Scott McCausland, aka "sk0t", the first person to be jailed for Bittorrent use and a former member of Elitetorrents, has been told he may no longer use his computer with an Ubuntu Linux operating system. McCausland pleaded guilty last year to 'conspiracy to commit copyright infringement' and 'criminal copyright infringement' by downloading Star Wars: Episode III illegally. After serving five months in prison, he was put on probation with the requirement that he must have monitoring software on his computer, as per his plea bargain. One small problem, however: the software doesn't run on Linux.
On his blog, McCausland writes, "the [monitoring] software doesn't support GNU/Linux. So [my probation officer] told me that if I want to use a computer, I would have to use an OS that the software can be installed on. Which basically means Microsoft and monitoring software or no computer. I use Ubuntu 7.04 now, and they are trying to force me to switch."
View: Full Story on vnunet.com
View: Scott's Lost and Alone Blog
On his blog, McCausland writes, "the [monitoring] software doesn't support GNU/Linux. So [my probation officer] told me that if I want to use a computer, I would have to use an OS that the software can be installed on. Which basically means Microsoft and monitoring software or no computer. I use Ubuntu 7.04 now, and they are trying to force me to switch."
View: Full Story on vnunet.com View: Scott's Lost and Alone Blog
OH NOES I AM BEING FORCED TO COMPLY WITH PROBATION REQUIREMENTS!
God what a whiny little git.
whining noob
if anything i think a fine should happen and thats it... cause prison for downloading a movie is a little extreme if you ask me... cause it aint like he was selling it for profit.
It's really good!
Jail him back.
Pip'
No the monitoring software is for Windows. So if he whats to use a computer it will have to be Windows or no computer.
No the monitoring software is for Windows. So if he whats to use a computer it will have to be Windows or no computer.
Which is effectively the same thing. What if the only computer the guy owned was a PowerPC Mac? He would have no way to use that computer at all, and if he wanted to use a computer he would have to buy a new one. The court should look into alternative monitoring software for other operating systems.
That's exactly my point - in order to use a computer this guy HAS to use Windows OR use not computer at all. He couldn't use Linux or OS X and the software might not even support Windows Vista! A court should not be making rulings that tie people to specific operating systems. If someone committed a driving offense and was then forced to use a device that only BMW supported then that would be equally unreasonable, particularly if they had to go out and buy into a product that they previously avoided.
The court should either employ a technology that supports as many operating systems as is reasonable or select a different punishment.
That's exactly my point - in order to use a computer this guy HAS to use Windows OR use not computer at all. He couldn't use Linux or OS X and the software might not even support Windows Vista! A court should not be making rulings that tie people to specific operating systems. If someone committed a driving offense and was then forced to use a device that only BMW supported then that would be equally unreasonable, particularly if they had to go out and buy into a product that they previously avoided.
The court should either employ a technology that supports as many operating systems as is reasonable or select a different punishment.
Maybe he should have read the system requirements before doing the crime...
Eh, you loose your car licence, you can't drive a car, you drive something else instead, like a motorbike or scooter.
But he has gotten off much better, as like you said, if this was related to cars, he can still drive them, but only one type.
So he is lucky that he is still aloud to use a computer.
Are you willing to pay for that? Because I'm not.
he could install boot camp. interested in knowing what monitoring software it is and what it does, and IF there is even a linux variant of some sort. he AGREED to it in his plea bargain now is is complaining. P.S. how did he get jailed for only downlaodig 1 movie. rapists and murderers get off with less than that nowdays
No the monitoring software is for Windows. So if he whats to use a computer it will have to be Windows or no computer.
Which is effectively the same thing. What if the only computer the guy owned was a PowerPC Mac? He would have no way to use that computer at all, and if he wanted to use a computer he would have to buy a new one. The court should look into alternative monitoring software for other operating systems.
He's lucky he gets to use a computer at ALL!
Errm. So he is getting 24 hour round the clock suveillance from a copper? How they going to know if he goes out to buy another computer?
Nobody is watching you 24 hours a day, what's stopping you from robbing a convenience store?
Why do you think that they're installing monitoring software on his computer?
By monitoring his credit cards and bank account, perhaps. Or by looking for another machine where he lives. Probation officers often have the right to do that.
Last edited by 4tehlulz on 24 Aug 2007 - 14:27
Maybe. So, by your argument, he shouldn't be out on probation at all, then.
