Swedish Anti-Pirates Threaten BitTorrent Trackers
Written by Ernesto on April 23, 2009When the Pirate Bay verdict came in last Friday, many feared that the copyright holders would use it as ammunition against other sites. Indeed, Antipiratbyrån – the Swedish anti-piracy office – is now going after BitTorrent trackers with that verdict in hand. They demand that the trackers stop their activities, threatening them with legal action.
A few days ago we reported that many Swedish BitTorrent trackers had shut down voluntarily, fearing that they might end up in the same position as the four defendants in the Pirate Bay (mis)trial. Their suspicions were not far off, as the Swedish anti-piracy office is sending out emails to those who operate BitTorrent trackers where copyrighted material is being shared.
“We noticed that you, through the activities with swedvdr.org, similarly engaged in copyright infringement of several works whose rights belong to our principals. You are hereby requested to immediately take the necessary measures to prevent the ongoing incursions,” wrote Antipiratbyrån in an email to the operator of the Swedvdr BitTorrent tracker.
The demands are as follows:
- Delete all Torrent files from swedvdr.org referring to copyrighted works.
- Take steps to prevent future uploads to swedvdr.org of torrent files.
- Take measures to prevent the ability to upload or download torrents.
The email from the anti-piracy office of course ends with a threat. “Unless your contribution to the incursions have stopped by 29th April 2009, we have advised our clients to take legal action against you,” they write.
While Swedvdr did indeed comply with the request to shut down the site, TTi, another popular private tracker announced that it will only post torrents with consent from the copyright holders from now on. “TTi will only concentrate on bands/artists that want to spread their material on the Internet and are waiting for a record contract,” TTi staff announced.
“Because of all the turbulence and insecurity about whether it’s okay to run a tracker or not, we have now decided to go full out on bands that want to be discovered through the Internet. We of course realize that many of you are disappointed about this suggestion, but we have decided that this is the best for the future of TTi,” they add.
Closing the site is not an option according to TTi staff.
It came as no surprise that Antipiratbyrån was going to use the TPB verdict to their advantage. Their counterpart in The Netherlands, BREIN, has been doing the same thing for years. Ironically, this will only mean that The Pirate Bay will see an increase in visitors.
Previously: Pirate Bay Judge Accused of Bias, Calls for a Retrial
Next: Why Everybody Lost The Pirate Bay Trial
58 Responses
Well, maybe if the trial get’s a different end, after the latest developments, the trackers being menaced, can turn the menace the other way around and file suits for unjust treatment or whatever.
It will get worse before it gets better.But it will get better
@2:
So true! But freedom and justice will & must prevail!!
- TPB FTW!
i know you need news but do we haver to read the same articles over and over again just on a different slant?
ffs we read they closed, we read who was instigateing this and we read what happened..
can we please stop with the bullshit scare tactics by this site..
we know whats what hell its everywhere so why are you rehashing old news ?
i thought you guys were better than this!!!
as far as i’m aware, torrent files have yet to be classified as illegal.
I think they know they will not win in the end with TBP, but they’re using their advantage now to close other smaller trackers. Because of fear being imprisoned everybody closes, but verdict is absolutely corrupt and TBP will be discharged soon. So they are trying to close as much torrents as possible while they are in fear.
it is pretty ironic, TPB will start to become a world super power on the WWW if win this trial, mainly due to the fact that the Anti-pirates are shutting down there compition.
In a weird conspiracy type way you’d think that this was all happening on purpose.
This mail is fake.
The anti-piracy office didn´t send that mail.
But if ppl think its right the anti-piracy office says nothing.
Again it´s a fake mail.
@ 8 and hwo do u konw?
- Take steps to prevent future uploads to swedvdr.org of torrent files.
- Take measures to prevent the ability to upload or download torrents.
surely this will refer to copyrighted works and not just the .torrent files?
#4 #7 #8
interesting comments :)
kudos
Heh, just another bunch of cowards.
Fine, go ahead. Do the IFPI’s dirty work for them and fall victim to their scare tactics.
You’re just driving more users to The PIrate Bay, which actually has a spine and won’t instantly cave in to well-dressed terrorists sending threatening emails.
swedvdr and TTi, you shall be remembered as shameless chickenshits, and summarily forgotten.
@8
At least torrentfreak showed us some kind of evidence.
Where is yours number 8?
..or are you just making false claims? Lets hear it.
well, I fell they are fake.
Fredrik Holmqvist will be busy for the next couple of weeks
Why not just file a lawsuit against the entertainment companies for using terrorism to push their agenda? Using intimidation to push political/financial aims is considered terrorism. So by threatening websites and ISPs, aren’t the IFPI, MPAA, and RIAA acting as terrorists?
