Feds shut down nine websites in movie piracy crackdown INCLUDING NINJAVIDEO :(

[oldoldman]

The sites had made pirated versions of 'Toy Story 3' and 'Iron Man 2' available within hours of their release in theaters. The crackdown is part of a renewed effort to curb film and TV piracy online.

By Richard Verrier, Los Angeles Times

July 1, 2010
Adding some swashbuckling to its tough talk on fighting piracy, the federal government on Wednesday seized several websites that had offered downloads of pirated movies such as "Toy Story 3" and "Iron Man 2" within hours of their release in theaters.

Federal authorities announced that they had seized domain names from nine websites engaged in the "criminal theft of American movies and television." The websites include TVShack.net, PlanetMoviez.com, ThePirateCity.org and Ninjavideo.net. Combined, the sites drew 6.7 million visitors a month, authorities said.

Officials also seized assets from 15 bank, investment and advertising accounts and executed residential search warrants in North Carolina, New York, New Jersey and Washington, according to a statement from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which coordinated its investigation with the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies.

The crackdown, which involved 100 agents working in 11 states and the Netherlands, was part of a renewed campaign dubbed Operation in Our Sites by federal authorities to curb Internet counterfeiting and piracy. The announcement comes a week after the Obama administration unveiled a detailed plan on how to tackle global piracy, including targeting illegal websites.

ICE chief John Morton, speaking at a Walt Disney Studios sound stage where he was joined by movie studio executives and union representatives, trumpeted the bust as the beginning of a "long-term effort to turn the tables on these thieves." The targeted websites, he added, are "run by people who have no respect for creativity and innovation."

The studios say they lose hundreds of millions annually to piracy.

Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement that the actions were necessary to protect the jobs and livelihoods of "ordinary working people" and warned others engaged in similar websites.

"If your business model is piracy, your story will not have a happy ending," Bharara said.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...,2871905.story




Bummer

[volcanicweather]

wow, things got real serious real fast in regards to this... I never used any of those sites, but I know people who did.

[Akiyama]

Ninjavideo.. noooooo!

[Byrd]

Am I the only person on the planet who never illegally downloads movies and is actually OK with this?

[Zeb]

Am I the only person on the planet who never illegally downloads movies and is actually OK with this?

Yes

[Souj]

Am I the only person on the planet who never illegally downloads movies and is actually OK with this?

No. Hitler and Stalin never did either. Good job, your in the same boat as hitler and stalin.

[Galaika]

If Hulu worked outside of the US and I could pay for that rather than download it then I would be all over that shit rather than downloading. Fuck having to wait 6 months to a year for shows to be on English TV.

[Isiolia]

If Hulu worked outside of the US and I could pay for that rather than download it then I would be all over that shit rather than downloading. Fuck having to wait 6 months to a year for shows to be on English TV.

Eh, kind of how I am. I download plenty of anime, but if I can go stream something legally, or Netflix the DVD/Blu-Ray, like I can for most U.S. stuff, then I opt for that.

[Akiyama]

I used NV often for shows I missed/couldn't see the night before. Like.. I watch House/Chuck/HIMYM, but obviously can't watch all three at the same time. (No TiVo/multiple TVs to do so), so it was an easy outlet for me to use. Guess that won't be happening now. Oh well.

[SamanosukeShiva]

ninjavideo nooooooooooooooooo

[Max™]

http://www.vincentchow.net/wp-conten.../09/piracy.png

[Saxon]

If Hulu worked outside of the US and I could pay for that rather than download it then I would be all over that shit rather than downloading. Fuck having to wait 6 months to a year for shows to be on English TV.

Yeah, that and watching TV shows that are on TV for free everyday, yet never in the correct order or at obscure times like 3am with the sign language lady covering up half the picture.
I would pay for a proper universal site that allows HQ streaming with back catalogues of all the best and classic TV shows (without adverts).
Ninjavideo will be missed but it's not like they'll ever stop every site that allows online streaming.

[Khajit]

Gotta love how the movie industry loses billions to piracy when everyone is too poor to see a bunch of the movies anyway.

[oldoldman]

Trying to go to Ninjavideo was how I found out about this lol

[Jefe]

Am I the only one that thinks Hulu is trash? I've seen people from other places QQing about not having access ;x

Anyway, just leave icefilms alone.

[Kyo]

Glad the site I use didnt get nuked.

[aers]

Eh, kind of how I am. I download plenty of anime, but if I can go stream something legally, or Netflix the DVD/Blu-Ray, like I can for most U.S. stuff, then I opt for that.

You can stream anime legally, though.

[Isiolia]

You can stream anime legally, though.

Some, not all. I do support the transition though. Partly is a matter of habit, I'd admit.

[SubzeroDiabolos]

MY LIFE IS RUINED. FUCKING RUINED.

What's fucking sad is I was using ninjavideo to watch old TV episodes, not even movies out in theaters. Fucking dick move. Where am I gonna watch friends and firefly now?

Ok and maybe V and SGU... shhhh. Anybody got a second best option?



I wonder how Phara is gonna make monies now.

[Kiehl]

I was an avid user of NV for a long time until they updated their divx plugin. Shit would not stream smoothly after that. I found it easier to just torrent what I wanted to watch. Seems like better quality too.