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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: ohcheap1 on June 30, 2009, 10:06:12 AM

Title: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: ohcheap1 on June 30, 2009, 10:06:12 AM: (http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k246/ohcheap1/piratebay0630.jpg)

Torrent Freak reports that the infamous torrent site The Pirate Bay has been sold to Global Gaming Factory X, which runs a chain of internet cafes. GGF will take control of the site in August.

GGF plans to make significant changes to the site's methods. "We would like to introduce models which entail that content providers and copyright owners get paid for content that is downloaded via the site," said Global Gaming Factory CEO Hans Pandeya. The revamped Pirate Bay will use some kind of new P2P distribution tech developed by Peerialism, another GGF acquisition. The new standard is separate from, but backward-compatible with, BitTorrent.

"A lot of people are worried," a statement on The Pirate Bay reads. "We're not and you shouldn't be either!" The site's organizers say that profits from the sale will be put into a foundation "to help with projects about freedom of speech, freedom of information and the openess [sic] of the nets."

In our minds, this is even more significant than the sale and eventual relaunch of Napster, because Napster was never so closely connected to a political party.

LINK: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/the-pirate-bay-sold-going-legit/ (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/the-pirate-bay-sold-going-legit/)
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: CMF on June 30, 2009, 10:19:59 AM: Good riddance!
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: smokester on June 30, 2009, 10:49:40 AM: I wonder will it stop all those naughty file sharing people to any degree?
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: ohcheap1 on June 30, 2009, 11:42:15 AM: Pirate Bay Bought Out, Suddenly Respects Copyrights

The Pirate Bay has been (effectively) acquired by a gaming company called Global Gaming Factory X, who is plunking down nearly $8 million for the privilege. Their grand, surprising plan for the Pirate Bay is to pay content providers. Seriously.

Global Gaming Factory X is, in their words, the "biggest network of internet caf?s and gaming centers in the world," making this story even more bizarre than it appears. This is sort of like GameFrog buying Demonoid, or, I don't know, Laser Quest buying Empornium. Odd, is the point. For the supreme WTF aspect of this whole thing, here's their plan:

We would like to introduce models which entail that content providers and copyright owners get paid for content that is downloaded via the site
Yes, you read that correctly: the Pirate Bay wants to pay content providers, or in other words, cease to be the Pirate Bay. This is alarming to fans of the site, obviously, because any conceivable system by which content owners could be paid would drastically change the nature of the whole thing, from a "Pirate Bay" to an, I don't know, iTunes? Unbox? Napster? This, and the future-tense wording of the announcement (the deal is set to close in August) is enough to make you think the whole thing is a hoax, but then you see TPB's semi-defensive, semi-groveling, generally defeated statement on the matter. All this trial, retrial, grandstanding and election business seems a little silly now:

Yes, it's true.
News reached the press today in Sweden - The Pirate Bay might get aquired by Global Gaming Factory X AB.

A lot of people are worried. We're not and you shouldn't be either!

TPB is being sold for a great bit underneath it's value if the money would be the interesting part. It's not. The interesting thing is that the right people with the right attitude and possibilities keep running the site.
As all of you know, there's not been much news on the site for the past two-three years. It's the same site essentially. On the internets, stuff dies if it doesn't evolve. We don't want that to happen.

We've been working on this project for many years. It's time to invite more people into the project, in a way that is secure and safe for everybody. We need that, or the site will die. And letting TPB die is the last thing that is allowed to happen!

If the new owners will screw around with the site, nobody will keep using it. That's the biggest insurance one can have that the site will be run in the way that we all want to. And - you can now not only share files but shares with people. Everybody can indeed be the owner of The Pirate Bay now. That's awesome and will take the heat of us.

The old crew is still around in different ways. We will also not stop being active in the politics of the internets - quite the opposite. Now we're fueling up for going into the next gear. TPB will have economical muscles to let people evolve it. It will team up with great technicians to evolve the protocols. And we, the people interested in more than just technology, will have the time to focus on that. It's win-win-win.