Thats what i was thinking.
I think that watching Episode III was punishment enough.
Basically, in this case, the MPAA used the feds to fight their fight for them. When there is no evidence of good and valuable consideration, violation of IP rights is normally (and should be) handled civilly and not criminally.
We should fully support someone's right to protect their intellectual property, but (IMHO) it should not be the job of the government to handle the protection or punish the violators.
Basically, in this case, the MPAA used the feds to fight their fight for them. When there is no evidence of good and valuable consideration, violation of IP rights is normally (and should be) handled civilly and not criminally.
We should fully support someone's right to protect their intellectual property, but (IMHO) it should not be the job of the government to handle the protection or punish the violators.
Despite what the blurb at the top of the page says, i have a hunch he did more than just dl a movie. The movie wasn't released yet which is why the mpaa was probably so ****ed.
>>McCausland was arrested after the Elitetorrents site posted the latest Star Wars film before its cinema release. This brought the site to the attention of the Motion Picture Association of America which helped the FBI to shut down the site.
source: http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2197392/...-forced-windows
Yeah, prereleasing Star Wars III using an uploaded rip of stolen property might be an issue.
IANAL but my ex-wife is an IP attorney so we had many discussion around the dinner table on this topic. It sounds like you have fallen victim to the MPAA/RIAA PR propaganda juggernaut. Violation of an intellectual property holders RIGHTS is not the same as physical property THEFT.
If I steal your car, you have a direct and measurable loss because you own(ed) the property. When you purchase a DVD you do not purchase the intellectual property (you don't own it) but just the right to watch the movie. If you download a movie w/o paying for the right to watch it, you still do not own it and you never "stole" the right of ownership from IP holder. The IP holder can not prove direct and measurable loss (maybe you would have never purchased it in the first place)... because they never lost anything.
Now if you turned around and sold copies of the movie, that is a different story because their is measurable loss.
IP holders have every right to defend their claims, but in most cases it should be handled in civil courts.
IANAL but my ex-wife is an IP attorney so we had many discussion around the dinner table on this topic. It sounds like you have fallen victim to the MPAA/RIAA PR propaganda juggernaut. Violation of an intellectual property holders RIGHTS is not the same as physical property THEFT.
If I steal your car, you have a direct and measurable loss because you own(ed) the property. When you purchase a DVD you do not purchase the intellectual property (you don't own it) but just the right to watch the movie. If you download a movie w/o paying for the right to watch it, you still do not own it and you never "stole" the right of ownership from IP holder. The IP holder can not prove direct and measurable loss (maybe you would have never purchased it in the first place)... because they never lost anything.
Now if you turned around and sold copies of the movie, that is a different story because their is measurable loss.
IP holders have every right to defend their claims, but in most cases it should be handled in civil courts.
Eh, if he had downloaded any other movie, I doubt he would've gotten in any serious trouble. Star Wars however, is big (not in my opinion, but to others). Hell, the makers of it didn't even give magazines like Game Informer a pre-release of the game, as to not spoil the movie from coming out (which ruined the reviews for the game, as they were pushed back a month or so). Obviously, they'd have a real big bone to pick with someone sharing any of its material on the internet.
By the way, you guys need to ease off the long, retarded acronyms. IANAL? Are you kidding me? Ugh. This isn't a messenger guys. (screw AFAIK and IIRC as well)
I : abbreviation of "I"
A : abbreviation of "am"
N : abbreviation of "not"
A : abbreviation of "a"
L : abbreviation of "lawyer"
And it says "I anal", which I guess could apply to anyone analyzing the acronym. :pinch: :rofl:
IANAL but my ex-wife is an IP attorney so we had many discussion around the dinner table on this topic. It sounds like you have fallen victim to the MPAA/RIAA PR propaganda juggernaut. Violation of an intellectual property holders RIGHTS is not the same as physical property THEFT.
If I steal your car, you have a direct and measurable loss because you own(ed) the property. When you purchase a DVD you do not purchase the intellectual property (you don't own it) but just the right to watch the movie. If you download a movie w/o paying for the right to watch it, you still do not own it and you never "stole" the right of ownership from IP holder. The IP holder can not prove direct and measurable loss (maybe you would have never purchased it in the first place)... because they never lost anything.
Now if you turned around and sold copies of the movie, that is a different story because their is measurable loss.
