TorrentSpy Slapped with $110 Million Judgement
Written by Ernesto on May 07, 2008TorrentSpy has been ordered to pay a $110 million fine by a federal judge in Los Angeles. The BitTorrent site was found guilty on the charges of copyright infringement of several movie studios represented by the MPAA.
This default judgment is the result of an ongoing court case between the MPAA and Valence Media, TorrentSpy owner Justin Bunnel’s company, that started early 2006.
It is uncertain at this point whether TorrentSpy will appeal.
Unsurprisingly, MPAA’s Dan Glickman was very pleased with the outcome of the case that lasted over two years, as he said:
“This substantial money judgment sends a strong message about the illegality of sites. The demise of TorrentSpy is a clear victory for the studios and demonstrates that such pirate sites will not be allowed to continue to operate without facing relentless litigation by copyright holders.”
“The claims made by the MPAA in this case don’t stand up to any sort of scrutiny,” says Andrew Norton, head of the US Pirate Party in a response. “It is also clear that our judicial system urgently needs some unbiased education in modern technical matters, as anyone that has watched this case knows the judge is out of her depth. What chance does justice have in that situation?”
In 2006 TorrentSpy was more popular than any other BitTorrent site, but this changed quickly in August 2007, when a federal judge ordered TorrentSpy to log all user data. The judge ruled that TorrentSpy had to monitor its users in order to create detailed logs of their activities, and hand these over to the MPAA.
In a response to this decision - and to ensure the privacy of their users - TorrentSpy decided that it was best to block access to all users from the US. This led to a huge decrease in traffic and revenue.
This was not enough for the MPAA, who argued that TorrentSpy had ignored the court decision. The legal battle continued, and this lead to a preventative closure of the site by Justin, to protect the privacy of its users.
UPDATE - Wired have the judgement available in their coverage here
UPDATE - TorrentSpy will appeal the decision.
Previously: Test: Does Your ISP Slow Down BitTorrent Traffic?
Next: MPAA Demands $15 Million from The Pirate Bay
157 Responses (Add yours or TrackBack)
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[quote comment="379184"]because of this I’m telling 10 of my friends not to go see a movie this blockbuster season.
I encourage you to do the same. If we all do this hopefully we can get this up to 110 million.[/quote]
You’re telling your ten friends who steal movies and share with 1,000 others not to go to the movies or your ten friends who go to the movies and don’t steal?
Please get real please, if those ten were going to the movies and not stealing the MPAA would not be suing TorrentSpy.
Now do people see why it’s easier to go after the thieves? Most of them have an IQ of a dormouse. LOL
Piracy costs jobs, the people who lose their jobs could be losing their homes. Or did you not think of that?
lol. funny stuff. As if the MPAA will even get $1000.
110 millions? 110 billions? 110 Gillions? Who care!
Once a judgement such as these fall you organization just put the key under the door pack up your servers and restart elsewhere then BK the old opertion. If you are non-profit this is even easier! Just disolve officaly the former organization and restart officlaly a new one at the same place withthe same material.
The MPAA is back to square one.
As far p2p is concerned there is decentralized and anonymous p2p so?
I don’t understand where is the gain for the MPAA.
[quote comment="379254"]lol. funny stuff. As if the MPAA will even get $1000.[/quote]
How much do you think it has cost TorrentSpy so far in the court. Lawyers do not work for free. You can’t pirate them. LOL
What ever is left will be taken in the judgement, and MPAA costs. Including their homes if they have not signed them over to their wives, joke.
This will bankrupt the owners of TorrentSpy and put out of work who ever works for them. Just what pirates have been doing to people in the record industry. Sucks doesn’t it? LOL
Like I said move over to suing the uploaders, they’re not the sharpest tools in the box. LOL
I seriously wonder if TorrentSpy, now faced with losing everything, what their answer will be if the MPAA offer to waive costs for the logs of the uploaders. That would get TS owners out of a fix and be a goldmine for the MPAA.
Anyone here used TorrentSpy, ever?
The MPAA guys can burn in hell :)
When I calculate how much money I would had spent in movies the last 3 years (other $3000) if the MPAA did not followed the RIAA in ther stupid move to try to shutdown the internet It make me happy. Now I can spend at least some of these for buying computer hardware instead.
COOL! thank you MPAA!
You continue the lawsuits I continue the boycott and save tons of money that I can use for soemthing else.
[quote comment="379256"]110 millions? 110 billions? 110 Gillions? Who care!
