More 'Hurt Locker' lawsuits coming

In late May we reported that "Hurt Locker" producer Voltage Pictures was suing thousands of alleged pirates for downloading the film online.

Voltage sued 5000 unidentified pirates accused of downloading the 2009 Best Picture, and the company said a lot more were coming.

The movie was leaked to the Internet, in full DVD quality, about 6 months before its nationwide release in the U.S. Despite winning Best Picture, the film only grossed $17 million USD domestic in theaters.

Voltage is backed by the U.S. Copyright Group, a group devoted to suing alleged pirates on behalf of independent film production companies.

After the pirates were identified by their IP addresses they were sent letters demanding $1500 to settle. If the case eventually goes to court, Voltage says it will be seeking $150,000 in damages.

The U.S. Copyright Group will begin the second round of lawsuits starting August 1st, says THR, with up to 45,000 more suits expected.

We will keep you updated.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 18 Jul 2010 23:07

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21 comments

llongtheD

Sounds like legalized extortion to me. I hope their lawsuits lose them more money than the RIAA's ridiculous lawsuits have lost them.

If your fish seems sick, put it back in the water.

18.7.2010 23:24 #1

josh6113 (unverified)

how many times do I have to say it!.......the downloaders are not at fault.....the damn uploaders are!.....those are the ones violating copywrite!

18.7.2010 23:37 #2

Hyasuma

why dont they just ever let this go? they are making money anyways stupid selfish bastards like apple

19.7.2010 00:47 #3

core2kid

http://www.peerblock.com/

19.7.2010 02:02 #4

SoulGLOW

I would just send them a copy of $1500

19.7.2010 02:42 #5

Xplorer4

Originally posted by core2kid: http://www.peerblock.com/ You really think thats going to keep you safe? You really think it is that easy to simply track down and block the IPs of the RIAA,MPAA, and so forth? Even if it were, by the time the IPs make it on the block list, it is probably to late and the IP isn't even being used for tracking down pirates any more.

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19.7.2010 03:56 #6

davidike

this is how they make money from a flop

"The public domain is a dicgrace to the forces of evil"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJn_jC4FNDo

19.7.2010 06:15 #7

Mik3h

Get a VPN.

Sorted.

http://my.afterdawn.com/mik3h/blog_entry.cfm/1394 - Guides written by me.
http://www.adbuddies.org/ - Join us Live on IRC!

(Kudos to Ripper For The Beautiful Sig!)

19.7.2010 06:46 #8

Mysttic

Mmmm.. Debates dling this movie...

19.7.2010 09:58 #9

dEwMe

I won't use anything but the newsreader..anything else sets you up to FAIL.

They still filling these with several thousand defendants per filing?

Just my $0.02,

dEwMe

19.7.2010 12:29 #10

gnovak1

Can't they realize that the reason this movie tanked is because it sucks?

19.7.2010 12:58 #11

ucfmoe

Originally posted by gnovak1: Can't they realize that the reason this movie tanked is because it sucks? LOL I'm kinda with you on this one, I didn't think the movie was that great.

19.7.2010 21:12 #12

lykas (unverified)

use tor

19.7.2010 21:39 #13

badmanvan

Amazing...the law suit only got filed after it was nominated for best picture.....

badman

20.7.2010 06:41 #14

badmanvan

Dam fine film......

badman

20.7.2010 06:42 #15

mystic

ok so if you don't make money about a war during a war where everyone wants our gov. to pull out then its ok to sue people who didn't see it or pay to watch it... only in America the land of the free(to sue anyone) the brave( who stand up for their rights ) then they get sued and of couse the the stupid (who will pay them just to avoid the whole issue) wasn't it a screener who posted it just like the X-men who got released bye an employee of the special effects company but no they go after the down loaders not the up loaders... see if they pay enough money out to lawyers they can right that off as a loss on their bottom line on tax day and then the settlements wont show as profit it shows as awards...by a court settlement tax free.... god only in the states....