IP holders have every right to defend their claims, but in most cases it should be handled in civil courts.
i gotta agree here, cause of the simple "fact" that not all people who pirated a movie would go out and buy it reguardless if they could get it for free or not... so in a case like this they lost "ZERO" money!
I : abbreviation of "I"
A : abbreviation of "am"
N : abbreviation of "not"
A : abbreviation of "a"
L : abbreviation of "lawyer"
And it says "I anal", which I guess could apply to anyone analyzing the acronym. :pinch: :rofl:
I Anal, i would expect to be a lawyer i.e. Lawyers are anal
Again, this illusion of being forced to use Windows is simply not true. And in this case, the right to use competing software as an operating system was voluntarily and willingly given up when he decided to break the law.
The moral of the story is: If you want to retain your rights on a computer consider NOT using it for illegal purposes. It's NOT a difficult concept!
Once his probation period is over, I am sure he is free to dump Windows for Ubuntu again.
Though the article title is amusing.
EDIT: I wonder if the monitoring software would work in wine?
Last edited by markjensen on 24 Aug 2007 - 14:49
Last edited by bangbang023 on 24 Aug 2007 - 16:39
I actually laughed at your ignorance when I read it. Gotta love idiots.
I'm pretty sure Mark was joking...
I actually laughed at your ignorance when I read it. Gotta love idiots.
I'm pretty sure Mark was joking...
The comment in parentheses was in jest.
If you are convicted of something, the convict can be ordered to pay all costs in the USA related to their release requirements
pure legend - have no idea what your on about, have you heard of licensing, you generally can't just pay once and use it on a number of machines, and i really doubt the US government made the software, it is most likley a third party app. So what your saying is most likely illegal.
Pirating is stupid.
No!!,
don't excuse yourself if you did it because you don't have enough ca$h (students etc.). You bought a computer to run the stuff you pirate?
If you can afford a computer to run modern games, you can invest time in checking reviews, gameplay trailers, etc. , and really buy the game(s) you like.
I know people, you've got friends like that I know you do!, who download everything (I do mean EVERYTHING) and play or watch nothing because they're so hooked on downloading stuff for free (pirating). They've got stacks and stacks of movies and games and don't play any of them,....sigh.... what a waste of bandwidth! (I think it's even worse tham SPAM nowadays.)
How come and since when this happend in that country?
I mean he was forced to go to jail for 5 months. I don't see what his issue is.
He can opt to use no computer at all.. or for the next X amount his probation is use windows.
Not sure how that works.. like if it only runs in windows whats stopping him from booting a liveCD?
haha, all linux users do things illegal.. Sony comes to mind
They could have said no computers at all. If it was a choice between using windows or no computer at all i would choose windows no matter how much i hated it.
it's probation period, god damn it.
The software monitoring issue is stupid, IMO. Either allow him to use computers (monitored or not) or don't, but setting a ~$100 fee (to be paid to a non related party) is not fair.
It is part of the Probation that you be monitored and that software happens to be Windows based, guess you should have found out what your probation would consist of prior to committing the crime.
And how exactly are you meant to do that? Saying he deserved it is one thing but there isn't some all-encompassing list where you can look up what the probation terms are for each crime - it is up to the court to determine the conditions of each case indivudally.
One of the possible solutions: Install Ubuntu Linux, install Windows under VMWare, edit a few inf files and change the names of the hardware peripherals to make it look even more real, install the monitoring software in the VMWare environment. That way you're done and can continue to use Linux and nobody can see what you are doing
well actually if he switches it around, is it illegal, i.e. run ubuntu in vmware on windows, he has windows installed adn is using it ias his OS.
If i went into HMV and stole it, and got caught, hell if i was running away and they had to chase me, and i hit one of them to get away, i wouldnt have gotten 5 months in jail. Thats just B$, and a reason why piracy should continue, so that stuff like this does not become "reasonable punishment". If piracy stops because of over the top action like this then thats a blow to liberty right there. Hell people have commited far worse crimes and done less time..
2) As far as stopping piracy and that being a blow to liberty you obviously must be a liberal to think like that. Piracy is stealing no matter if there is no monetary loss. Piracy is wrong. No question.
Wai can't they compile it for Linux? Hugh...
Yes. Or if he dual-boots. Or buys a second PC. What is he, under house arrest or something? If not, there's nothing they can do.
Yes. Or if he dual-boots. Or b