AfterDawn: News

Using Piracy to help Tsunami Victims?

The idea of using Piracy to help the victims of the Tsunami in Asia might sound a bit strange to you, especially since today's entertainment industry likes to remind us about links between piracy and terrorism, organised crime and of course the tragic falling of sales, but believe it or not, an Internet piracy group has attempted it. A DVD Screener copy of The Aviator appeared online last night from a group who called themselves simply, "Tsunami-Appeal". The group left a message in the nfo file which would be packed with this movie download.

Ok we bring you this nice movie in superb quality but if you download
and watch it you must dontate some money to the Unfortunate victims
of the Tragedy in Asia. So many people died and more are homeless
so give generously and help some one less fortunate than yourself
Trust me you will feel better.

The movie is currently being traded online through XDCC distribution, P2P networks and of course, it has shown up on the biggest BitTorrent sites. There was some speculation online as to whether the release was the real movie and whether it was DVD Screener quality or not. However, from reading over forums and sites, it does appear to be real. It is an XviD movie, split into 2 parts and is around 1.4GB apparently. The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio who has pledged a "sizeable" contribution to UNICEF targeted for aid to devastated areas of Thailand, where his 2000 film "The Beach," was filmed.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 9 Jan 2005 0:27

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• 31 comments

• dlc2000

  i edited my post. if this is legit im for it . if its another scam with some trying to make money off of another bad event im not for it . soul007 is that better !
  

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  9.1.2005 05:06 #1

• soul007

  dlc2000 ur retarded, they dont want the cash sent to them they want you to donate to a charity of your choice that is supporting the victims

  9.1.2005 06:16 #2

• dlc2000

  where in this news post does it say that ? if what you are saying is correct than im for it . ive seen so many scams with people trying to make money off of bad events its pathetic . this doesnt mean im retarded . i recall some red cross scandals that come to mind when the world trade center went down . i probably have more brain power in one cell than you have in your whole body . i just hope that those who do donate that their funds actually make it to the people in need . im sorry if i misunderstood this news post .

  9.1.2005 07:06 #3

• Dela

  see mate the thing is release groups release movies etc. for free and they basically wind up on BT sites, P2P networks, IRC channels, and become free for everyone to download. A file packed with them called an nfo file gives info on the group who released it (pirated it, whatever), and the actual quality etc. of the movie, in this case the group is called Tsunami-Appeal, and in the nfo they say if you download the movie and watch it, then you must donate money to the victims of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia. So basically, whoever you donate the money to for the victims is up to you.
  
  The reason i chose to report this is because i found it on a forum and its kind of ironic, as you hear people speak about the bad things that piracy causes, so I thought this would be an interesting read :-)

  9.1.2005 07:42 #4

• p4_tt

  The Aviator dvd Screener has been nuked, People still donate

  9.1.2005 07:44 #5

• Dela

  it was nuked for less than DVDRip quality, but if u read around the quality is still high, and i agree, donate anyways, ive made my donation and everyone should, it'll take years to clear up that situation, and it'll never be forgotten!

  9.1.2005 07:47 #6

• dlc2000

  not a problem dela . im for donating to a good cause . it is ironic and very interesting . thankyou for the insight . i now have a better understanding .

  9.1.2005 08:09 #7

• cat5

  strange yet I feel so so what a right thing to do;) Ok let me scrap up my few twenty or thirty dollars somewhere and donate:)

  9.1.2005 08:14 #8

• Toiletman

  I think this really comes as a reminder and not as a "spread the word", because hell, if you don't donate you either don't care about 150,000+ dead or you're a selfish bastard.
  
  It's good to know that even release groups are reminding us that we should donate. I applaud Tsunami-Appeal and I would like to see more groups including this in their .nfos.

  9.1.2005 09:42 #9

• Balaam

  I think this story really underscores what the p2p community is really all about. Of course it's filled with tons for freeloaders and cheapskates, but at its heart its about creating a community with people that you otherwise would never have met. Being able to share movies and games you like with other people. This kind of community is inherently positive, and just because the corporate f*cks won the culture war, doesn't mean their destructive desire to legislate their greed is justifiable. Of course, what "Tsunami-Appeal" did shouldn't be lauded, it's the bare minimum, but if these MPAA and RIAA assh*les would spend a fraction of their "hunt" money on charitable aid, they might actually be able to justify their existence.
  
  Sorry for the rant:)

  9.1.2005 10:48 #10

• hijacker

  Ok we bring you this nice movie in superb quality but if you download
  and watch it you must dontate some money to the Unfortunate victims
  of the Tragedy in Asia. So many people died and more are homeless
  so give generously and help some one less fortunate than yourself
  Trust me you will feel better.
  is this for real or a hoax?
  can anyone tell me?

  9.1.2005 17:34 #11

• Balaam

  Hoax? Please tell me you aren't asking if the tsunami is a hoax. I think I'd have to suggest you go jump off a bridge if that was the case.

  9.1.2005 17:55 #12

• cgranber

  it is NOT a hoax... they even released a PAL dvdr copy after the xvid had been nuked.

  10.1.2005 07:12 #13

• Escobar22

  ummm, how does that help tsunami victims?

  10.1.2005 07:55 #14

• Toiletman

  Are you fucking joking me?
  
  Did you just ask how a message reminding us to donate to the Tsunami Relief Fund is going to help the victims of the tsunami? WTF?
  

  Everyone is entitled to their own true opinion. Either respect that or don't.

