Torrents go down Hollywood-style

With the assistance of the Svea Court of Appeals, the main Hollywood movie studios have landed a triple blow on OpenBitTorrent, The Pirate Bay and site founders Gottfrid Svartholm and Fredrik Neij. The Court handed out three injunctions yesterday, one of which took the OpenBitTorrent tracker offline.

OpenBitTorrent is the tracker used by Linux Mint to provide the ISOs via torrent. The consequence of the court decision is that our torrents are currently dead. Of course, our server in Miami and many people within the community are actively sharing the torrents via DHT, so you should still be able to download via torrent even with the tracker being down.

I’m a bit worried about this since there aren’t that many reliable open torrent trackers in the World. This is hurting us and many other projects. Hopefully the tracker will be back up in a few days. If the problem persists we’ll be switching our torrents to use a new tracker or we’ll end up maintaining our own.

Source: http://torrentfreak.com/hollywood-lands-triple-strike-on-pirate-bay-openbittorrent-100522/

42 comments

  1. Capitalists won’t anything that doesn’t make them profit. Someone have to stop this “anti-piracy” politics. But, none will do this, except citizens of west countries.

  2. I think it would really be a good idea to maintain a mint tracker.

    I have one question though, how would we prevent such a tracker to used by other people with illegal torrents?

    I don’t think that Linux Mint (or any other Linux Distribution) would want to be associated with anything illegal.

  3. @ Clem:

    If you decide to create a tracker, what about making a community tracker, and inviting other Distro’s to upload their Os’s.

    This would then be another way of to tell the popularity of any given Distribution by the number of seeders and leechers.

    Sort of an alternative to Distrowatch H.P.D rankings.

  4. Can anyone help me I am trying to install printer on linux mint it is a lexmark X6575.Any known driver?

  5. This is getting ridiculous. I am not in the least bit surprised to see companies using the logic that “Torrentz = PIRATEZ!!!!!!”, it really is depressing.

    The record companies and film companies need to get their heads out of their arses and realise that their traditional business models are crumbling due to the net, and they cannot stop it. They need to reinvent themselves or apply at the nearest McDonalds.

  6. The way it’s going with the Big Media I’m afraid it’s gonna get worse before it gets better. It’s a matter of people waking up and fighting for a free Internet. Unfortunately, most people, especially here in the Western World, are unaware that the Big Media along with the politicians are curtailing the access to a free Internet for their own profit and benefits.
    I hope things get sort out for you sooner than later.
    This being said, Linux Mint is the best, period. You’ve done an amazing job at putting together an OS that’s complete and elegantly user-friendly. My 9 year old daughter loves it, and I do too.

  7. Using another tracker is certainly an option, but that would always leave the Mint community open to the same thing happening again if any governing body deems it illegal.

    MintHat’s idea of creating our own “OS distro only” torrent tracker is a good one (albeit easier said than done, I’m sure). That way, we’re in control of our own destiny.

    My $0.02.

  8. Ryan: I actually used that one to be able to download the torrent. Since openbittorent was offline, I wasn’t able to download a single bit after opening the torrent with deluge. Adding “http://linuxtracker.org:2710/00000000000000000000000000000000/announce” as a tracker gave me a few peers and after a while (I suppose via DHT) there was lots more and I was downloading at full speed. Right now I am still seeding using this tracker.

    I strongly suggest adding this tracker or your very own as soon as possible. If you don’t, you should at least remove the torrent from the download site because right now it doesn’t work without the modifications I made. I think that must be very confusing who doesn’t know that much about torrents, trackers etc.

  9. If the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) has not already been contacted, I think that would be a great place to start.

  10. linuxtracker.org should certainly be a good alternative.

    I noticed OpenBitTorrent was down but I didn’t even try to investigate. In the meantime, I can proudly report I shared more than 50GB of the i386 Mint 9 DVD. 🙂 That’s something. 🙂

    I’m sorry about OpenBitTorrent. It was very nice but being open it allowed a lot of illegitimate traffic so no wonder this happened. Oh, well… I’ll just keep seeding my Mint DVD online so people can download it. 🙂

  11. I think Mininova went through some trouble some time ago, and they have given up all illegal material on the tracker. That linuxtracker sure seems like the best choice though.

  12. I can setup a tracker at linuxmint.tuxtrack.org , I have had a linux tracker before at tuxtrack.org, but noone ever wanted to use it, so that has closed down, an replaced with a Social networking site instead. But I am willing to setup a tracker for us. And will start work on it now.

  13. @ kneekoo
    Linux tracker is no alternative. It’s just in the heart of the enemy.
    The DVDs of Mint are “illegal” in the USA.
    But what is illegitimate for one is the fight for freedom for the other.
    Here is the comment of Pirate Bay for all people who say bittorrent is illegitimate
    Riding out the storm
    We have, ourselves, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once more able to defend our Internets, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.