Once a judgement such as these fall you organization just put the key under the door pack up your servers and restart elsewhere then BK the old opertion. If you are non-profit this is even easier! Just disolve officaly the former organization and restart officlaly a new one at the same place withthe same material.
The MPAA is back to square one.
As far p2p is concerned there is decentralized and anonymous p2p so?
I don’t understand where is the gain for the MPAA.[/quote]
Another dormouse who thinks going to court is free. LOL
Pack up your servers? The servers don’t belong to you, yes pack them up and move to a new address. The police will be waiting for you.
Non profit!!!!!
Seriously do you think TS is a couple of kids in their dorm running a service free of charge? They were in it for the money like all the other file sharing sites. They will be even more concerned about making money in the future. Lawyers cost money. LOL
If you do P2P can the guy you’re sharing with see your IP address. If so how much do you know about him? He might be someone going after 5% of $10,000. LOL
And lastly learn to spell or get a spell checker. You type like a moron, but no need to spell like one as well. LOL
[quote comment="379263"]The MPAA guys can burn in hell :)[/quote]
Seriously why?
They are suing people who are putting their workers out of business. It really is that simple. Piracy costs jobs, lost jobs means lost homes, cars, education and a lot more.
So why should MPAA burn in hell for trying to protect their business?
[quote]You continue the lawsuits I continue the boycott and save tons of money that I can use for soemthing else.[/quote]
The record industry is losing money due to piracy. Do you seriously think you and all the other pirates boycotting spending on music and films will stop them?
Dormice unite.
Seriously you guys seem to think piracy is right. It’s wrong, legally and morally. You steal because you think you can get away with it. If you were scared of getting court you would not steal. Either on the street or on the Internet. Theft is theft, if you steal someones job it effects them and their family.
Do you care while you listen to free music, watch a free movie or pay a free game that someone might be sitting at home looking for a new job because of what you did?
Or don’t you like to think about that? What if it were you who was made redundant because someone was stealing what you produce?
“If you do P2P can the guy you’re sharing with see your IP address. If so how much do you know about him? He might be someone going after 5% of $10,000. LOL”
Another RIAA troll who think that I am afraid of the RIAA/MPAA!
Bohoooooooo! Run away like the coward bully you are and told you friend to run away too before we come for them eventaully.
You are such a retard and you have to get out of your hole because there is now at least a dozen p2p application who are decentralized, encrypted and anonymous. But of course like your employers dinosaurs at the MPAA and RIAA you are behind and you don’t know that since you are just a troll for hire with very limited knowledges.
“And lastly learn to spell or get a spell checker. You type like a moron, but no need to spell like one as well. LOL”
Concerning the spell checcckkkkkeu you can take your dictionary and fuck yourself with it. (I told you this before remember?)
Is it good english or what? (I said this before too!)
ungrateful people who are bored and unhappy with their lives sit up all day and download illegal torrents.
They are not creators and probably do not work for themselves which is why they support piracy.
Most of these sorry people are drowned in debt because they want for everything.
All of the torrent sites will soon fall, as the owners are arrogant deceptive theives. Hiding in fear? Come out, come out, wherever you are. Mark My word. Judgement is here.
pirate bay is next!
Thank you TorrentSpy for taking a stand. F*ck all you pu$$y antipirates and your little lobbyists too!
FYI Clinton appointed that judge and Hilary received donations from antipiracy orgs…in 2007 the LAPD received $186,064 in equipment from the MPAA to assist in counterfeit investigations.
“The record industry is losing money due to piracy.”
Nop! But the fact that they are losing money is good news. We don’t need parasites in this contry.
“Do you seriously think you and all the other pirates boycotting spending on music and films will stop them?”
Yes I do!
You see we no longer need them because we can distribute our recording ourselves and our fan can pay us directly. They already do!
One way or another your bosses are dying, dying, and dying and this is what parasites deserve Death!
“So why should MPAA burn in hell for trying to protect their business?”
You call this a business?
I call this a racketing operation.
The MPAA represent the same companies that think the extrotion is a good business practice.
Fortunatly they are aready begin to burn in hell. Do you smell it? If not have your nose checked.
[/quote]They are suing people who are putting their workers out of business. It really is that simple. Piracy costs jobs, lost jobs means lost homes, cars, education and a lot more.[/quote]
Jobs are being lost in the industry because the boards of directors refuse to eat the cost themselves. They get to keep their yachts and you get fired. Don’t blame pirates.
