Battleangel

Via Boing Boing. Here we go again …

Beginning yesterday morning, the FBI and law enforcement from 10 other countries conducted over 90 searches worldwide as part of “Operation Site Down,” designed to disrupt and dismantle many of the leading criminal organizations that illegally distribute and trade in copyrighted software, movies, music, and games on the Internet.

“By dismantling these networks, the Department is striking at the top of the copyright piracy supply chain - a distribution chain that provides the vast majority of the illegal digital content now available online,” said Attorney General Gonzales. “And by penetrating this illegal world of high-technology and intellectual property theft, we have shown that law enforcement can and will find - and we will prosecute - those who try to use the Internet to create piracy networks beyond the reach of law enforcement.”

Operation Site Down is the culmination of three separate undercover investigations conducted by the FBI. In the past 24 hours, more than 70 searches were executed in the United States, and more than 20 overseas. Four individuals were arrested in the United States, and searches and/or arrests occurred in the following 10 countries: Canada, Israel, France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal and Australia. At least eight major online distribution sites were dismantled, preventing tens of millions of further losses to the content industry. More than 120 leading members of the organized online piracy underground were identified by the investigation to date, and as the investigations continue, additional targets will be identified and pursued.

“The theft of this property strikes at the heart of America’s economy,” said FBI Assistant Director Louis M. Reigel. “It deprives many Americans and others around the globe of their right to be paid for their labor and enjoy the value of their hard work.”

In addition to attacking piracy globally, Operation Site Down struck at all facets of the illegal software, game, movie, and music trade online, which is commonly referred to as the “warez scene.” The investigations focused on individuals and organizations that were the “first-providers” of copyrighted works to the warez underground - the so-called “release” groups that operated as the original sources for a majority of the pirated works distributed and downloaded via the Internet. Once a warez release group prepares a stolen work for distribution, the material is distributed in minutes to secure, top-level warez servers throughout the world. From there, within a matter of hours, the pirated works are distributed globally, filtering down to peer-to-peer and other public file sharing networks accessible to anyone with Internet access.

The release groups targeted by Site Down specialize in the distribution of all types of pirated works including utility and application software, movies, music, and games. Among the warez groups hit yesterday are: RiSCISO, Myth, TDA, LND, Goodfellaz, Hoodlum, Vengeance, Centropy, Wasted Time, Paranoid, Corrupt, Gamerz, AdmitONE, Hellbound, KGS, BBX, KHG, NOX, NFR, CDZ, TUN, and BHP. These groups alone are allegedly responsible for stealing, cracking and distributing hundreds of well-known titles, such as Autodesk’s Autocad 2006, Adobe’s Photoshop, and the movies “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Operation Site Down is expected to dismantle many of these international warez syndicates and significantly disrupt the illicit operations of others.

Source: US DOJ

And there you have it, in bold for all to see. The great myth. This notion that was born in the US during the course of the last century. Another piece of the puzzle that makes up the American Dream, or should I say psychosis. Every year they take it a little further, and I find it interesting that this time they are being so candid about it. No more innuendos, just the straight dope, even if it is deceitful and playing on nationalism. For those that have been following the news, intellectual property has risen to such a stature that it is soon a casus belli, especially when dealing with countries that are unmanageable and fail to comply with US overlordship. The US can’t for example mention Brazil and their HIV/AIDS patent busting without also mentioning that Brazil also has “lax” copyright laws. The bottom line is that all of these measures are taken to “protect” US corporations, many of which are on the verge of collapse, as a matter of fact or according to their own gloomy lobbying campaigns. After decades of handholding, pulling the rug from under them may actually cause their downfall. And thus, it also boils down to the unhealthy status that corporations enjoy in the US. The plot thickens. But none of this is news for anyone who has been actively monitoring US-corporate culture. The really amazing thing is that said nations actually go along with this nonsense, even though it is clearly not in their best interest. Such is the US hegemony today that even questioning compliance is heresy.

As for the article it is so full of lies, one would have to analyze it word by word. Suffice it to say, to the powerful and corrupt, bear in mind that one day we will be coming for YOU. Our list of grievances is running long.

See also: Scene Busts