AfterDawn: News

Popcorn Time users sued in the U.S., two men arrested in Denmark

A number of Popcorn Time users have been sued in a U.S court for viewing and sharing a film using the popular BitTorrent-based app.

The complaint was filed in an Oregon District Court, identifying 11 IP addresses allegedly used while downloading and sharing "The Cobbler". All IP addresses are linked to Comcast customer accounts. The complaint seeks a permanent injunction against the defendants ordering they halt pirating movies, and up to $150,000 in damages.



More than likely the alleged pirates will receive a settlement offer in time, as is common with BitTorrent users sued for sharing content without consent. Popcorn Time doesn't resemble a BitTorrent client, but it does connect to BitTorrent swarms to download the content in the background.

In another interesting case linked to Popcorn Time, two men were arrested this week in Denmark for operating websites that provided information about Popcorn Time.

What makes their arrest interesting is the fact that their websites offered no copyright-infringing content at all, nor did they even host Popcorn Time apps for visitors to download. Instead, the sites posted updates about Popcorn Time and provided instructions and tips on using the apps.

The two domains associated with the sites - Popcorntime.dk and Popcorn-time.dk - were also seized.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 20 Aug 2015 22:39

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• 14 comments

• ehvbadboy

  Seems the capital is again winning from the ordinary man.
  
  As long as parts of the world get series and movies half a year later than the us dvd's and Blu-ray in zones and to expensieve. Sites like popcorn will exist.
  
  Seems like they are only intrested in the big money and arresting common people.

  21.8.2015 02:48 #1

• ChikaraNZ

  Originally posted by ehvbadboy: Seems the capital is again winning from the ordinary man.
  
  As long as parts of the world get series and movies half a year later than the us dvd's and Blu-ray in zones and to expensieve. Sites like popcorn will exist.
  
  Seems like they are only intrested in the big money and arresting common people. Sueing doesn't mean winning. Anybody can sue, let's see if they win - I have a feeling they will lose.
  

  21.8.2015 07:09 #2

• Four21

  Popcorn time was yesterday - TVMC is the way to go!

  21.8.2015 08:26 #3

• adre02

  I am sick of corporation a $$ wipes. This is getting out of freaking hand. If all content was good most people wouldn't download it. I am not willing to pay to see a movie that "seems" okay.
  
  Some movies I KNOW or THINK will be great, I go to see those or albums that I KNOW or THINK will be great, ill pay for those. But those "hmmm, maybe" I will not pay for. If it turns out to be good ill buy it. If its trash ill delete it.
  

  This is superman

  21.8.2015 10:31 #4

• doowop72

  Originally posted by Four21: Popcorn time was yesterday - TVMC is the way to go! Thanks for introducing me to TVMC, researched and appears less risky than popcorn time.

  21.8.2015 11:40 #5

• Winddog

  Most movies that come out these days are trash and they try to build them up as movie of the year . We should sue the movie industry for charging high prices for trash.
  

  Eric

  21.8.2015 12:38 #6

• hearme0

  HA HA HA!!! Those that use PT knowing full well how it works and the trouble potential DESERVE whatever befalls them.
  
  
  I been sayin' it for a year. Ain't I been sayin' it?
  
  My wife used PopcornTime to get this...watch a TV show called Selfie that had been cancelled 2 months earlier. I then received an ATT-issued DMCA notice with the downloaded program, my IP and the date.
  
  LISTEN UP to all the dumbasses perpetuating the falsehood that PT is "safe"...........IT'S NOT. It's a torrenting client with a fancy interface and it downloads exactly what you see when searching The Pirate Bay.
  
  Now, that was the only notice I ever received because my girl didn't use Peerblock. Peerblock and other programs that restrict IP connections severely debilitate PT, preventing it from downloading anything.
  
  
  
  And IM(not so)HO.........Peerblock does indeed work when configured with good lists. I'm currently blocking 2.36 BILLION IP addresses. Never been busted downloading but then again, I am not a leecher that jacks everything out there for the sake of having a "collection" I'll never use.
  
  
  
  And for all those saying "if all content were good"(adre02) and "most movies are trash" (Winddog) I ASK YOU, how do you create a law to not steal based on one or two schmucks that say the content is "trash or bad". You don't like it then DON'T F'ING DOWNLOAD IT EVEN IF IT'S FREE!!!

  22.8.2015 11:48 #7

• hearme0

  Originally posted by Four21: Popcorn time was yesterday - TVMC is the way to go!
  
