music pirate faces years in prison

Esaz666 · Aug 22, 2003, 05:02 PM

Net music pirate faces years in prison

By John Borland
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
August 21, 2003, 5:55 PM PT

The U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday that it accepted a guilty plea in a criminal copyright case involving the former leader of a Net music piracy group called the Apocalypse Crew.
The defendant in the case, 21-year-old Mark Shumaker, faces a maximum prison sentence of five years and a maximum fine of $250,000. Shumaker helped coordinate the supply and release of albums online before they hit retail stores and ran the Apocalypse Crew's Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channel, federal investigators charged.

"This plea shows that those who steal copyrighted music from artists and believe they are doing so anonymously on the Internet are sadly mistaken," U.S. attorney Paul McNulty said in a statement. "We can find you, we will find you, and we will prosecute you."

Shumaker's case, part of the long-running Operation Buccaneer federal antipiracy investigations, is believed to be the first involving criminal penalties specifically for online music trading, a Department of Justice spokeswoman said. Buccaneer has targeted many other individuals, however, and has resulted in more than 22 convictions of felony copyright infringement involving software piracy groups such as Drink or Die, prosecutors said.

Raymond Griffiths, an Australian computer user alleged to be a leader of Drink or Die, is the subject of extradition requests from the U.S. government. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on all the charges against him.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which is in the process of issuing subpoenas for the identities of individual file swappers as a prelude to filing civil copyright infringement suits, welcomed news of the guilty plea.

"The theft of music on the Internet is a serious crime, and this action shows that the Justice Department means business," RIAA President Cary Sherman said in a statement. "Those who egregiously distribute music on the Internet should take note--federal prosecution and jail time are real possibilities."

Shumaker will be sentenced in federal court on Nov. 7.

-------------------------------------------------

Funny bastards, RIAA.
How can they even think about sending some1 to jail for copying Music.
The police should be finding something more usefull to do with their time, yeah , send some1 to prison for copying some music so they can then come out in three years a real Criminal. The law is an ass, Im sorry but copying music is not a serious crime. Poor guy. If I was That guy I would take out revenge on the bastards who want to send me to jail. No freedom anymore in America.

The way this company behave's is like a protection racket. Threaten me, and I would do something back.
But what can you do, at least They dont know where we are.

Be carefull, it could be you next. I am totally Against everything the RIAA stands for they are the criminals, they are complete liars. Dont beleve what they say, dont beleve the figures.

They operate just like organised crime, if you dont pay they use threats to make you pay and they are trying to use fear as a weapon.

fight the RIAA in every way you can.

Falstaff · Aug 23, 2003, 12:59 PM

You might as well fight city hall, if you steal from muscians and it is clearly illegal by their standards then you take the same risks as any petty thief...
having said that....be careful, extremely careful..they can find anyone..if they want to

dipstick · Aug 23, 2003, 01:09 PM

Poor guy, that totally sucks. But it's good to see they can stop music piracy, but let terrorists steal planes and fly into buildings. Way to go FBI, CIA, and any other idiot sitting in an office picking his nose looking for file swappers. Good freaking job, must be really proud at the end of the day.

Falstaff · Aug 23, 2003, 01:12 PM

what really sucks, IMO is that this has been going on even during the Hoover administration...sigh....My brother, father and an ex wife all work for military intelligence and gave me little hints as to how powerful they are, and they don't exaggerate, I am glad I wasn't embraced by that community, it is big, really big...everyone, watching everyone..so to speak....a regime by any standard

BluntmaN · Nov 11, 2003, 08:41 AM

I steal from musisians and recording companies I am not proud of it and I don't think it is the way to go but 15 quid for a cd?? Fuck them.
Madona Robie Wiliams and the other brats can aford to lose some bilions I don't care for them they can't go poor from me or the other millions that steal their copyrights.
Make a cd cost 3 quid and then I ll join the RIAA in arresting those 12 year olds that steal their money till then don't talk to meh about copyrights in music and how the indistry will go bust they deserve it.

