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UK software pirates targeted

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has sued many file sharers in the UK that it accuses of uploading copyrighted music on P2P networks. Now it's the software industry's turn to begin litigation against file sharers. Ten Internet service providers have been ordered by a court to hand over personal information on 150 consumers that are suspected of sharing pirated software online. The ISPs include BT, NTL, Telewest and Tiscali.

This follows a twelve month investigation by the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST). An investigator working for FAST on "Operation Tracker" identified the 150 suspects by little more than IP addresses they were assigned by their ISPs. To get the real subscriber information, FAST had to turn to the High Court. To set an example, once it has received the information, it will hand it over to the police and Crown Prosecution Service.



"We can easily take down links, but this does not tackle the root causes of software piracy, because the links will reappear elsewhere in a matter of hours," said John Lovelock, director general at Fast. "Instead, we plan to take action a lot further, making an example of the perpetrators to stop them from stealing and passing on the intellectual property of our members for good." Penalties for this crime include up to two years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Source:
BBC News

Written by: James Delahunty @ 1 Feb 2006 9:14

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• 49 comments

• Lethal_B

  Quote:"We can easily take down links, but this does not tackle the root causes of software piracy, because the links will reappear elsewhere in a matter of hours," said John Lovelock, director general at Fast. "Instead, we plan to take action a lot further, making an example of the perpetrators to stop them from stealing and passing on the intellectual property of our members for good." Penalties for this crime include up to two years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. Basically, they've run out of ideas..

  1.2.2006 10:55 #1

• Mik3h

  Lol
  
  It''s scary though, sure as hell wouldn't want to get caught in the act..
  
  -Mike

  1.2.2006 10:58 #2

• sammorris

  Makes you worry when you suddenly realise you've had a static IP for the past 6 months...

  1.2.2006 11:13 #3

• nerro

  so if you don't have a static IP then there's less chance of them tracking you down?

  1.2.2006 13:05 #4

• Rikoshay

  Well, it's even worse than that, because you could reset your router or modem, and obtain an IP address of a person who's been doing that for years, and they may already know about it, so it's you who gets caught!
  
  A prime example of them not being able to take down illegal software is with DVDDecrypter. I still see it hanging around on some sites here and there.
  
  This is just to scare most people who feel that they will get caught.

  1.2.2006 16:38 #5

• sulaim

  Why is DVD Decrypter illegal?
  
  it is the easiest program to make backups for my shiny originals. i wud stop making backups, if they would give one extra backup copy with my original. until then, long live DVD Decrypter.

  1.2.2006 23:37 #6

• Rikoshay

  You basically answered your own question there.

  2.2.2006 01:02 #7

• coolbrz

  What's the difference between a static ip and like a DHCP address? (I think that's what it's called)

  2.2.2006 04:27 #8

• sulaim

  @rikoshay- lol. but you know you are allowed to make 1 backup copy. so unless they provide it, I will make it.

  2.2.2006 04:38 #9

• BigDK

  Regardless of whether you have a static or dynamic address, and regardless of how long you use it or how frequently you change it, you are always identifiable to your ISP.
  You are assigned the address when you connect to the service with a valid usernane and password, and for what ever time period you are connected with the assigned address they will be able to pin point you (not the guy who was assigned it before you).
  Would suggest anyone using P2P services to run Peerguardian2 to block agencies from scanning your ports.

  2.2.2006 06:57 #10

• vadimo

  well it scares the crap out of me, i dont d/l or sell but i do d/l when i need something and i don't share much stuff on P2P progs. So how do they get these people to prosecute? i mean where do they catch them on which programs?

  2.2.2006 08:19 #11

• Lethal_B

  Actually, Over 80% of people caught have been caught on the Fasttrack (Kazaa, Trashy) Network. I feel sorry for those who use that network, it's full of spyware and is an RIAA Landmine.
  
  Anyway, if they find copyrighted material in your shared file, they will make a note of your I.P, contact your ISP, who are obligated by law to hand over the log of all data transfer activity (inbound & outbound) The gray area is that they will then sue you for songs acquired rather than songs distributed..
  