20.7.2010 08:24 #16

Interestx

.....and for those of us who d/loaded the film, liked it and then bought it what then?

This whole spiteful extortion racket needs to stop.
Sharing is not piracy.
Making and selling a fake product is.

Hopefully the RIAA is pointing the way to the legalised threatening bahaviour of the movie business and it's abuse of the law being a financial disaster.
With luck the shareholders will soon spot this profilgate waste of millions of $ and call a halt to it before too many lives are damaged by this idiotic vindictive campaign.

20.7.2010 19:16 #17

burninmad

I couldn't keep remembering that Title: "The Hurt Locker"? I'm A Military History fanatic.Couldn't wait to see it.Just like ALL the "Trailers" I've seen on most movies: The Trailers ,are better than the movie! Pay $51-20 for DVD ,and watch once or?Can't record to VCR to let tape "degenerate" for 20 years!I Got some "older" tapes now,that I,as others,pull out from our "archives" and want towatch it.I don't even own a PC "burner".But I can order a PayPerView!But after all these Movie Industry battles against some "little"?,guys?I want to make money too!Can't blame them,this IS A Free society! But I'm Stupid! Didn't save my money from my paper route,50 years ago!Now gotta "wing it" on Social Security!haven't been to Theater in years.Mainly because they're 50 miles away?But they're getting greedy!Should I purchase this on PPV,or boycott?You can't copy a movie and "legally",borrow it to "Uncle Tenuse"?OYVAY!!

21.7.2010 12:24 #18

lissenup2

Originally posted by Xplorer4: Originally posted by core2kid: http://www.peerblock.com/ You really think thats going to keep you safe? You really think it is that easy to simply track down and block the IPs of the RIAA,MPAA, and so forth? Even if it were, by the time the IPs make it on the block list, it is probably to late and the IP isn't even being used for tracking down pirates any more. First off, YOU DON'T KNOW. No one does but I can say one thing for sure, companies have set DNS and IP addresses. They aren't constantly changing based on who they're going to screw next. The companies I contract for and work for/with don't change their address schema so it's fair to say that when they're discovered, they are effectively blocked. RIAA and MPAA is banking on most people NOT USING BLOCKERS! So pipe down. I'm presently blcoking 2.35 BILLION IPs with Peerblock and I am somewhat frequently d/ling (including Hurt Locker AFTER it's DVD release) and no notices for me.

Besides...........anyone that is STUPID enough to d/l a movie before it's "official" release date via the theatre OR DVD deserves what they get. Stupidity should be painful. The world would be a better place.

21.7.2010 15:27 #19

BIFF0

Just wondering are these lawsuits coming for Americans only?

25.7.2010 06:20 #20

core2kid

Originally posted by lissenup2: Originally posted by Xplorer4: Originally posted by core2kid: http://www.peerblock.com/ You really think thats going to keep you safe? You really think it is that easy to simply track down and block the IPs of the RIAA,MPAA, and so forth? Even if it were, by the time the IPs make it on the block list, it is probably to late and the IP isn't even being used for tracking down pirates any more. First off, YOU DON'T KNOW. No one does but I can say one thing for sure, companies have set DNS and IP addresses. They aren't constantly changing based on who they're going to screw next. The companies I contract for and work for/with don't change their address schema so it's fair to say that when they're discovered, they are effectively blocked. RIAA and MPAA is banking on most people NOT USING BLOCKERS! So pipe down. I'm presently blcoking 2.35 BILLION IPs with Peerblock and I am somewhat frequently d/ling (including Hurt Locker AFTER it's DVD release) and no notices for me.

Besides...........anyone that is STUPID enough to d/l a movie before it's "official" release date via the theatre OR DVD deserves what they get. Stupidity should be painful. The world would be a better place. I don't download but I use that program whenever I use my computer. I got hit for downloading a movie in the past. Only thing was that it wasn't me, it was back when I was on vacation and I left my router unsecured (Security caused problems with this old POS router)

26.7.2010 09:21 #21

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