    Even though large parts of Internets and many old and famous trackers have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Ifpi and all the odious apparatus of MPAA rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the ef-nets and darknets, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Internets, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the baywords.org, we shall fight on the /. and on the digg, we shall fight in the courts; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, the Internets or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the Anon Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in Cerf’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

    Signed;

    The Pirate Bay Crew – Always when needed.

    1. @Hamburn: “The DVDs of Mint are “illegal” in the USA.” –> No they’re not. If you think they are, I’d be interested to know which federal or even state law they break.

  14. I think its absolutely ridiculous that our government seems to support the idea that record companies are entitled to huge profits, even if their technology is outdated.

    My history is not perfect, but I believe prior to the invention of the phonograph, there was no record industry. Musicians made their money by performing. After Edison invented the phonograph, record companies emerged and became big business. Enormous business. Now that records and all other recorded media are becoming obsolete, we don’t need record companies. I say we let the record companies go extinct, and musicians can make money the way they once did – by performing.

  15. @ Clem, if not, why is there the need for a special edition for the USA and Japan?

    I thought you made them because the codecs which are on Mint main are illegal in the USA. If not so much better.

  16. First off, the MPAA and RIAA are a joke. They are a dinosaur fighting extinction and are flailing and wailing at anything that crosses their path do to FEAR! They are afraid that torrents, mp3s, avi files, and all digital media will bring their multi billion dollar industry to the ground, and they won’t have enough money for that 5th Ferrari in their 7 car garages… This is sick when the managers, ceo’s and so forth make more money than the artist does. With that said.

    Linux Mint should not be punished for being free. Period. If the MPAA wants to maximise profits…stop selling GARBAGE MUSIC! Put out a quality product, or hell if it comes to it…stop making CD’s all together and offer DIGITAL DOWNLOADS!!!! What a freaking awesome idea that would be. But then again that gives consumers a choice to purchase only the 1 good song on an album of 14 songs! They won’t ever give us a choice ladies and gentlemen because then they would have to make a quality product of 14 awesome songs so they could sell 14 for one dollar each instead of the single song…they are all about profit and nothing else and will go to any lengths to get that all mighty dollar.

  17. @hamburn It was stated in the blog that the USA-Japan edition was meant to be distributed in publications such as magazines. I quote “The Universal edition is being discontinued. Linux Mint now provides distribution disks for the USA and Japan with patented technology and proprietary components removed.” http://linuxmint.com/rel_isadora.php

    Like kneekoo I have been seeding the torrents, since the release. I have both editions of the CD and DVD and have contributed 74GB to the collective.

    To add fuel to the fire, the FCC has granted approbal for the MPAA and other content providers to enable a “selective output” functionality that has been built into many home entertainment components so the MPAA can control which device function and even degrade your ability to view the content obtained through legal means. I can see additional charges for surround sound or different formats being charged.

  18. Hi folks,

    This is total crap. Anyway in response ive set up transmission as a single purpose 24/7 mint sharing exercise, which im guessing is running purely on DHT for now, what will be the next steps for getting more bits of mint out there?

    Bittorrent newb here.

  19. Why is it always the american media that panics and tries to screw things up for the rest of the world?

    There are many legitimate torrents out there and the injunction is too broad based to allow for ‘fair trade’. It’s technicaly ‘restrictive practices’ – which prevent businesses in the rest of the world carrying out their business.

    The torrent trackers should all be based outside the US – in a country where the US courts don’t hold sway… where they can be used responsibly. And yes, there should be controls on which torrents get uploaded; surely it’s not beyond the capabilities of developers nowdays to ensure that there’s some practical filtering on what gets added? Some sort of verifiable sign-up?

  20. Cant Linux mint or anyone else that was effected by this both counter-sue for damages done to their company and to their “Brand” as well as file for an injunction since they are e3ffected and have nothing to do with illegal activities ?

    They are hurting any company that depended on that as their medium of communication or anyone that relies on bit torrent since the media has put torrenting in a negative view one that severely damages a companies reputation in the eyes of its customers.

    If we woke up tomorrow to find out that every radio station in the US were shutdown due to “illegitimate use” and “piracy concerns” cause you listeners did not pay to listen to a song

    Who do you think would be the first one’s bitching?

    The RIAA and record companies cause it hurts their distribution model, just like it hurts our, an honest community, by the community for the community.

    My 2 cents.

    I think a stream of counter-suits by companies that have made this their distribution model is in order. Im not talking one or two I mean thousands, to the point where the consequences of continuing to go after torrent trackers would be to costly due to out of court and court settlements by companies that would defend their right to use this as their distribution system.