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  2.2.2006 08:50 #12

• remkol

  I cannot see any reason for suing people connecting to their friends online either sharing materials or whatever! Corporate industries should direct their energies in making life safer by targeting institutional terrorisms, then we will accept they have interest of their clients at heart.
  I woun't be surprised if more secure prisons spring up to accomodate the so called file sharers.
  lol.

  2.2.2006 09:38 #13

• coolbrz

  So does running Peergaurdian 2 protect you on ALL p2p web sites including Bittorrent and so on?

  2.2.2006 09:54 #14

• Rikoshay

  Well, I don't think PeerGuardian can hide you from Everything, you still send out an IP whenever you go to a website, so it's not perfect. But, it's still better than nothing when a gov't agency does a "sweep" for people who are file-sharing and what-not.

  2.2.2006 11:27 #15

• isOrion

  Bigdk and others. If you are that worried use a proxy app. There are a ton out there. Just use proxies not apps like anonymiser which is nothing more than adding a hop to the route to you. Use apps that bounce you around the world on free proxie serves. Nothing is fail safe but if you make it harder you're less likely to be a target. Try Steganos, Stealth, Net Conceal, and others.

  2.2.2006 16:37 #16

• jedster

  a fail safe methode to protect your self against the prying eyes is this:-
  get yourself a buisness broadband connection, govenment agencys or any other agency will have to go back to the high court for permission to obtain your records of whats comming in and out, and i cant see the big boys i.e. I.B.M. SONY PFIZERS ETC ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN AS THEY SHARE FILES ALL THE TIME EVERY DAY 24/7.
  COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SET OF RULES FOR BUISNESS CONNECTIONS YET THE PRICE OF A BUISNESS CONNECTION IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL CONNECTION WITH NOT LIMITS IMPOSED.
  SOUND INTRESTING?
  ITS WORKING FOR ME

  2.2.2006 22:08 #17

• Four21

  Better still stop using crappy p2p progs that are full of spiked stuff to download - spend a few mins getting to grips with newsgroups and you'll have access to anything you want (at higher download speeds) no virus threat and nobody looking over your shoulder.

  2.2.2006 22:16 #18

• final123

  yes Run PeerGuardian one time i woke up to a beeping sound PeerGuardian had Crashed then i when't to my Computer i Couldn't See any Harddrive keeps saying Access Denied, Damn so i restarted, turn out they had changed one of the Security Permissions(if your using NTFS) in Documents and Settings, Default Users, and All users, to Everyone but no boxes were ticked, i was running Emule.(i was not downloading anything illegal BTW).

  2.2.2006 22:38 #19

• vadimo

  yes good advice jedster, hope u know what u are talking about. So what does the Peergaurdian 2 does? i dunno much about connestions and all that so.

  3.2.2006 00:03 #20

• BigDK

  Make sure you get a proper version PG2 from the official site, as some PG2 downloads are loaded with spyware and viruses.
  A quick overview of what is does is available here on AD.
  http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/peerguardian_2_review.cfm
  

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  3.2.2006 01:34 #21

• john205

  I thought there was some kind of software you could install (or a proxy server/website you could go through?) to hide your IP address ??
  https://www.proxify.com ?
  
  ...or am I mistaken ?
  
  What if you share a PC with someone ? How are they going to prove who upladed the pirate software or MP3s ? The PC 'owner' cannot be reasonably excpected to police everything the other guy does.
  
  
  John

  3.2.2006 07:41 #22

• john205

  ....if they want to play at being 'big brother with the iron fist' then just go with disk to an anonymous public computer (internet cafe PC or library PC where they don't demand personal ID (some libraries do, some don't for PC use) and somewhere with DVD-Rom drives -(not easyinternet) to upload anything ...let them try and stop that :)
  
  The main reasons for software piracy are the extortionate prices for applications and the fact that cracking and copying have been easy for years. The industry could have used technology to stop it but didn't.
  
  John

  3.2.2006 07:52 #23

• john205

  ...how many have actualy been prosecuted in the UK so far??
  1000? maybe 2000? I would guess not more than that.
  
