Original topic: Here
In Germany, the file-hosting service Rapidshare has handed over the personal details of alleged copyright infringers to several major record labels. The information is used to pursue legal action against the Rapidshare users and at least one alleged uploader saw his house raided.
Like many new releases, Metallica’s latest album “Death Magnetic” was uploaded to the popular file hosting service Rapidshare one day prior to its official release date last year. Since users don’t broadcast their IP-address or distribute files to the public directly though Rapidshare, it came as a surprise when the police raided the house of an uploader a few weeks ago.
At first it was unclear how the identity of the uploader was revealed, but today German news outlet Gulli said it had found out that this was likely to be accomplished by creative use of paragraph 101 of German copyright law. It turns out that several record labels are using this to take legal action against those who share music on Rapidshare.
Previously the paragraph was only used by rights holders to get the personal details of those who share copyrighted works on file-sharing networks. It basically enables the copyright holders to get “permission” from a civil judge to ask ISPs to disclose the personal details of a user behind a certain IP. Now, however, this also seems to be the case for file-hosting services such as Rapidshare, which is based in Germany.
This of course opens up the possibility for rights holders to go after a wide range of file-hosting services and potentially even BitTorrent sites. Indeed, everyone who now uploads a torrent file to a site hosted in Germany is at risk of having his personal details revealed. Although it will be impossible to prove that the uploader actually seeded the file it might be seen as assisting in copyright infringement.
Pretty much all torrent sites keep track of the IP-addresses of their (.torrent) uploaders, and if the rights holders can get the IP-address of people who upload to file-hosting services such as Rapidshare, they can easily extend this to BitTorrent sites hosted in Germany. A dream come true for copyright holders, but a nightmare for the privacy of Internet users.
Too bad for Metallica’s Lars Ulrich who only just started sharing files himself.
Rapidshare Shares Uploader Info with Rights Holders
this is where hacking becomes important. You need to know how files are being tracked and take measures to cover your tracks. You cannot take the risk of having a lawyer include you into a mass lawsuit by media dealers. It is not a far-fetched conspiracy that can cost you money or even jail time, it is real - the media dealers want their money.
Just like we'd ridicule those that try to hack a server without using a proxy or spoof, you'd be a fool to be a torrent fan and not cover your ass.
This is a real threat, this is a battle between the big powerful organizations verse the little underdog. But this battle can be won by the little guy if he is smart.
DNR
Just like we'd ridicule those that try to hack a server without using a proxy or spoof, you'd be a fool to be a torrent fan and not cover your ass.
This is a real threat, this is a battle between the big powerful organizations verse the little underdog. But this battle can be won by the little guy if he is smart.
DNR
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He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in Darkness, and Light dwells with him.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in Darkness, and Light dwells with him.
I've heard of TOR but what other methods are available for the "torrent fan" to cover their ass?DNR wrote:this is where hacking becomes important. You need to know how files are being tracked and take measures to cover your tracks. You cannot take the risk of having a lawyer include you into a mass lawsuit by media dealers. It is not a far-fetched conspiracy that can cost you money or even jail time, it is real - the media dealers want their money.
Just like we'd ridicule those that try to hack a server without using a proxy or spoof, you'd be a fool to be a torrent fan and not cover your ass.
This is a real threat, this is a battle between the big powerful organizations verse the little underdog. But this battle can be won by the little guy if he is smart.
DNR