Aug 22, 2003, 05:02 PM	#1
Esaz666 BeardHeaven Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Uk,Earth,Universe,3rd dimention Posts: 298 Rep Power: 46	music pirate faces years in prison Net music pirate faces years in prison By John Borland Staff Writer, CNET News.com August 21, 2003, 5:55 PM PT The U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday that it accepted a guilty plea in a criminal copyright case involving the former leader of a Net music piracy group called the Apocalypse Crew. The defendant in the case, 21-year-old Mark Shumaker, faces a maximum prison sentence of five years and a maximum fine of $250,000. Shumaker helped coordinate the supply and release of albums online before they hit retail stores and ran the Apocalypse Crew's Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channel, federal investigators charged. "This plea shows that those who steal copyrighted music from artists and believe they are doing so anonymously on the Internet are sadly mistaken," U.S. attorney Paul McNulty said in a statement. "We can find you, we will find you, and we will prosecute you." Shumaker's case, part of the long-running Operation Buccaneer federal antipiracy investigations, is believed to be the first involving criminal penalties specifically for online music trading, a Department of Justice spokeswoman said. Buccaneer has targeted many other individuals, however, and has resulted in more than 22 convictions of felony copyright infringement involving software piracy groups such as Drink or Die, prosecutors said. Raymond Griffiths, an Australian computer user alleged to be a leader of Drink or Die, is the subject of extradition requests from the U.S. government. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on all the charges against him. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which is in the process of issuing subpoenas for the identities of individual file swappers as a prelude to filing civil copyright infringement suits, welcomed news of the guilty plea. "The theft of music on the Internet is a serious crime, and this action shows that the Justice Department means business," RIAA President Cary Sherman said in a statement. "Those who egregiously distribute music on the Internet should take note--federal prosecution and jail time are real possibilities." Shumaker will be sentenced in federal court on Nov. 7. ------------------------------------------------- Funny bastards, RIAA. How can they even think about sending some1 to jail for copying Music. The police should be finding something more usefull to do with their time, yeah , send some1 to prison for copying some music so they can then come out in three years a real Criminal. The law is an ass, Im sorry but copying music is not a serious crime. Poor guy. If I was That guy I would take out revenge on the bastards who want to send me to jail. No freedom anymore in America. The way this company behave's is like a protection racket. Threaten me, and I would do something back. But what can you do, at least They dont know where we are. Be carefull, it could be you next. I am totally Against everything the RIAA stands for they are the criminals, they are complete liars. Dont beleve what they say, dont beleve the figures. They operate just like organised crime, if you dont pay they use threats to make you pay and they are trying to use fear as a weapon. fight the RIAA in every way you can. Last edited by Esaz666; Aug 23, 2003 at 07:39 PM.

Aug 23, 2003, 12:59 PM	#2
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 18,699 Rep Power: 165	You might as well fight city hall, if you steal from muscians and it is clearly illegal by their standards then you take the same risks as any petty thief... having said that....be careful, extremely careful..they can find anyone..if they want to __________________ The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee Superior, they say, never gives up her dead When the gales of November come early.

Aug 23, 2003, 01:12 PM	#4
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 18,699 Rep Power: 165	what really sucks, IMO is that this has been going on even during the Hoover administration...sigh....My brother, father and an ex wife all work for military intelligence and gave me little hints as to how powerful they are, and they don't exaggerate, I am glad I wasn't embraced by that community, it is big, really big...everyone, watching everyone..so to speak....a regime by any standard __________________ The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee Superior, they say, never gives up her dead When the gales of November come early.

Nov 11, 2003, 08:41 AM	#5
BluntmaN DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: I have no idea Posts: 229 Rep Power: 0	I steal from musisians and recording companies I am not proud of it and I don't think it is the way to go but 15 quid for a cd?? Fuck them. Madona Robie Wiliams and the other brats can aford to lose some bilions I don't care for them they can't go poor from me or the other millions that steal their copyrights. Make a cd cost 3 quid and then I ll join the RIAA in arresting those 12 year olds that steal their money till then don't talk to meh about copyrights in music and how the indistry will go bust they deserve it. __________________ 'Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don't know we don't know.' Donald Rumsfeld (And then they say that the White House knows what it's doing)

Aug 23, 2003, 01:09 PM	#3
dipstick HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: USA Posts: 3,592 Rep Power: 57 System Specs	Poor guy, that totally sucks. But it's good to see they can stop music piracy, but let terrorists steal planes and fly into buildings. Way to go FBI, CIA, and any other idiot sitting in an office picking his nose looking for file swappers. Good freaking job, must be really proud at the end of the day.