Quote:
Originally Posted by RawAlex
Kevin, actually this goes one step further: If TPB linked to, say, amazon or netflix or microsoft's online store so people could buy the products rather than linking to pirated copies of the same, exactly how popular would their site be? One of the most interesting legal issues about torrent index sites is that they may claim that what they do is legal, but in reality they are popular only because they aid and abet the distribution of stolen material. If they linked to legal sources for the material, they would have no traffic.
Thus, the process of linking to stolen material and selling ads on their site constitutes a form of profiting from stolen material. If they weren't aware of stolen material or agressively removed links (and complete trackers) that was filled with stolen material, they might be in the clear. But their "fuck you" attitude shows that they are very aware that the material is pirated, and that they have no intention of changing.
Their business model is entirely dependant on the stolen content. Without it, they are nothing.
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I absolutely agree and I think I alluded to pretty much the same thing, but not quite as concisely nor with the thought about linking to legitimate sources.
They know it's illegally delivered content (it's tough to say it's 100% stolen as legitimate members may be the ones delivering it), but them acting as "PIMP" and receiving advertising revenue or membership revenue when they are completely aware that their actions are unconscionable is where they pass the lines of decency and moral acceptability.
I agree. Take away the illegal delivery (the stolen content) and every single one of the sites drops below 500,000 on the Alexa listings rather than being top 100. No one would give a rat's ass about them except for the access to free content that should be paid for at the original site.