocent people regardless of neighbors. It's not the staff that are doing this, it's for one the RIAA, and secondly the people who agreed to help them. (Note: Notice the RIAA called for help from someone – they're losing the battle)
DDoS attacks – I agree with
E-mail leaking – Always hilarious.
Infact, anything to damage their computers I have no problem with. If any black hat hackers are reading, I'm talking to YOU.
Thanks for reading.
Edit: Go to DtecNet's contact page of the website; here are the real people you want to target. Give them a call or something.
Do it!
This is getting to be like Wile E. Coyote & Road Runner. When will they get to the TNT and boulders?
… and if file sharing becomes criminal? Struggling for any kind of rights essentially means something criminal MUST take place, as it is a struggle against the current set of laws.
Morality based on mere legalism isn't much of a morality at all.
People need to learn how to use the REPLY button. It couldnt be more obvious..
hit yourself.
go to their page, and set it to reload every second (tabmix plugin in FF)
hi dtecnet
we will give you the full treatment just like media sentry dont worry :)
OK folks heres a very easy defense for ANY ISP
two things a landlord renting you a room, and Canadian Tire selling you a hammer.
Scenario one that will carry too scenario two: BUYING A HAMMER
OK so some nut gos and buys a hammer form a retail outlet and murders 50 people with it.
The way Hollywood would have us believe here legally is that it isn't the person with the hammers fault its the store that sold him the hammer and thus we have them suing the retail outlets to prevent ANYONE form getting hammers. Interestingly home sales dropped all of a sudden and a bridge collapsed killed 200 people ( 4 times what the hammer nut did in 1st place)
Scenario two, landlord:
DO you think that landlords would tolerate someone saying that due to the possibility that your home can be used for storing hammers that they cant rent to you? ALSO because you bought that hammer and have it in your home its not YOUR fault your a homicidal maniac and murdered 50 people NO NO. its the hammer retail outlet and maybe even the manufacturer. What's the saying guns don't kill people, people kill people.
So here we have you getting removed form a home as your not the hommicidal maniac your a carpenter and because you have a hammer you cant rent a room.
Doesn't it sound great to be the mpaa and riaa. What happens when your wrong and someone dies because of your actions?
So if Hollywood can do this then i would say we should immediately go after gun manufacturers , hammer makers, pencil makers, anything we can get rid of that's a weapon or thought of and anyone who has a cdr writer YOUR now going to be homeless, you have a dvdr or blank cdrs your homeless now. GET OUT your evil aren't you? heh. Stupid try and its because they realize they cant prove people do things so go after isps , well the other thing an isp MUST realize is that millions use p2p and if you really want to get screwed and go out of business then i highly suggest capitulating.
Reality check. I think it's just a little absurd to compare the Boston tea party and the suffrage movement to file sharing.
It will fail as well. There is no force powerful enough to combat piracy and that is the unsaid truth. Get real people.
dxtr
http://stuckinframes.blogspot.com
Sounds like some of these folks really need to find a hobby!
anonweb.pro.tc
Probably emails for cease and desist type stuff I'd guess.
Countdown until DtecNet is repeatedly hacked and subjected to email leaks.. 5… 4.. 3.. 2.. 1.
Dude that comment would get you arrested here in the US
Criminal activities are something we can't condone here. That includes vandalism.
Well, there's somethng for you to work on. I think it's more a case of some people support the idea in principle but won't actually get out there and do something about it.
I don't live in the US but you seem to be self-defeating. The US Pirate Party may not hold much political clout but whilst people believe it is therefore pointless to support it it never will have any…
If you don't support the Pirate Party or some other political party because they "can't do anything" then that translates to "and they never will be able to anything".
"I am not sure what you mean by "can't condone here,"
You don't understand that simple statement?
"RIAA and gov's only respond to people who actually do things"
The RIAA is irrelevent in this instance as they operate within a legal framework that is set by the Government. The Goverment responds to how people will vote. People don't usually vote based on one issue such as copyright related law either. Many people, including myself, actually base a large part of their voting choice on how they percieve the electee rather than policy.
Their role is to represent the interests of record labels. Those interests are not in line with fileshareres. The mission of the RIAA has nothing to do with interests of filesharers.
There's this thing called "the internet" that is essentially a world-wide network linking computers all over the world, including Australia.
Ummm, yeah… you might wanna leave the legal advice to actual lawyers mate.
Fortunately the same system the RIAA operates in allows entities to also go above everyone and change the law.
burn these b@stards. Free culture benefits us all, empowered pricks like this who make a killing out of throttling musicians and robbing customers should burn in hell!
