Last week we reported that the group “Anonymous” had taken down multiple websites relating to anti-piracy firms, starting with the MPAA and AiPlex Software and then taking down the RIAA.
Dubbed “Operation Payback,” the protest revolves around DDoS attacks on the firm’s main sites.
Following on from the other DDoS attacks, another wave has hit anti-piracy sites, this time taking down AFACT, the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft.
AFACT adds that a large number of sites hosted by their host (Negregistry), have been attacked as well.
8000 sites to be exact. “A lot of these sites are small Australian businesses and Government web sites,” says Negregistry. “They have been affected by this senseless act.”
With that, Operation Payback continues.
Result for: federation against copyright theft
An Australian man has been arrested for allegedly recording movies with his camcorder at a drive-in theater. According to the Motion Picture Association (MPA), an organization representing movie studios around the world, the 26 year old was responsible was responsible for recording a number of cam movies made available by the release group PreVail.
Police seized camcorder and computer equipment in a raid. This equipment was allegedly used for recording recent movies, including “He’s Just Not That Into You”, “Marley and Me”, “Yes Man”, “Bedtime Stories”, and “Beverley Hills Chihuahua”.
They were acting largely on information collected by the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT). AFACT is an organization comprised of companies in the Australian film and television industry.
The drive-in where the Cam releases were recorded was identified using digital watermarks added to many film prints before they’re sent to theaters.
“Anyone thinking of illegally camcording a movie should be aware that the technology exists to identify them, track them down and take them to court on criminal copyright charges,” said Neil Gane, Director of Operations at AFACT.
Result for: federation against copyright theft
Expected to be the largest anti-piracy campaign ever, the MPA and other anti-piracy groups have vowed to make London a “a fake-free zone” by the beginning of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The clearly impossible goal to completely eradicate DVD piracy was initiated by Intellectual Property Minister David Lammy.
The groups involved are The Motion Picture Association, U.K. Film Council, UK Intellectual Property Office, Federation Against Copyright Theft, London Councils, Trading Standards and the Police.
Lammy added, “Legislation alone will not combat counterfeiting and piracy. Good law is great but enforced law is better.” He noted that the campaign should send a strong message to citizens that piracy is a huge problem and will be tackled.