    Thats the only way we can defeat them

  21. This isn’t an issue of capitalism, or a reason to bash the greatest force of change in the world (which is easily captialism). This is the case of a Neanderthal industry trying to grasp and thrash while it dies a slow and painful death.

    This is a crap decision by the courts, for an industry that churns out so much crap that they have to copy ideas from old shows and movies because they are all fresh out of ideas.

  22. @ Becky that’s not enough. This was a Swedish court again. So long as there are nearly 100% biased judges (aka judges who are members of a “copyright” organisation sponsored by the copyright “industry”), as it seems to be in Sweden, so long will there be no fair trial.

    “industry trying to grasp and thrash while it dies a slow and painful death”
    @Dave that’s precisely what capitalism is, isn’t it?

  23. “Dave” (quote) This isn’t an issue of capitalism, or a reason to bash the greatest force of change in the world (which is easily captialism).

    That’s a pant-load.
    Starvation… (either physical or intellectual starvation) would be that beloved “Greatest Agent of Change”.

    “Capitalism” would be the catalyst of said starvation. I suppose you’d bone a snake if someone held it?

  24. The binary newsgroups have long been a reliable source of music, video and most anything else. Install Pan and off you go.

  25. ~~~~~“industry trying to grasp and thrash while it dies a slow and painful death”
    ~~~~~”@Dave that’s precisely what capitalism is, isn’t it?”
    Are we upset at the methods of “True Capitalism” or the idiots that pervert it to make up for a product that has no viable means to exist outside of this perversion?
    ~~In order to fight this kind of action against our community we must first decide which fight we are to take on. Fighting both the machine and the dirtbags twisting the machine could prove tough and fruitless.
    ~~I am a Linux fan since Deb came on five floppies … and I am a fan of “True Capitalism”. When the product of Capitalism is quality and what the consumer wants, then that Company should prosper; but when its days have passed, it should change or move aside. Lets not forget that there are versions of Linux that are thriving in Capitalism.
    ~~As far as torrents go the only way to protect ourselves is to police ourselves and if necessary own/operate our own services. This philosophy needs to be spread throughout our community so that we can hold our heads high and prove that our product is what the consumer wants and needs.
    ~~Kudos to Mint! I downloaded it two days ago and have been so impressed that I have wiped 3 of my 4 computers for its install and have recommended it to three close friends.

  26. mm if mint or indeed linux were illegal in the us why is there mm us intelligence services helping to develop a security enhanced version of linux thats free to acquire and use mmm so if they can do it it has to have been sanctioned by the us government else they would never have plastered it on their own website sigh long live linux

  27. @MintHat

    If you make tracker you can chose which torrents should be tracked. Pirate bay tracker tracks all torrents but there are some trackers which track only registered torrents.

  28. @ turl & T-Rad

    Nice to see that you missed the point of my post.

    The fact of the matter is the ruling was bad…anything that restricts the freedom of the free market to innovate, including these ridiculous patents and the attack on torrents in general. Free software is a free marketplace, of ideals, of community, and of invention. If someone chooses not to place a price on their work, that is their right.

    Ben Franklin invented the Pot Belly Stove, and gave them to people for free to benefit humanity. This issue is no different.

  29. Why is it “theft” to download a movie via torrent, but its somehow not theft to tape it or Tevo it off the television? Can anyone explain this to me. Once the movie goes public, people will be recording it and sharing it with their friends who dont have cable, even without torrents….but thats A-ok. Making a mixed tape for your girlfriend, a-ok. Making a digital copy via the net? Thief! Its not really theft though, its copyright infringement, and it should only be that if it has never been broadcast on the public airwaves…..if you release it while its still in theaters, sure, sue for damages. If you share it with people who cant afford cable while its already on TV, where is the harm in that?

    Its just greed. They want more. They want to make it as uncomfortable as possible for poor people not to give them their last bit of pocket change, or else they cant watch the same movies that people with cable get to watch for free whenever they want on demand.

    Any when a movie or song has been on the public airwaves….can it really be considered copyright violation to share it in any format? It was broadcast to our televisions for FREE. Anyone could have tapped it, or recorded to DVD now. So why is it somehow different if you get it online instead? Its not like you released it to the public while it was still in theatres.

    Somebody, who should remain anonymous, should set up a server in Camaroon or some obscure country where they dont care about enforcing this stuff.

  30. What is a movie ? a product ? if it is a product the customers have a right to give it back to the shop. but if the customer doesn’t like the movie? this is a kind of philosophycal dilemma.

    that’s why information must be free and programs open source, you can’t sell air.

    if you want to watch movies go to cinema, but there always will be people who don’t want to go to cinema.

    p.s.: hollywood is horrible.

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