[/quote]The record industry is losing money due to piracy. Do you seriously think you and all the other pirates boycotting spending on music and films will stop them?[/quote]
Yes, because the consumer drives the market. The MPAA and RIAA should be trying to better the selection and quality art instead of controlling the market. Wait till open source on cellphones and 100 million Indians are stealing your movies on untraceable GoPhones. Rot in Hell Dormice.
Boycott holywood crap
When they don’t have money anymore, no more suits
And I shit on the judge :D
[quote comment="379286"]“If you do P2P can the guy you’re sharing with see your IP address. If so how much do you know about him? He might be someone going after 5% of $10,000. LOL”
Another RIAA troll who think that I am afraid of the RIAA/MPAA!
Bohoooooooo! Run away like the coward bully you are and told you friend to run away too before we come for them eventaully.
You are such a retard and you have to get out of your hole because there is now at least a dozen p2p application who are decentralized, encrypted and anonymous. But of course like your employers dinosaurs at the MPAA and RIAA you are behind and you don’t know that since you are just a troll for hire with very limited knowledges.
[/quote]
So it won’t work that easy. But don’t worry they will find you and come after you. Why?
Because as you point out they like having yachts. And you are money. LOL
As for the rest of the shit you posted, God are you 12 years old. They will distribute records themselves and cut out the middle man. Yes that will work. They will record in their Mum’s garage or their Dad’s computer. And as for films, how do you suggest they make them, with their uncles camera?
You are the parasites living off the people who do buy. Get it straight the last thing you want it to take down the industry you suck off for free.
Take down an industry paid for by others and there’s nothing for you to parasite off of. And yes you’re right the directors do not lose their jobs. People like me down the ladder lose their jobs. Or should I say LOST MY JOB.
YES YOU FUCKING MORON, I WAS LAID OFF DUE TO FALLING RECORD SALES DUE TO PIRACY.
Do you want to talk about bullies, come and meet me and I will teach you what a bully you are and teach you a lesson.
And please don’t tell us that if we produce a better product you will buy it. You will steal what ever you want until a guy turns up on your doorstep with a summons. Then you will see how clever you are.
You’re so twisted in your beliefs it’s a joke. The racket is people like TorrentSpy running a business based on theft. That’s a racket.
No we don’t need parasites, unless we can profit from them. LOL
The people who run the Internet porn industry are programmers and very clever ones. They will find you and they don’t give a shit if you call them names.
And seriously get ieSpell, it’s a great free tool and will make you look bright.
Hooray for ignorant, uninformed, and - dare I say it - corrupt judges.
Oh, btw, if this sets a legal precedent then I’m pretty sure that’s the end of Google. Sorry, guys. The internet is now useless.
[quote]
YES YOU FUCKING MORON, I WAS LAID OFF DUE TO FALLING RECORD SALES DUE .[/quote]
And here ladies & Gentlemen we have the REAL reason…
You were sacked because… wait for it…
YOU WERE CRAP @ your JoB ! Laid off was just a polite way of saying to you that You Sucked at your Job.
L0Lz on YOU Crap ex-employee :) Go Torrent a new job ?
I can LoL too mr Crap Ex-employee !
“YES YOU FUCKING MORON, I WAS LAID OFF DUE TO FALLING RECORD SALES DUE TO PIRACY.”
Care to eloborate on your claims ?
Many of the posters here are fully aware of flaws in your statement and I think its only fair you clarify how you believe copyright infringement was the cause of you losing your job.
Perhaps the truth is you became like the vinyl disk outdated, the CD is heading that way with the “shot-ourselves-in-the-foot” introduction of “legal” downloading but I,m sure you wont be blaming that for a lack of CD sales and they are the only indicator published that shows any decrease in sales, each year the same companies announce record profits how do you square this with any claims of financial desperation ?
boycott american ” ” ” culture ” ” ”
no more problem :D
these people that say piracy cost jobs and stick up for the movie industry need to get a life, well for one it may cost jobs because the amount these greedy companys want from one film, so lets sack, you see it all the time greedy corperate companys sacking while reporting massive profits, but if you want to complain about job losses why not also praise the file sharers for creating jobs, while we arnt being riped off from spending money at the threatres buying dvds we spend it on food or other things we need, so jobs are created else where, and how many IT jobs have been made, if it wasnt for file sharers who would actually want or need broadband and pay for it, world wide i think that would have created millions of jobs, it would have to out number the amount thats been lossed in the movie industry
Geeze the anti-pirates are dumb. Piracy doesn’t cost jobs. China and India cost more jobs to America because of outsourcing! You gonna do something about that you fags. Screw your morals fag.
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