Thank you Department of Homeland Security.
the riaa/mediasentry/dtectnet doesnt quite operate in a legal framework entirely. how is monitoring dont infridging any privacy law? especially in the EU. loggin your ip adres is privacy infridgement, as wel as getting your real adres based on pure speculation.
they try to hack and takeover torrent websites(oink, sharezea etc) and harras people into roilling over dead on behalf of their insane wishes. and how's bribing politicians ?
its all within a legal grey area if not pure illegal. they act in the name of the law but breach some law themselves. thats the industry for you.
Mail them feces…Place bags o' feces on their doorstep…Feces, feces, feces feces…..The best revenge is feces….And it's funny as shit too…
I forgot…Definitely human feces…People pick up animals feces all of the time, it's not funm, but it's no big deal…But there is something about a nice large human turd sitting or being mailed somewhere it shouldn't that really gets peopl riled up…..
It's entrapment…
im tired… do these pathetic idiots think they can take on half of the planet that are downloading files? when the hell are these fools going to go bankrupt.
Are you thick and unable to intake information. 100kb/s for whole dvd rip of 4.5 gigs and when it comes here its been on Internet for 2 months before it is released on shelves.
Now when responding think of those facts before posting the obivous also have you downloaded any new movies that where ripped from Australia?
The BPI are nothing but a bunch of gangsters who are only to happy to threaten innocent local shops with court proceedings if they play the radio and don't pay them protection money. Better to lie to them and say you play classical only, and watch them creep away like the vermin they are.
I just wonder, is the BPI/RIAA/etc/etc sharing the cost of the legal letters that will need to be compiled and mailed out to virtually everybody on the planet with and internet with the ISPs, or have the ISPs been forced into absorbing those costs themselves? If so, internet charges will have to rise.
How is it posible to pirate things in Australia when they take like 2 months to come out from when the us releases? We also have max connection speed of 100kb/s up so how do we?
Thanks for information ;)
__________________________
http://www.jugargame.com
"Free culture benefits"
———————————————————
incorrect. it does not benefit the people who make the "culture".
therein lies the conflict.
you say: "I want your hard work for free!"
I say: "eat shit and die".
unfortunately for me, technology has granted you a window of opportunity to pilfer till your heart's content. your selfishness is also the incentive for the continued erosion of everyone's privacy so while we will eventually all be victims at the culmination of this war, it is the content creators who are doubly-so.
really? then why haven't you banned roze who has continually condoned them?
roze, you need psychiatric attention.
seriously.
i think all that cartoon porn has gone to your head.
Actually, the RIAA is an industry lobby group, not just an industry legal group.
Écrasez l'Infâme! Crush the infamous thing!
Roze
I did understand the literal meaning, but I was unsure about the actual meaning, because I think that it was meant to signify something other than its literal meaning.
Écrasez l'Infâme! Crush the infamous thing!
Roze
Just because you write that it is absurd, doesn't make it absurd.
Écrasez l'Infâme! Crush the infamous thing!
Roze
Actually, much political action here translates into non-government organizations. Although political parties may have helped in the past with various political movements, most of it was non-governmental organizations.
Écrasez l'Infâme! Crush the infamous thing!
Roze
setting a building on fire is going to hurt innocent people regardless of neighbors
That is why I recommend against it.
However, how could DDoS attacks do that much? You know, I am sure that much of what you have stated has already been done.
"It would be unsound fancy and self-contradictory to expect that things which have never yet been done can be done except by means which have never yet been tried." — Francis Bacon
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." — Albert Einstein
Écrasez l'Infâme! Crush the infamous thing!
Roze
Hard work? You mean hard work plundering the artist's hard work, you industry scum. The holy spirit dictates that you deserve to be dead already, and it is possible that someone may need carry out the will of the holy spirit. It is possible that the natural order of the world may now need to be restored, and that the sinner may now need to be sent to hell.
Écrasez l'Infâme! Crush the infamous thing!
Roze
faeces
Yeah, you REALLY think that just speaking out is going to get anything done? The only time our government EVER steps in on behalf of the people is when they are fearful for one of two things: their lives or their jobs!
I'll be blunt: I condone ANY action against these people, save those that cause physical harm to someone else IMMEDIATELY AND DIRECTLY. That means vandalism…. I'm fine with it against these companies.
Actually, I agree with him. I wish death DAILY on the people running the MPAA, RIAA and a few other things in this country.
I'm not going to kill them myself or help someone kill them….. but if an accident happens to them, I will be DANCING IN THE STREETS.
"since no anti-piracy company is capable of identifying uploads to anyone but itself"
What ? If you're part of a swarm for a file, that file is the only thing being exchanged. The hash checks make it a guarantee that you are doing this. So what exactly does a peer reporting that it has 20% of a file, then that it has 30% of a file identify if not that they have received an upload ?
They've already identified themselves as participating in uploading/downloading a pirated file and on top of that you can see them doing it.
Are you really going to act surprised when courts finally decide to take this as evidence too ? I mean, literally every other case/suit they hear doesn't have this standard of evidence and admission of guilt going on.
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