Torrent Uploader Fined $652,000 For Uploading 1 Movie

In spite of the heat on torrent sites, as well as uploaders and downloaders, it seems that people are not really deterred from carrying on. Even The Pirate Bay, the world’s most resilient torrent site, continues to operate. Of course, we don’t know how much longer they can resist with pressure coming from all sides. Still, people who torrent do not seem all that concerned.
But, did you know that people actually get caught and are punished for torrenting?

Take this guy from Sweden. According to Torrent Freak:

A moderator and uploader of one of Sweden’s oldest but now defunct private torrent sites has been hit with a huge damages award. For uploading a single pre-release movie the 28-year-old is now required to pay $652,000, the equivalent amount the studio would have charged for a license to distribute the movie for free. For sharing more than 500 others he received a suspended jail sentence plus 160 hours community service.

It’s rather notable that the fine – more than half a million dollars – is only for ONE movie. For the other movies he had shared, his punishment is “merely” community service.
Now, if you’re thinking that you have not done anything of this sort for years, you probably should not sit back and relax just yet. The unlucky guy is facing the consequences of his actions many years back. He used to be a moderator and uploader from April 2008 and November 2011. Many years later, he has been dubbed “Sweden’s “worst ever” individual movie pirate”. And the law has caught up with him.
It does seem that this case is being highlighted as an example. There are obviously many other individuals who have done the same thing, whether on a smaller or larger scale, it doesn’t matter.
So what do you think of this? Does it make you wary about torrenting activities?

Source : TechBeat News
Image via appszoom

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US agrees to pay $50m after 'piracy' of software

 

The US government has agreed to pay $50m (£31m) after it was said to have pirated "thousands" of copies of military software.

Apptricity, based in Texas, has provided logistics programs to the army since 2004.
The company said it had discovered last year the software had been installed on many more machines than had been licensed.
The Department of Justice has not commented on the settlement.
The Dallas Morning News reported a DoJ spokeswoman had confirmed the agreement, but would not give more details.
Apptricity's software allows the military to track the movements of soldiers as well as key supplies.
It has also been used during relief efforts, most notably in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.
According to court documents filed in 2012, the deal with the military meant up to 500 named users could access the software.
Presentation revelation Apptricity later estimated that 9,000 users were accessing the program, in addition to the 500 that had been paid for.
The unauthorised copying only came to light after a US Army official mentioned "thousands" of devices running the software during a presentation on technology.
Apptricity called for $224m (£137m) to be paid to cover costs.
The settlement of $50m falls some way short - but in a statement the company said Apptricity would spend the sum on expanding the company.
"Apptricity is now incredibly energised to use the settlement resolution as a catalyst for aggressive investment in our team, our solutions and our untapped market opportunities," said Randy Lieberman, Apptricity's chief financial officer.
In recent years, the US government has stepped up efforts to combat piracy, announcing a wide-ranging strategy for clamping down in 2010.
"Piracy is theft, clean and simple," remarked vice-president Joe Biden at the time.

Source : BBC News

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