FACT Threats Turn Usenet Search Engine Into Open Source Hydra Indexer

[nsane.forums]

The Hollywood-backed anti-piracy group FACT visited another file-sharing site operator yesterday but their actions may have inadvertently caused additional problems. The operator of NzbX informs TorrentFreak that while his site will indeed shut down during the next few hours, he will not be handing his domain to FACT as ordered. Instead the site will offer a one-click-install Open Source package that will allow others to run their own indexers.

For some time the Federation Against Copyright Theft has been making life difficult for UK-based operators of file-sharing sites.

The movie industry-funded group identifies sites it would like to close, works to identity their admins, and turns up at their homes in order to add weight to their shutdown demands. On the whole, it has to be said, their tactics are effective.

FACT has done a lot of work against Usenet sites in recent times, most recently forcing the shutdown of NZBsRus. Barely a week later and another site has received personalized threats.

NzbX is a public Usenet search engine that has automatically indexed around five million releases. It’s been in existence since December 2012 following the NZBMatrix shutdown and since then has registered 130,000 members and serviced many more. Yesterday lunchtime its admin, Lemon – a 26-year-old recovering from a recent heart attack – had an unexpected visitor.

“I was in bed, recovering, I’m sleeping a lot – my partner is also recovering from surgery that limits her movement,” Lemon told TorrentFreak.

“I heard a buzz at the door. I ignored it twice, thinking if it was important they’d be louder. I heard something go through my letterbox and I stumbled downstairs to find an envelope without a stamp – which I thought was odd. Upon opening the envelope I found a letter from FACT.”

Nzbx.co
Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988

I visited your premises earlier today, Thursday 4th July 2013 accompanied by an Officer from [redacted] Trading Standards, in respect of the above web-site that we believe is owned and operated by yourself.

I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you in respect of this matter to help resolve some issues in an expedient manner.

As a result of my visit I will be staying overnight within the [redacted] area and can meet with you at any time on the 4th or 5th at your convenience.

If this is not possible I can arrange to meet with you at a location and time to suit you.

Either way, please contact as below so that an appointment can be made.

[FACT Officer name redacted]

“About 20 minutes later I called the number, and the FACT guy stated he was waiting outside still. He showed up, without the officer from Trading Standards this time. At this point, he pulled out an A4 portrait photo of myself (that I can only find on my highly private Facebook) and asked if that was me. My response was something along the lines of ‘That is God damn creepy’,” Lemon explains.

As usual, FACT were quick to point out their successful prosecution against SurfTheChannel (STC) admin Anton Vickerman hoping that Lemon would see the similarities. He didn’t.

View: Original Article

[nIGHT]

They are invading privacy! More reason I don't use fb! :angry:

[mastershake]

this is all getting to be bulls@!t to be honest. i have said since probably when vhs came around to be popular (yeah sucks been around a while) that if they would just lower prices and make a bit less on every dvd / cd sold, movie tickets, merchandise, software etc than imo the whole pirating thing would have been far and away MUCH less than it is today. this was stated SO MANY times over and over again by people...common people who said listen ill pay say 5$ for the whole album but 15-17$ (a few years back) imo is just ridiculous. i would own MANY more albums and movies if the cost was much less and feel they by doing so would sell hundred of thousands more and make in the end the same overall... BUT NO they have to be greedy bastards and try to squeeze every last dime from the public many times for movies that just plain suck and albums that only have one song worth actually paying for. and i know a few artists personally and have done work for a few big name actors who all actually AGREE with me and said if it was their choice they would have reduced prices to actually help people to be able to obtain and see their films or music.

end rant... sorry but man this crap ticks me off