Coppers swoop on P2P pirates

INSPECTOR KNACKER of the Brisbane Yard has fingered the collar of two blokes he thinks helped download 14 million movies and television programs via a video sharing website.

The 21-year-old and 27-year-old, who are related and live together, apparently made (Aus) $50,000 on the scheme. They have had their assets frozen down under which is a pretty nasty punishment for piracy. Three computers and more than 1,200 DVDs were seized in the raid.

Inspector Knacker alleges that the pair made $10,000 a month by managing an illegal offshore BitTorrent website with 400,000 international members, including thousands of "VIPs" who paid up to $10 a month for access to direct downloadable media.

The pair were grassed up by the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) group.

Inspector Knacker said that the men facilitated the transfer of more than 10,000 terabytes of information, equivalent to 14.3 million copies of videos and television programs.

The pair have been released on bail until December 18. If found guilty, they each face a maximum 10 years' jail or $66,000 in fines. µ

L'Inq
Sydney Morning Herald