@4 no, you don’t have to read anything at all. Why don’t you go read another site with daily torrent news? Thats right, there aren’t any so please, stfu
I’m glad I stopped buying music CDs and movie DVDs years ago. Can’t wait to see those thugs go bancrupt.
http://alphonse.prq.se/~snuggl/dsc01955.jpg
http://alphonse.prq.se/~snuggl/dsc01942.jpg
http://alphonse.prq.se/~snuggl/dsc01953.jpg
Closing Down
FeedTV
HDbyte
Hyperbits
mp3nerds
Nordicbits
Piratebits
Powerbits
SceneHD
Seedit
SoftMP3
SweBits
Swedvdr (stänger ner snart)
SwePiracy
TTi
Wolfbits
Zinebytes
softtorrents
http://alphonse.prq.se/~snuggl/bilder/
http://internetworld.idg.se/2.1006/1.81539
[quote]- Delete all Torrent files from swedvdr.org referring to copyrighted works.
- Take steps to prevent future uploads to swedvdr.org of torrent files.
- Take measures to prevent the ability to upload or download torrents.[/quote]
Anybody notice only the 1rst point applies to copy-written works (legit), while the 2nd and 3rd points are slapped onto torrents in general (illegitimate)?
People I can do without:
* EMI & al-Qa’ida
* Sony Music Entertainment & Ansar al-Islam
* Universal Music Group & Armed Islamic Group
* Warner Music Group & Hamas
* Walt Disney Pictures (The Walt Disney Company) & Taliban
* Columbia Pictures (Sony Corporation) & Fatah al-Islam
* Paramount Pictures (Viacom) & Egyptian Islamic Jihad
* 20th Century Fox (News Corporation) & Hezbollah
* Universal Studios (NBC Universal) & Egyptian Islamic Jihad
* Warner Bros. (Time Warner) & Islamic Jihad Union
Finland’s governmental broadcaster YLE has taken advantage of today’s national Copyright Day to put forward a new media charge which everybody must pay even if they have no TV or Internet connection.
The memo was actually drawn up by a group of politicians, which now shows how the media industry owns them in this country as well. If accepted, the yearly cost for all inhabitants will be 175 euros.
http://piratbyran.org/index.php?view=forum&a=thread&id=50792
Email sent to trackers:
Vi skriver till er i egenskap av ombud för ett stort antal svenska rättighetsinnehavare till filmer.
Stockholms tingsrätt dömde den 17 april 2009 personerna bakom fildelningstjänsten The Pirate Bay för medhjälp till brott mot upphovsrättslagen. Påföljden bestämdes till ett års fängelse för var och en av de tilltalade, vilka också ska betala över 30 miljoner kronor i skadestånd till rättighetsinnehavare. Den brottsliga gärningen bestod bl.a. i att de tilltalade genom verksamheten med The Pirate Bay främjat att andra personer via överföringar på Internet av filer innehållande vissa upphovsrättsligt skyddade verk gjort dessa tillgängliga för allmänheten samt att dessa främjat att andra framställt exemplar av verken.
Vi har uppmärksammat att ni, genom verksamheten med swetorrents.org, på motsvarande sätt medverkar till intrång i upphovsrätten till ett flertal verk vars rättigheter tillkommer våra huvudmän.
Ni anmodas härmed att omedelbart vidta nödvändiga åtgärder för att förhindra de pågående intrången. Ni uppmanas därför att:
- Radera alla .torrent-filer från swetorrents.org som hänvisar till upphovsrättsskyddade verk,
- vidta åtgärder för att förhindra framtida uppladdningar till swetorrents.org av .torrent-filer som hänvisar till verken, samt
- vidta åtgärder för att förhindra möjligheten att ladda upp eller ned verken eller delar av dessa genom swetorrents.org’s tracker.
Om inte er medverkan till intrången har upphört senast den 29:e April 2009, har vi våra huvudmäns uppdrag att vidta rättsliga åtgärder mot er.
Med vänliga hälsningar
Anders Nilsson
Svenska Antipiratbyrån
S:t Eriksgatan 117A
Box 23021
104 35 Stockholm
Tel: 08-545 475 50 (växel) Telefontid 13.00 – 15.00
Fax: 08-34 38 10
http://www.antipiratbyran.se/
Yes number 18, stop buying DVDs and CDs! Don Buy Nothing !!! N_N
@23 the dude:
What animal is that? :P
hey this site The Pirate Google http://www.thepirategoogle.com/
its says
http://www.thepirategoogle.com/
Please Note: This site is not affiliated with Google, it simply makes use of Google Custom Search to restrict your searches to Torrent files. You can do this with any regular Google search by appending your query with filetype:torrent. This technique can be used for any type of file supported by Google.
The intention of this site is to demonstrate the double standard that was exemplified in the recent Pirate Bay Trial. Sites such as Google offer much the same functionality as The Pirate Bay and other Bit Torrent sites but are not targeted by media conglomerates such as the IFPI as they have the political and legal clout to defend themselves unlike these small independent sites.
This site is created in support of an open, neutral internet accessible and equitable to all regardless of political or financial standing
“So by threatening websites and ISPs, aren’t the IFPI, MPAA, and RIAA acting as terrorists?”
Yup.
The IFPI, MPAA, and RIAA are guilty of terrorism right down to the textbook definition. Any organization that consciously uses fear over the public as a tool to achieve its own agenda can rightfully be considered a terrorist. This describes the copyright lobby to a T.