The profits from the sale will go into a foundation that is going to help with projects about freedom of speech, freedom of information and the openess of the nets. I hope everybody will help out in that and realize that this is the best option for all. Don't worry - be happy!

I fully expect more clarifying information about this deal to come out soon, since TPB's interests are actually quite wide, the owners are still smarting from their recent court defeat and the whole thing just feels so strange. [GGFX?Thanks, everyone!]
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: laama on June 30, 2009, 04:21:11 PM: cowpoo.
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: MisterAJ on June 30, 2009, 10:17:27 PM: Nope...

Not that I care that much (TPB is #3 on my list of most used torrent sites, I know I'll manage), but I wonder... Will I get to keep my account..? :-\
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: jacktheripper305 on July 01, 2009, 12:50:07 AM: I'm curious to see how they will implement their plan (whatever it is). I may or may not be willing to pay for it.
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: jackalope21 on July 01, 2009, 03:50:41 AM: Everyone has a price......6.8 million just happened to be theirs
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: MisterAJ on July 01, 2009, 05:30:38 AM: Quote from: jackalope21 on July 01, 2009, 03:50:41 AM
6.8 million

Dollars or Euro..?
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: CMF on July 01, 2009, 10:22:27 AM: Quote from: MisterAJ on July 01, 2009, 05:30:38 AM
Dollars or Euro..?

Euro, duuuh.
Who would want dollars these days???
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: MisterAJ on July 01, 2009, 10:24:26 AM: fair point...

6,8 million Euro...

Yeah, I'd sell my website for that much...
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: laama on July 01, 2009, 05:52:29 PM: Suspicions of Insider Trading Surround Pirate Bay Buyers: h**p://torrentfreak.com/suspicions-of-insider-trading-surround-pirate-bay-buyers-090701/

Shares in GGF rose dramatically yesterday on the news that the company is set to acquire The Pirate Bay. However, about a week ago equity marketplace Aktietorget shut down trading of GGF?s stock after unusually large trading volumes led to a rapidly increasing stock price, prompting suspicions of illegal trading.

Confidence and trust in the BitTorrent community reached a possible all-time low yesterday as news broke that the world?s largest tracker, The Pirate Bay, would be sold to the corporate Global Gaming Factory X (GGF).

The acquisition for $7.8m (SEK 60 million) came as a huge shock to most people familiar with The Pirate Bay, as GGF promised that when it takes over the site it will eliminate illicit file-sharing - the base upon which The Pirate Bay achieved its worldwide fame and enabled it to gather millions of loyal users.

Indeed, most indications point to GGF being only interested in three things - the Pirate Bay?s domain name, the users and the revenue they can generate from them.

However, according to a report, the news of the acquisition didn?t come as a shock to everyone. Indeed, accusations are being made that some individuals knew what was about to happen and took the opportunity to try and cash in.

Around a week ago, equity marketplace Aktietorget shut down the trading of GGF stock after it spotted unusually large trading volumes leading to a rapidly increasing stock price, notably in the absence of any new information to explain the sudden interest in the company.

Indicating they suspect insider dealing and announcing an investigation, Peter G?nczi, executive vice president of Aktietorget told Dagens Industri: ?There are reasons to suspect that information was leaked.?

After the price of GGF shares rocketed by more than 150% yesterday, at one point today they had lost 29% of their value, up to date details here.

5 Alternatives to The Pirate Bay: h**p://www.zeropaid.com/news/86532/5-alternative-the-pirate-bay-bittorrent-sites/

The admins of The Pirate Bay have stressed that in order for the Bay to stay alive, they need to adapt the site to a legitimate one, selling the site for $7.8 Million in the process. While some users showed their support for the infamous website, others are already jumping ship, demanding that their accounts be removed in the process. We were curious to know what alternatives there are out there these days and have come up with 5 alternative websites.