  10.1.2005 10:58 #15

• Escobar22

  Yeah, reminding people who are stealing in the first place to donate money makes a lot of sense
  
  *rolls eyes*

  10.1.2005 12:33 #16

• rdevanat

  I dont believe ppl think donating money to a worthy charitable cause is a hoax. Are ppl just dumb, or dumber.

  10.1.2005 14:24 #17

• buraku

  i think this is a very good idea. i'd like to see more people do this when releasing a new torrent. just think of a cause that's important to you, and ask people to donate to a charity that supports this cause if they choose to watch the vid you've uploaded. why not? it can't hurt, and it would probably make those who feel guilty DLing stuff feel a little redemption by making a charitable donation.
  
  plus, i think everyone here would probably agree with me when i say that escobar22 is an ignorant jackass.

  10.1.2005 14:35 #18

• darthnip

  excellent article Dela. come on people, like you need a free copy of a movie to help these people out! go look in your fridge or cabinets and see what you have, then stop and think most of these people no longer even have homes to put their cabinets of food into! Where i live we have had no power for a week due to an ice storm, living off of kerosene heaters and candles thru weather in the teens(F), and yet i still donated $500 for these people. The funny thing is, alot of the material you all download comes from these locations so their loss will trickle down to you getting less stuff for free! my point is no matter what in the world is going on with your life, if you are reading this you are better off that all those people hit by the tsunami. time to give something back, and dont bitch about it! hell look around your house and go thru old clothes and shoes even, alot of these people were left with nothing at all!!
  

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  10.1.2005 15:25 #19

• DaOsT

  I agre that release group did great reminding us how fortunate we are compared to others in the world
  

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  11.1.2005 07:27 #20

• btstock

  Ok,i'm brand new at posting, but an old school programmer, so don't get pi$$ed with me, but I'm new to most of this new school stuff. theoretically, how would someone get to something like a download of the aviator movie (and yes, i know that one is nuked). I get to the nfo files, but then have no idea how to actually get to a full file.

  11.1.2005 17:42 #21

• Balaam

  I personally use newsgroups, specifically easynews.com, because of its great web interface, and I don't mind paying a little for guaranteed valid files, and a plethora of easily accessed files. You can also use any of a number of p2p networks. Look in the File sharing applications forums on this site for more info on that.

  11.1.2005 18:54 #22

• btstock

  so what is the purpose of the nfo files? they don't seem to lead anywhere. am i missing the boat there?

  11.1.2005 19:16 #23

• JoeyCool

  Just to tell you to help out. The people who wrote it aren't have faith that if you can find your way to your file, then you should be able to find the Red Cross website.

  11.1.2005 21:24 #24

• Balaam

  Right. It's the same as seeing a homeless man. Just by seeing him, even if you give him money, it won't help homelessness in general, but it should at least remind you to support your local homeless shelter by donating time or money. Modern advertising has proven that just by putting out a message, people are more likely to act on it, even if they just glance at it and move on. The simple fact that they've seen it makes them more likely to act on it.
  
  Personally, because I see positive aspects to the onine sharing community, I wish that more groups would include information about personal crusades in their info's. Not just siminal events like the recent tsunami.

  11.1.2005 21:55 #25

• medracer

  Strange thing about that particular download.I peeked at the sample sent with the (very large) bundle of RAR files. Interestingly, the sample showed a clip from 'Team America', with Turkish subtitles...from the very same pirate VCD copy I personally put onto WinMX for a mate a few weeks ago. Overcome with doubt, I promptly deleted the entire download. I dont believe this Tsunami Appeal is at all genuine. I think it's somebody just having fun with anything with the initials T.A. Like...Total Arseholes...

  12.1.2005 03:40 #26

• p200002

  The movie is real. The quality is superb for Screener. The plea is not a scam. Anyway, I have donated to Red Cross.

  12.1.2005 05:53 #27

• Toiletman

  Why are people posting this bullshit such as "Oh this is a hoax, don't donate to help the unfortunate victims of the Tsunami."
  
  I thought we would've improved from the Middle Ages by now, but hey, I think we've gotten worse as a whole.
  

  Everyone is entitled to their own true opinion. Either respect that or don't.

  12.1.2005 13:15 #28

• JoeyCool

  It CAN'T be a hoax !! If it were, there would be some kind of link to bring you to some fake Red Cross website. Please explain how you figure it's a scam.

  12.1.2005 15:14 #29

• lazygig

  I have dialup, so I don't pirate movies obviously, and I wouldn't if I had cable, but a friend of mine burned me a copy of 'Team America' that he downloaded. Because of this, I now want to get it when it comes out. Piracy is probably doing more good for the industry than bad. Just because sales are down doesn't mean its cause of pirates.

  12.1.2005 18:41 #30

• JoeyCool

  Oh it IS because of pirating. I know to many people that otherwise have very high moral standards, but when it comes to illegally downloading music and games, they do it without guilt or remorse. My policy is to ask myself, "If I didn't have access to this Game/Movie by downloading or copying it, would I be buying it at the store?" If my answer is "Yes", then I won't do it. If it's "no", well we know the answer to that. For instance, Spiderman 2 came out on DVD about a month ago. I bought it because I can afford to and it's worth the 15 bucks. If I were to download it, I feel like it would be stealing. A movie like Terminator 3, though, as much as I enjoyed would not make it into my DVD library anytime in the near future in my present financial situation. So i'd have no problem downloading it. Piraters need to reevaluate their moral code cause thier actions are directly affecting the entertainment industry which will soon be reflected by poorer quality of movies and moreso video games.

  13.1.2005 21:20 #31