But if you have money, and you end people’s lives by abusing the legal system rather than by using violence, you can get away with it indefinitely.
… can be rightfully considered a terrorist organization.
Bah. Left out a word.
Trackers that decide to shut down due to legal threats should link to TPB and thepirategoogle.com, right next to each other. It’s making a statement while helping out the users.
@26
If your going to give the names of terror groups then why didn’t you include the USA & UK governments??
Epecially the USA.
Geez weez if you look at history the USA are the biggest terrorists the world has ever seen. Thats why all these corps are from the USA cause its a haven for terror.
@35
STFU! Deluded person.
Noticeably, there wasn’t anything in the TPB verdict that included an injunction for TPB to cease their activities.
Perhaps this is something that all trackers should take note of.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/04/pirate-bay-appeal-filed-as-big-content-seeks-injunction.ars
FUCK EVERYTHING.WE WILL PREVAIL!!!
HAIL FROM THE SWEDISH MUST COMPY GROUP..
You should move to Venezuela nothing will happend here… I am willing to help anybody who wants to move their servers here
good luck
You should move to Venezuela nothing will happend here… I am willing to help anybody who wants to move their servers here
good luck
zephyr.ceo@gmail.com
Surely thay cannot outlaw ‘.torrent’ files in and of themselves. Only the Copyrighted content.
BitTorrent is a great way to upload/download/share files regardless of all this legal Bullshit. By telling them they can’t allow uploads or downloads of torrent files only goes to show how ignorant they really are.
You can download Linux distributions and other open-source software via bittorrent, and there’s not a goddamn thing illegal about that!
Yet this email would suggest that this is no longer a valid means of distribution.
They really are cutting off their nose despite their face. But they don’t realize it.
I have seen a strong upsurge in attacks on my TOR, its 2 different attacks on 3 occasions in 4 days.
The 3rd attack forced me to remove my TOR.EXE and replace with a virgin.
There is a strong chance this is related.
Can you imagine, people sharing, right in front of your face and you cant legally prove their IP?
Also I have noticed one little fact about the big software giant, you know why their so popular?
THEY GIVE THEIR SOFTWARE OUT TO CUSTOMERS For free with a new 400$ Ge force 9100 dual core!!
So there in a nutshell is why they are so OVER protective of their possible 150$! what a load =)
@36
I am talking about the goverments, not the general population. You are certainly deluded. Probably from the south, a red neck in your heart. I just watched Bill Hicks Relentless where he was saying there were some yankies that said the war lifted their spirits, made them feel good about themselves. Are you one of them, with no thumbs?
LOL, Anti-Pirates! Thats just too funny dude!
quit your bitching and just pay for it. all your arguing for piracy hinges on getting shit you didnt pay for for free. let me go to your house and take everything in there and then give you some pseudo philosophical answer like “i am only stealing your shit because you did not share it freely for me since in the future everything will be free like fucking star trek!”
Why do we still need trackers? Doesn’t DHT work well enough yet?
Thank your for the effort, tracker providers, but you’d do the world more good by using your popularity to educate people about DHT and magnet links.
if trackers get shut down, dvd piracy will go nuts, we will still be getting our films for peanuts from the video shop, only difference is there in 5.1 digital & we’ll have to wait a little longer…
hahahahahahahaha
Down with the Anti-Pirates, down with the FASCISTS! This isnt about piracy anymore, its about human rights and this is blackmailing mafia from fascists like the Swedish anti-piracy office.
Close down your TTi fully. The forum is crap and have standards that fits Lunarstorm (swedes will understand).
Shame on all of you.
I think we should send an open letter to antipiratbyrån, and tell them that they cant use the case as an argument for closing a Torrent site because:
1- The case is not over yet
2- The judge was somehow connected to IFPI, the case might get dismissed
3- TPB wasnt the subject of the trial, the 4 owners were.
When i write about an open letter, that means that the letter should be in a big swedish newspaper, so everybody in Sweden could see what anpiratbyrån is up to.
Everyone needs to go vote, go vote, go vote..
Thanks to the staff here at torrent freak for all their hard work.
Taking about voting #49: If they corrupt a judge and it’s judicial system in Sweden, who’s to say the voting system isn’t also corrupted.
I have no faith in the system anymore, at any level. It’s all corrupted to benefit the few.
@43
I’m not even American. I guess that proves your stupidity.
Time to climb out of your big utopian bubble and face up to the real world.
Am I right that if they do not have any advertising on their site they cannot use TPB as an example?
Can’t shut down rapidshare!
@56
you wanna betyour life (in prison)?
It’s kind of amusing to see how you greedy freeloading people over and over talking about “freedom” and how you judge anti-pirates as “fascists”.
So, if one doesn’t agree to let you take whatever you want without paying for it one is a fascist?
And if you must pay for consuming others work your freedom is taken away?
Wow! Freedom = that others should work for you without getting paid. There is another word for that. Slavery.
That is obviously what you guys want, to have artists as your amusement slaves.
Creepy.
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