1. Mininova

MiniNova is perhaps the most well known in the BitTorrent community. It was formed after the demise of SuprNova by ex-SuprNova staff members. It?s not hard to argue that this was the best site that replaced SuprNova. It indexes .torrent files from other sites, so some of the .torrents are from private sites that only allow members of those sites to download the given files. Still, the site is moderated and well-used by members and, with the release of their distribution network, content creators alike.

2. Demonoid

There?s been some debate in the past on whether or not this is a public or private site, though many would agree that this would be classified as semi-private given how often sign-ups are open. Whether or not you agree with this kind of torrent site, Demonoid has a huge following backing them and a number of it?s users would no doubt defend it?s viability as an alternative to The Pirate Bay.

3. ISOHunt

ISOHunt, like MinoNova, has had it?s share of legal trouble in the past and agreed to filtering content. Still, a number of users still use that site for finding what they want and it has stayed being one of the most populated sites online to this day.

4. 1337x

1337x.org is a lesser known BitTorrent site. Still, that hasn?t stopped their front page from saying ?we don?t plan on selling anytime soon.?

MustangX continues, ?We welcome all the users of TPB to use our trackers and site. It?s a free leech community with NO ratios to maintain, we have a web based chat , A 24/7 radio station with 8 different DJ?s.?

5. BTJunkie

BTJunkie is another site that is well-populated with users, but not as well known as sites like MiniNova and ISOHunt. Still, many users still find this place to be a torrent home or even a second torrent home when another of their preferred sites goes down or inaccessible on their end.
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: knownassociate on July 01, 2009, 11:11:25 PM: And the plot thickens. Insider trading? Wouldn't that be considered...piracy?! :o :P
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: MisterAJ on July 02, 2009, 04:38:02 AM: *DUN-DUN-DUUUUUN!!!
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: davidsolomon83 on July 02, 2009, 08:29:53 AM: :-\ > :-[ > :-X -----------------------------------------------> ? = :(
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: smokester on July 02, 2009, 02:59:13 PM: Quote from: davidsolomon83 on July 02, 2009, 08:29:53 AM
:-\ > :-[ > :-X -----------------------------------------------> ? = :(

I'm shite at algebra.
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: Robin-Graves on July 02, 2009, 03:41:47 PM: Go figure, a pirate site, called pirate bay, being bought by pirate shareholders.
Only on the net!
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: MisterAJ on July 03, 2009, 07:43:48 AM: Quote from: Robin-Graves on July 02, 2009, 03:41:47 PM
Only on the net!

Damn, bro'...

I think you just invented a proverb/saying-kinda thing...
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: Robin-Graves on July 03, 2009, 10:09:46 PM: Again?
I allready did that this year,, looks like Im caught up on next year too now .
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: jacktheripper305 on July 04, 2009, 11:14:34 AM: Does anyone have any word on how the legit site is going to work?
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: Discover99 on July 04, 2009, 03:09:13 PM: ^i have no idea!

wow that's overwhelming news :o
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: CMF on July 04, 2009, 04:05:36 PM: I guess you will have to pay so you can download pirated stuff for free.

For the record, such sites exist. I was a mod at one small tracker before. I resigned when they decided to make the members pay.
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: laama on July 05, 2009, 11:46:11 AM: h**p://torrentfreak.com/openbittorrent-tracker-muscles-in-on-the-old-pirate-bay-090705/
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: smokester on July 05, 2009, 03:26:02 PM: Although this is current news and therefore valid discussion, can we refrain from posting direct links or using the URL tag for torrent sites please.

Altering the "tt" to "**" in the site address will be fine though.
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: MisterAJ on July 05, 2009, 07:19:31 PM: NEVERS!!!

(http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n355/MisterAJ79/comics/225px-Sal.jpg?t=1246843155)
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: smokester on July 06, 2009, 03:34:43 AM: Quote from: MisterAJ on July 05, 2009, 07:19:31 PM
NEVERS!!!

