Feds Crack Down To Save Lucas and Co. Millions...

Stardate 3998.8

MSNBC news - Federal authorities on Wednesday shut down a Web site used to find movies on the Bit Torrent file-sharing network, which was used to distribute the new "Star Wars" movie even before it was shown in theatres.

The movie was downloaded more than 10,000 times in the first 24 hours. Well no doubt.

President Bush signed a new law last month setting tough penalties of up to 10 years in prison for anyone caught distributing a movie or song prior to its commercial release. “Today’s crackdown sends a clear and unmistakable message to anyone involved in the online theft of copyrighted works that they cannot hide behind new technology,” said John C. Richter, acting assistant attorney general.

It's good to see the President sticking up for all of those mega-rich corporations yet again. Apparently, piracy cost th efilm industry about $3.5 billion last year. Yeah, well how much did they actually make? I think the President should stick to running a country that is falling to pieces instead of worrying about greedy film conglomerates.

The funny thing about all of this is that EliteTorrents.org is only one of a zillion torrent sites that have this movie in many forms. Once these sites are shut down, new ones will start. When they figure out how to stop the freebies on the net, new hacks will be created and it goes full circle. Maybe if they didn't pay "Stars" millions to act (and poorly most of the time) in movies, they would be more likely to be cheaper in theatres and on the shelf...

Another thing to think about. These "Torrent" sites are not distributing any copyrighted materials at all. The torrent file they distribute is created by some person somewhere and has absolutely nothing to do with the copyrighted material being shared. In other words, the movies, games and music are most definately NOT being stored on their sites. It is a very grey area, but then so is Prostitution, selling cigarettes, and so are places where heroin addicts can go and shoot up safely. I always had a problem with libraries too, come to think of it. Sure they buy one copy of a book, but they are SHARING it with loads of people...

Research has shown that searching many of the other sites for "Star Wars Episode III" returns a statement along the lines of "This search query has been blocked at the request of the copyright holder, in compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA")"

It's not like Mr. Lucas and everyone else involved isn't going to make a zillion bucks off of this movie in the theatres, never mind lucrative endorsements... I mean really, Yoda on potato chips, Legos, most likely even Jedi Jello and Darkside Deodorant...

Is it right? Wrong? Who knows? All I know is that I saw it in the theatre, I will buy the movie on DVD when it comes out, I will go to Wendy's and see Yoda on my cup and I will buy the new "Wookie Assault Craft" Lego set....

Mmmm. Jedi Jello.... :P