  And how many people uploading pirate material of all kinds?
  ...lets (conservatively) say, 1 in 70 out of say 16 million PC users.. ...that's 228,000
  
  2000/228,000 = 0.877% or 1 in 114
  
  ...an educated guess but probably not too far out.

  3.2.2006 08:06 #24

• john205

  Pls ignore bit about which software - 3 February 2006 12:41
  
  ahemm ...hadn't read about peerguardian when I posted this message :o.

  3.2.2006 08:21 #25

• Lethal_B

  Quote:...how many have actualy been prosecuted in the UK so far??
  1000? maybe 2000? I would guess not more than that. Well actually, those numbers are way off, as well as inspecific. The number of people to be fined by the BPI (British Phonographic) is no more than 100, and even less for movie & software sharing.
  Quote:And how many people uploading pirate material of all kinds?
  ...lets (conservatively) say, 1 in 70 out of say 16 million PC users.. ...that's 228,000
  
  2000/228,000 = 0.877% or 1 in 114
  
  ...an educated guess but probably not too far out.An educated guess indeed, but well off the mark. There has not even been a quarter of the number of people sued worldwide of the two hundred-or-so thousand suggested..
  

  Forum Rules - http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487
  
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  3.2.2006 08:23 #26

• UkSheep

  a few thoughts as i read the comments:
  
  1. it still is illegal in the uk to rip a cd
  2. software piracy which isn't just sharing, i.e. selling pirated software at a market etc, is a crimal offence and can carry a jail term
  3. isp can not have to give out data until they have an order from the high court, thats our data protection act
  4. and were some what protected by the data protection act.
  
  some of that may be slightly off but thats the just of what my Professional issues class said

  3.2.2006 08:36 #27

• Lethal_B

  Quote:1. it still is illegal in the uk to rip a cdI am not saying that is incorrect, but why then, aren't cd rippers & softwares illegal?
  Quote:2. software piracy which isn't just sharing, i.e. selling pirated software at a market etc, is a crimal offence and can carry a jail termObviously, but this is mainly discussion on digital piracy ;-)
  

  Forum Rules - http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487
  
  Credits for my "Lethal" sig go to the wonderful Mrs B. Props & Grats :) DVD, Your Sig is on the Source ;-)
  
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  3.2.2006 09:28 #28

• john205

  Lethal_B,
  
  I wasn't suggesting that 228,000 had been sued wordwide.
  
  The point of what I was saying was that very few people have been prosecuted, more importantly than the actual figures.

  3.2.2006 11:13 #29

• coolbrz

  Here in the States, I have seen Rippers for DVD and CD's for sale in stores. I wonder how illegal it is.

  3.2.2006 12:26 #30

• Lethal_B

  DVD ripper in stores? Thats new to me..
  

  Forum Rules - http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487
  
  Credits for my "Lethal" sig go to the wonderful Mrs B. Props & Grats :) DVD, Your Sig is on the Source ;-)
  
  The Source for Techies ~ http://www.xtreme-source.com/

  3.2.2006 13:31 #31

• Rikoshay

  @coolbrz:
  
  What part of the country do you live in? And more importantly, what store do you go to?
  

  Need help fast? Lookie here (Don't ask for movies!):
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  http://www.utorrent.com/

  3.2.2006 17:48 #32

• prodigy42

  what the fudge is an unlimited fine? Those europeans are crazy.

  3.2.2006 23:03 #33

• Lethal_B

  It means they cant put a maximum fine on the crime because the amount of songs can vary..
  
  How are the europeans crazy? We in Britain have had <100 people sued for filesharing offences, whereas America is over the 15,000 mark. Now That's crazy!
  

  Forum Rules - http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487
  
  Credits for my "Lethal" sig go to the wonderful Mrs B. Props & Grats :) DVD, Your Sig is on the Source ;-)
  
  The Source for Techies ~ http://www.xtreme-source.com/

  4.2.2006 01:37 #34

• vadimo

  What i don't get is why they choosed Anti-Softaware piracy compain rather than Anti-music piracy like in US.
  I mean music was always and still the top piracy object. Do they think that music paricy isnt big thread in UK (i dissagree)??
  For softwares. I think camponies should produce 2 editions for every program, say Adobe photoshop 2 editions one is for non-business use with affordable price and other one is for business rate with higher price. I think that would get ppl bit off piracy.

