TorrentFreak Recent Headlines - Big Media Corruption Stories Worth Reading

What with all the flurry of anti-piracy news flying around the internet last month following the setting back of SOPA/PIPA and the forced shuttering of MegaUpload by vested media interests and executed by the government and the FBI, TorrentFreak has been duly reporting on all this corruption and erosion of civil liberties. Hence, I present here a few of the latest headlines from TorrentFreak, as it's worth knowing what's going on in this area. The headlines and summaries are taken from TorrentFreak.


Feb 4

Busted By The FBI: The Life Of An Elite Teen BitTorrent Uploader

Releasers and torrent racers are the select few counted on by millions to bring the latest movies, music and video games to the wider Internet in record time. One such person, a 15-year-old school kid, eventually gained access to elite piracy sites and went on to become the top uploader on one of the world’s most famous BitTorrent trackers. But how did the buzz of the elite compare to being hunted down by a Patriot Act-empowered FBI?


Feb 3

We Need Copyright Reform, Not ACTA!

As a Member of the European Parliament, I very much welcome the increased attention the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) has received in the past weeks. It has taken a while for massive outcry to emerge, but we are seeing protest voices getting louder and louder.

Seized Sports Streaming Site Makes a Blazing Comeback

Firstrow, one of the sites that had several of its domain names seized by the Feds yesterday, is furious at the US Government. Convinced that the service they are providing does not violate the law, the site continues to operate under a new domain name. One of the owners told TorrentFreak that they don’t intend to stop until a court shuts them down.

Megaupload Founder Accuses Police of Assault, Denied Bail Again

Following a hearing today at the High Court in New Zealand, Kim Dotcom was again denied bail. The Megaupload founder, who authorities insist will likely flee should he be released, told the court that he’d been kicked and punched by police during his arrest. Dotcom added that during his time in prison he had been approached not only by women wanting to be his friend, but by an expert document forger.


Feb 2

Feds Arrest Streaming Site Operator for Copyright Infringement

A 28-year old man from Comstock Park, Michigan, has been arrested and charged with criminal copyright infringement. Yonjo Quiroa is the alleged operator of nine of the sixteen streaming related domain names that were seized a few hours ago as part of ‘Operation Fake Sweep’.
Megaupload: Hong Kong Mulls Copyright Crackdown

In the wake of the Megaupload shutdown, authorities in Hong Kong say they will set up a center to investigate electronic crime and copyright infringement later this year. Although there has been no suggestion of wrong-doing, the news will almost certainly unsettle other cyberlocker services such as Filesonic, Uploading, Uploaded.to, Zshare and Filepost, all of which have a presence in the region.
Feds Seize Sports Streaming Domains in New Super Bowl Crackdown

In a new round of seizures the US authorities have taken control of domain names belonging to several popular sports streaming sites including Firstrowsports.tv, Firstrowsports.com and Soccertvlive.net. All affected sites now redirect to a notice from DOJ/ICE. In common with last year’s campaign, the new round of seizures appears to be part of another “Super Bowl Crackdown” targeting sites that link to unauthorized sports streams.