(http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n355/MisterAJ79/comics/225px-Sal.jpg?t=1246843155)

Says the rebel reverend..
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: MisterAJ on July 06, 2009, 08:39:22 AM: Quote from: smokester on July 06, 2009, 03:34:43 AM
Says the ~~rebel~~ lazy reverend..

Fixed... ;) :D ;D
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: Robin-Graves on July 11, 2009, 05:34:42 PM: I want to know, whats the use of paying for pirated material?
Then it just becomes another business for someone charging you for things they get free.
Oh wait,, thats typical business in America isnt it?
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: busterone on July 11, 2009, 06:48:57 PM: Quote from: Robin-Graves on July 11, 2009, 05:34:42 PM
I want to know, whats the use of paying for pirated material?
Then it just becomes another business for someone charging you for things they get free.
Oh wait,, thats typical business in America isnt it?
Another day at the office for the U.S. government. ;D
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: dweez on July 12, 2009, 01:31:17 AM: It's still cheaper to pay $50 a year then it is to pay retail for the content I download. But I still consider TPB as sellouts. Would I have done differently? I dunno...that's a lot of cash.
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: hmed2390 on July 12, 2009, 01:36:33 AM: Sure is a lot of cash. And you know, they did put up a hellova fight before finally giving in. In a way you cant really blame them. :-\
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: dweez on July 12, 2009, 01:46:42 AM: A lot more than lowkee of LokiTorrent put up. And more believable too.
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: MisterAJ on July 12, 2009, 10:24:14 AM: Quote from: hmed2390 on July 12, 2009, 01:36:33 AM
Sure is a lot of cash. And you know, they did put up a hellova fight before finally giving in. In a way you cant really blame them. :-\

I don't...

I would have done the same...
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: hmed2390 on July 13, 2009, 10:57:49 AM: Quote from: MisterAJ on July 12, 2009, 10:24:14 AM
I don't...

I would have done the same...

heh, me too. ;D :D
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: Robin-Graves on July 13, 2009, 10:51:27 PM: Hell, Ill sell out too for that much. Atleast till the check cleared, then back to being my usual low life self lmao.
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: MisterAJ on July 13, 2009, 11:23:59 PM: Coming this fall:

The Pirate Bay II: Torrents of the lost fjords... :D :D :D
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: hmed2390 on July 14, 2009, 01:02:31 AM: Quote from: Robin-Graves on July 13, 2009, 10:51:27 PM
then back to being my usual low life self lmao.

:D

Quote from: MisterAJ on July 13, 2009, 11:23:59 PM
Coming this fall:

The Pirate Bay II: Torrents of the lost fjords... :D :D :D

:D
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: jacktheripper305 on July 14, 2009, 10:39:01 AM: Quote from: MisterAJ on July 13, 2009, 11:23:59 PM
Coming this fall:

The Pirate Bay II: Torrents of the lost fjords... :D :D :D

:D :D :D :D
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: Geemonster on October 09, 2009, 02:54:03 PM: The TOOL track Hooker With A Penis comes to mind.
Title: Re: The Pirate Bay sold, going legit
Post by: laama on October 09, 2009, 04:36:11 PM: http://blog.brokep.com/2009/10/08/fail-in-nl/ (http://blog.brokep.com/2009/10/08/fail-in-nl/)

Today there was a hearing in The Netherlands, of BREIN vs Svartholm/Neij/Sunde, aka, my friends and I, regarding The Pirate Bay.

BREIN has been accusing us for breaking dutch law with allowing people in The Netherlands to access TPB.
They actually won the first case, on a default judgement since we didn?t show. We didn?t show because we didn?t even know about the case until two days before. Similar behaviour has been shown in Italy where we actually lost a court case because we were not aware of it. There is of course also the issue of jurisdiction. We are not living in the Netherlands any of us nor do we have any connection to the country that I am aware of?