Yes, the MPAA is suing us.

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:52 am

As Reported Everywhere, MPAA issued a press release that thay are now suing isoHunt.com, TorrentBox.com, and a number of other BitTorrent, eDonkey and Newsgroup indexing sites. I still have yet to receive a formal cease and desist letter directly from MPAA Legal, but all seems to indicate this is for real and it's only a matter of time.

This is somewhat a followup to the series of MPAA letters we've received a year ago.

At this point, it is still uncertain what they are actually suing us for, considering we have a thorough copyright policy outlining our stance and takedown procedures. It is sad that despite our best efforts in cooperating with copyright owners, in both disabling copyright infringing links to their works everyday while for others, helping them distribute their works globally and cheaply using P2P technologies, it is still not enough for the MPAA. Have they ever learned from the VCR or Napster? When will corporations stop fighting technology and learn to embrace it to benefit all of us?

To this end, us, isoHunt.com and TorrentBox.com, are forming a coalition together with other P2P operators being sued and yet to be sued, and if possible with the help of the EFF, we will fight for the right for technological progress and the legality of the search engine itself. It is too early right now to say what we need for help from you, but if the MPAA will not back down, I'm sure we are going to need your help. And no, we will not go the way of LokiTorrent or Suprnova.

Anyways, nobody panic, and let the torrents flow. If you like to talk to us live and chat with other fellows in the community, come chat on IRC on #isoHunt on P2P-IRC (SSL enabled on port 7000, you need a client like mIRC ). We'll update as we learn more.

UPDATE 26/02: Of all the P2P sites being sued I am in contact with, none of us have received anything directly from MPAA yet regarding their pending lawsuits. And so far we are not aware of any US court cases that has actually been filed yet against us.

UPDATE 28/02: It's official now, lawsuits have been filed against us and all the sites as mentioned in MPAA's press release. I have to say I am impressed by the depth of their legal research, evidently their lawyers have been watching us for at least a year, since we exchanged letters last year. However, their core accusation is false. We do NOT operate this search engine and other P2P services for the express object of infringing MPAA's copyrights, there are many other torrents of content we index that are not owned by the MPAA, copyrighted or non-copyrighted. We would comply with DMCA takedown requests, given sufficient identification. Which they did not.

We are looking for legal representation and working with the EFF. We will fight this, but we need your help. First, we need money. Estimated legal fees will be at least $20,000 per month. I will be opening a legal defense fund, you will see it on the frontpage here when it's up. Other than your financial support, which you have our best thanks, we also need media attention. Give us as much buzz as possible, or we will get buried in MPAA's "burn the pirates" campaign. We need to get our side of the story out, that we are willing to work with the MPAA and turn P2P into the new VCR. I have asked in a poll in the past, on how much is a TV episode download worth? Most of your responses varied between $0, with commercial, to $2. And I'm already working with a TV show producer who sees the potential of this. Why can't the MPAA?

So, if you know any news reporter, be it local or national, online or on dead paper, we are happy to talk! Please send all media inquiries to <media a-t isohunt.com>.

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:57 am

I'd Fight With Ya! If Only I Had The Money To Support You. I Hope We Win This One! This Site Rules And I Would Hate To See Another Go Down!

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:23 am

There may already be some inconsistencies in their cases... Is it true that TorrentBox and ISOhunt are owned by one person, as they claim? Are they not aware that ISOhunt is protected by law (that they helped to create)?

One of the posts on Slyck claims that ISOhunt is hosted in the US. This is just not the case. With all these inconsistancies, it'll be a shock to see if IH actually gets ANY e-mail about it.

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:29 am

Yeah, But Then Again The MPAA Doesn't Exactly Play By The Rules...Well From What I've Heard Anyway. As Far As Im Concerned They Will Just Invent A Case Against Isohunt......I Hate The MPAA lol

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:59 am

Estranged wrote:

There may already be some inconsistencies in their cases... Is it true that TorrentBox and ISOhunt are owned by one person, as they claim? Are they not aware that ISOhunt is protected by law (that they helped to create)?

One of the posts on Slyck claims that ISOhunt is hosted in the US. This is just not the case. With all these inconsistancies, it'll be a shock to see if IH actually gets ANY e-mail about it.

No actually, they are right except BTHub is no longer operational for its original intent, and it's not a "website". I run isoHunt.com and TorrentBox.com, and although I'm not in the US, the servers are. There are some weirdness in how they address things technically, but can't expect too much from lawyers can we? Rolling Eyes

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:59 am

The MPAA has yet to see the inside of a courtroom. So far, the only thing that's really worked for them is the 'gestapo technique' (getting the police to do their dirty work for them when they could be stopping a child molester, catching a murderer, etc... Apparently, the MPAA doesn't know what's really important, blinded by $$$$... don't get me started Laughing

) and sending out mass releases, like this one, in order to try to frighten people like IH, who doesn't exactly give in to pressure all that easily. Quite frankly, I'd love to see this case get laughed out of court on the sole issue of the DMCA. It'd be their own damned fault. Laughing

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:39 am

I dunno, IH and jthmm may be needing to get jobs soon after the MPAA are done with them, rofl

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:58 am

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 9:44 am

I Think The Fact That They Have Isohunt In Their Sight Is A Cause For Concern But I Have To Say That I Don't Think The Courts Are Going To Handle These Obscure Cases For Much Longer. I Believe They Eventually The Courts Are Going To Have To Make A Final Decision On The Matter.

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 9:46 am

I'd say you should have had the servers outside the US, to be safe. I'd say to start begging for donations to get a good lawyer, and possibly to put more ads on this site to raise money. I hate the MPAA for this kind of stuff. Evil or Very Mad

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 10:36 am

Well, this sucks. Don't be like Lokitorrent and raise over 30,000$ and fail^

best of luck.

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:54 pm

http://www.mpaa.org/press_releases/2006_02_23.pdf

niteshadow.com should sue the MPAA for slander, since its not the same as niteshdw.com

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:08 pm

btw:

the chewbacca defence is our only hope. (see http://www..(info)/chewbacca.htm for an example)

the ironic thing: the RIAA was using the chewbacca defence against someone with an actual case in south park.

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 2:39 pm

If in fact a case is filed against isohunt, the outcome will probably set a precedent for future cases dealing with torrent search engines. As the host of a site, you would hate to jump the gun in gathering funds for court, (in case no suit was filed), but at the same time you deffinitly do want to be ready. More money = a better chance you could win the case and give sites like isohunt the freedom they deserve from the RIAA and MPAA pigs. Personally, I would be totally cool with dontating to a quality site like isohunt, knowing that in the event of a trial, my money could be spent fighting the MPAA. If it were up to me, I would start a fund right now, but make it clear that a case hasn't officially been filed, with a good chance it may never be.

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:55 pm

I say f u c k'em. If there will be a fight I'm sure as hell on for it.
Twisted Evil