  4.2.2006 08:52 #35

• myndphuk

  so then the businesses will buy the non-business priced software, afterall, they're business is all about making money, so why spend more than they need to.. it is business, and it's their business which one they buy.

  5.2.2006 00:37 #36

• runny2

  Are there any more facts on this?
  
  Does anyone know who the 10 UK ISPs are that have been ordered to divulge?
  
  Were they looking for any software, or just that of the "Federation Against Software Theft" members, and if so who are they and their products?
  
  What are the usual fines/damages for this? I don't think there has been similar in the UK before for software uploading, although I'm sure there has been for "car boot sale" sales. Does it make any difference if there is no profit motive?

  5.2.2006 02:26 #37

• vadimo

  NO cause edition for non-business will have less features and functions, when business edition will have full version.

  5.2.2006 02:26 #38

• pete444

  HI if you are downloading on mIRC, which is one way traffic can they trace you as easy

  5.2.2006 09:09 #39

• mirc

  Mirc displays your ip and the ip of the connected pc (to you and your connection) everytime you send/receive a file. Without knowing the ip address of the pc to get your file...how else can you connect to that individual pc? Over the last 2 yrs several mIRC ops have been caught aiding and abbetting (mainly in film channels)infact actively encouraging filesharing! The use of virtual hosts, which many ops use, do not hide your ip when sending/receiving files.
  
  Even the disclaimer often seen on joining networks offerring Bill Clintons protection is a nonsense !
  This is one of the reasons that many mIRC users now only share with known sharers or friends only, and for the increasing use of server-bots in channels.
  Dont want to get caught....Dont serve !
  
  
  24/7 mIRC user.

  5.2.2006 20:56 #40

• hursty

  if you cant do the time....dont do the crime
  
  
  if you abuse the system,then one day you are going to get burnt...its as simple as that.
  
  there is a risk in downloading/uploading pretty much anything these days,and this subject has been talked about in depth many a time,always with the same summary...> dont take the risk if you are worried about getting caught
  no-one can really defend there actions if they are prosecuted,as much as it stinks......
  
  use newsgroups...fast downloads,with no sharing,not free but worth every penny,(so my mate says)
  
  i dont personally download anything...i bought all of my 600 ps2 games.honest

  7.2.2006 10:32 #41

• ZippyDSM

  I ahve seen CD/DVD rippers in staples and curcit city and big lots *L* scary aint it 0-o

  7.2.2006 11:12 #42

• S2K

  pete444NewbieQuote:HI if you are downloading on mIRC, which is one way traffic can they trace you as easy
  
  Except no one has ever been sued for downloading on mIRC and there is a reason for that.

  7.2.2006 11:38 #43

• Lethal_B

  Quote:use newsgroups...fast downloads,with no sharing,not free but worth every penny,(so my mate says)Love the way you crawled out of that one, hursty! Classic!
  

  Lethal Bizzle;
  
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  7.2.2006 11:52 #44

• ZippyDSM

  hursty
  hate to tell you if pll dont share/upload to the newsgroup then there would be nothing to download on the newsgroup :P
  
  

  I have a brain...I think......

  7.2.2006 12:48 #45

• hursty

  ZIppyDSM
  
  thanks for pointing that out,i would have never have known that...
  
  newsgroups are totally different to file-sharing programs,thats why they are not free.
  you are not traceable on newsgroups.
  

  
  
  http://www.teammodders.com/

  7.2.2006 21:45 #46

• ZippyDSM

  ^^
  they might be but I never found them *L*
  

  I have a brain...I think......

  7.2.2006 21:58 #47

• hursty

  Quote:hey might be but I never found them *L*not sure what you meant there matey....:)
  

  
  
  http://www.teammodders.com/

  7.2.2006 22:40 #48

• mirc

  Quote:Except no one has ever been sued for downloading on mIRC and there is a reason for that.
  
  sued...perhaps not, just arrested and all your gear confiscated and poss a bit of jail time.
  
  http://www.wwlegal.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=213
  
  24/7 Mirc

  9.2.2006 06:44 #49