Private Trackers Make ‘Source Code’ Available on P2P Networks

May 29, 2009 by Yonah · Comments Off
Filed under: Announcements & Events, Downloads, File-Sharing Programs, Networks & Services, Legal P2P News & Issues

private-trackers-make-e28098source-codee28099-available-on-p2p-networks The Nordic countries which have been at the head of the internet file sharing game right from the start are gradually becoming the countries with the most strict laws concerning online file sharing – the Pirate Bay trial and other similar ones are quite evocative in this respect. As a consequence most major Nordic private trackers “have now all but complied with AntiPiratByran,” reports FileShareFreak.

Defiance and rebelliousness have always been part private trackers’ nature – two of them continue to show it with sheer nonchalance: SweDVDR and SoftMP3 have voluntarily released for free their tracker source code for all those interested in creating their own tracker. And, of course, what other better way to share your stuff than via on BitTorrent. This sort of sharing has become a sort of digital legacy and in this case an incentive for passing on the flag.

SoftMP3 site reads:

Softmp3 is closed and will not be opened up again.

I’ve decided to share the sourcecode as a contribution to the torrent community, so feel free to do whatever you may feel like with it.

SoftMP3 Tracker Source (torrent):

• http://mintorrent.se/EOA1vz/SOFTMP3_rar

SweDVDR Tracker Source (torrent):

• http://mintorrent.se/t5ibSa/swedvdr_source_rar

Tags: BitTorrent, file sharing sites, file-sharing, free downloads, p2p, p2p technology

When the Judicial System Loses Credibility – Pirate Bay Judge Specially Assigned to the Case

May 29, 2009 by Yonah · Comments Off
Filed under: Announcements & Events, Legal P2P News & Issues

What many have been claiming for the last month turns out to be true – Tomas Norström (photo below) , the judge in the Pirate Bay case was far from being selected randomly. His experience with respect to copyright related issues was the one that eventually ‘appointed’ him to preside over TPB trial.

But it was exactly his background and more explicitly his high connection to various pro-copyright groups why he shouldn’t have been given the case in question.

when-the-judicial-system-loses-credibility-pirate-bay-judge-specially-assigned-to-the-case In a letter sent to the Court of Appeal, as reported by TorrentFreak, defense lawyer Per E Samuelsson pointed out the importance of the matter to the image of the judicial system and how carefully and dedicatedly the issue should be resolved: “The young generation’s trust in the judicial system is at stake here,” he commented.

Samuelsson further emphasizes the error of the court in assigning the case to Norström: “I don’t want to say that the randomness of judge selection has been fixed, but the case has been handed to Norström mainly because he is considered an expert on copyright. That raises questions since this is a criminal case. A large majority of the young generation believes that what is going on here is a farce.”

“I have a hard time to let go of the thought that he kept quiet about this because he had the intention of using his opinions in the case. I don’t hesitate for a moment when saying that this is bias,” he said.

No comments were made by on Samuelsson’s letter to the Appeal Court by anti-piracy bureau but just as Peter Sunde foretold many already expect the Pirate Bay to come off in the end.

Tags: copyright infringement, legal, p2p, The Pirate Bay

Posterous Adds Photo Sharing from Numerous Twitter Clients

May 28, 2009 by Yonah · Comments Off
Filed under: Announcements & Events, Digital Media, Mobile Phones, P2P technology, File-Sharing Programs, Networks & Services

posterous.com The popularity of Twitter triggers the popularity of other start ups in connection with it. Posterous is a candidate in this respect especially now with the new features it offers which allow you to share images easily on Twitter. In addition to letting you share and post whatever you like by simply sending an email, Posterous has also recently introduced photo sharing ‘assisted’ by multiple Twitter clients. In doing so the startup pushed things a little further by incorporating some of the most popular clients such as Seesmic Desktop, Tweetie for Mac and other (TweetDeck being the only one excluded).

Some already show enthusiasm for the service due to the fact it allows auto-postiing to multiple social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and also makes it possible for the user to keep his/her very own photo blog at Posterous.

These being said Posterous may do just fine on the market quickly turning into a worthy rival for TwitPic.

Tags: file sharing service, file-sharing, p2p, photosharing, Twitter

Twitter Becomes Great Target for Scammers

May 27, 2009 by Yonah · Comments Off
Filed under: Announcements & Events, File-Sharing Programs, Networks & Services, Legal P2P News & Issues

It seems that the phishing season is at its peak these days. The first to be affected was Facebook but now the scammers set their eyes on another huge trend setter – the already insupportably popular Twitter. It was only natural that an impressive number of users/followers the type Twitter has would eventually attract scams such as the one described below:

A tweet would appear in your stream with the ever enticing OMG I just got over 1000 followers today from http://twittercut.com. Just watch out and don’t click the link. And in case you do just don’t enter your Twitter credentials when you are directed to the site. The account from which it originated has been suspended but it keeps appearing now and then from those who have fallen victim to it.

The problem is that once this sort of accounts gets out in the wild there’s not much you can do to stop them. The safest way around them is double checking when clicking a link. Then there is the matter of what third party applications you can really trust since the scene is getting crowded with them and considering that all of them try to simplify registration by just asking you to use our Twitter login information. So watch out you Twitters you!

Tags: Facebook, phishing, social networking, Twitter

Sweden Sued by EU for Lacking Data Retention Directive Legislation

May 27, 2009 by Yonah · Comments Off
Filed under: Announcements & Events

It’s been two years since the EU passed the Data Retention Directive that forces ISPs and search engines to preserve data thus helping the police in their investigations. Now, because Sweden has failed to implement it, the European Commission has filled lawsuit against the country demanding the passing of the law.

EU:Obey or Pay

The Swedish government is working to enforce the new legislation very soon and aims at six-month period in which data will be stored, Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet reports.

As of April 1, Sweden passed Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (IPRED) which was pretty much a way of forcing ISPs to cooperate with the entertainment industry and hand over confidential information about their subscribers.

Last month we reported about the ‘response’ of some ISPs such as Sweden’s Bahnhof which sent a clear message that they will protect their customers by erasing all the data about them frequently. However, once Data Retention Directive is introduced, the ISPs will no longer have the legal possibility to do that.

EU passed the Directive in 2006 compeling all EU member states to come up with a sort of data retention legislation applied to terms between six months and two years.

Tags: EU, ISPs, legal