  NICE! This is new to me and I am only slightly familiar with XBMC so props to you for the recommend.
  
  No legal issues apparently........minimal at the very least it seems.
  
  
  
  ***UPDATE***
  
  Tried this for an hour. All independent stuff. "add-ons" need to be found and identified for interests but the yield is garbage. Nothing mainstream.
  
  It's no wonder this isn't illegal. It's a platform for Independent productions. Uninstalling unless I can find more use.
  
  
  ***UPDATE 2***
  
  Better than I thought. Gotta find the right addons like 1Channel and IceFilms. Worth a go. I'm sure it gets even better.

  22.8.2015 11:55 #8

• adre02

  Originally posted by hearme0: HA HA HA!!! Those that use PT knowing full well how it works and the trouble potential DESERVE whatever befalls them.
  
  
  I been sayin' it for a year. Ain't I been sayin' it?
  
  My wife used PopcornTime to get this...watch a TV show called Selfie that had been cancelled 2 months earlier. I then received an ATT-issued DMCA notice with the downloaded program, my IP and the date.
  
  LISTEN UP to all the dumbasses perpetuating the falsehood that PT is "safe"...........IT'S NOT. It's a torrenting client with a fancy interface and it downloads exactly what you see when searching The Pirate Bay.
  
  Now, that was the only notice I ever received because my girl didn't use Peerblock. Peerblock and other programs that restrict IP connections severely debilitate PT, preventing it from downloading anything.
  
  
  
  And IM(not so)HO.........Peerblock does indeed work when configured with good lists. I'm currently blocking 2.36 BILLION IP addresses. Never been busted downloading but then again, I am not a leecher that jacks everything out there for the sake of having a "collection" I'll never use.
  
  
  
  And for all those saying "if all content were good"(adre02) and "most movies are trash" (Winddog) I ASK YOU, how do you create a law to not steal based on one or two schmucks that say the content is "trash or bad". You don't like it then DON'T F'ING DOWNLOAD IT EVEN IF IT'S FREE!!! Here's the thing; no one has future premonitions to that degree.
  There is NOWAY to know 100% if a movie is good or not or music is good or not but we only can go on what that artist/actor has produced in the past.
  
  If i KNOW an artist/actor has produced good/great content in the past I will 100% not download their work. If I know an actor/artist is always hit/miss then I will d/l their work. For the most part, I never miss when I do that.
  
  Such say a horror movie. I think most of them are lame yet interesting to watch just to see how lame it is. Sometimes the lamest horror movies are the most entertaining (to laugh at)
  
  Every blue'moon I get surprised and catch a really good one but I am not going to pay to watch a horror movie due to the high percentage that it is toilet substance. As far as music goes, that's a bit harder because it can go either way but usually someone else is playing the music(sat-radio, a friend, car passing by, video-tv) so If i hear a decent song I don't mind buying the mp3. If i hear several songs and others' say the album is good but the songs that i DO hear are 'okayish' I may d/l to see what else there is and if it turns out to have other songs that are awesome I will buy it. If it turns out to only have "okayish" songs, I will keep the d/l for a few weeks and probably delete it.
  
  That's how I do it. Everyone else I cannot worry about but myself and how I roll with everything.
  

  This is superman

  22.8.2015 17:47 #9

• robertkelly

  Well they've got more work to do then only popcorn time. I just downloaded the porn version of popcorn time on link I hope they let me enjoy my porn movies and they leave apps like these up and running!
  

  Watchu mean roller?

  23.8.2015 07:34 #10

• pmshah

  Originally posted by Four21: Popcorn time was yesterday - TVMC is the way to go! Watch out! Now you will be on their target list.

  23.8.2015 13:13 #11

• pmshah

  The whole exercise is like a hanging sword. Some decades ago here in India it cost the government more to collect personal income tax then the actual revenue from it. The whole idea was to have a hanging sword on individuals to keep them in line with their political views and utterances.

  23.8.2015 13:17 #12

• qazwiz

  Originally posted by ChikaraNZ:
  Sueing doesn't mean winning. Anybody can sue, let's see if they win - I have a feeling they will lose. in a lawsuit only the lawyers win
  everyone else pays the lawyers
  

  qazwiz is qazwiz everywhere. If you see me say HI!

  24.8.2015 00:12 #13

• pds3

  These lawsuits usually amount to a shakedown. Most people will settle out of court for $3,000.00 or more. The same thing happened a few years ago to many people who had "tester" cards for Directv.
  

  24.8.2015 23:01 #14