Slashdot Mirror
Videogame Pirate Gets Long Jail Sentence
Thanks to the San Jose Business Journal for its article discussing the sentencing of a notable videogame pirate to 50 months in prison after being found guilty on charges of "copyright infringement and... mail fraud." According to the piece: "[Sean Michael] Breen... admitted that he was a leader in the Internet-based piracy group known as Razor1911. Since the early 1990s, Razor1911 had sought to achieve a reputation in the underground Internet piracy community... as the leading distributor of cracked computer and console game software." A report at GameSpot has further details, noting Razor1911 "...acquired advance copies of [videogame] titles by posing as reviewers for fictitious game magazines and having them shipped to a derelict storefront address in Oakland."
I think I had some of their warez back in the day (considering posting anon now... fuck it). Still, I can see how the whole "posing as reviewers" thing could be crossing the line.
Sucks to be 'em. Still, seems kinda harsh - what's Ken Lay getting again?
I know I'm running a flame risk here, but I for one applaud this arrest. It's people like this that enable companies to rationalize(in lawyers terms anyway) DRM rights systems, which annoy the living crap out of people who actually pay for these things and like to support developers/artists/whatever
Now the fact that he got caught showed just how dumb he was. Trying to steal hardware like that always leaves too many traces around, and if the company has the money, it will influence law enforcement to do the investigation. I dunno if this will start a "scared straight" program with warezers, or maybe they'll just keep to their little gated communities now. Hopefully a high-profile case of a really prolific pirates will ensure that game companies don't need to go the way of the RIAA, at least not anymore than they have.
50 months? It's his lawyer's fault, easily. You can get away with murder in the U.S. if you have the right representation. We have a truly screwed up justice system.
If he were a Linux user, that list would consist of Tuxracer and... err... yeah.
It does make sense to be sending someone to jail for this.
I know of many people who have made huge use of his products though.
LAN party I held two weeks ago would have been much more dificult without the Razor hacked version of Steam (For Counter Strike) since we weren't able to keep the internet connection up.
redune.com: The World 3.2 Megapixels at a time
I can understand using a ROM for old games; stuff you can no longer find. I haven't done it myself (...honest) but I know plenty of people who have especially for games more than five years old, and it doesn't bother me. Lying, just to get a game a few days early in order to get a jump start on cracking it is pushing things very far.
To think of the people quoting about crimes such as murder getting less, it appears to be a
straight-out scapegoating of this guy. I just hope they dont pull a Novell and give some sob the
hardware. I dont think even OJ's lawyers could help here, since they'd be dealing with punks
such as the SIIA.
Twitter supports and protects racists - by smearing their critics with the "Hate Speech" label.
Second, this is really nothing to applaud or rejoice over. The arrest of one or two dozen pirates does not even scratch the tip of the iceberg. The authorities know it but they still bust a group or two every couple of years for PR purposes. It does not affect the so-called "warez scene" at all. All game were pirated before this happened and all have continued to be pirated afterwards.
Third. I am very surprised to read that Razor1911 sold copies. To the extent of my knowledge, they are (Because they are still alive and kicking)a veteran and respected group in the warez scene and the one big No-No is the selling of pirated materials. In fact, Razor1911's nfo file (an
And of course, stealing is wrong, I don't condone piracy, don't have sex unprotected, yadda yadda...
I find it hard to justify jailtime for offences relating to videogames. Hefty fines, sure. Community service, why not. But jail should be reserved for people that are a physical threat to the community. How much more is this person going to cost society during those 50 months?
Well, if they don't like the program and it's costs, DON'T USE IT! Use (and contribute to) OSS instead. It's like people complaining that Adobe prices photoshop too high so they are forced to pirate it. Well, the Gimp is out there for free, and if you want a feature implemented, the Gimp is open source, you are free to add whatever features you want. Simple as that. You know, I don't want to plunk down $35k for an SUV because I don't think they are worth that much, but does that give me the right to go out and steal one? Of course not. We are lucky to have such a dedicated OSS community. On some projects, the quality might not be as high as you like, but YOU have the power to change that.
I hate how people seem to have this sense of entitlement to software. The software company doesn't exist for your benefit, as it shouldn't. Most of it's not essential to live and succeed, and the stuff that is(OS, internet browser, and Office program) all have both closed and open source versions. If you feel that the closed source version is what you want, then go out and buy a copy. If you don't want to pay that much for it, or you just don't plain want it, go with open source. Or create your own. Maybe if you were the one who created content you might be much less supportive of the pirate community.
It's people like this that enable companies to rationalize(in lawyers terms anyway) DRM rights systems, which annoy the living crap out of people who actually pay for these things and like to support developers/artists/whatever
So, you've been modded +5 because you think that piracy is responsible for DRM. Right. Theft is responsible for higher prices in the shops, too. Alright.
But let me tell you something. If piracy and theft would stop to exist there would be...
1) less competition for people who produce crap. George Lucas could sell much more of his fucked up Star Wars versions if people wouldn't already have the pirated/theatrical versions.
2) DRM and high prices in shops certainly would continue to exist. (Piracy and theft were nice to justify greed but WTF?)
Like it or hate it. I have ~70 years to live and I won't waste time to spend money on greedy people or bullshit that I can get for cheap or for nothing (especially if it was produced in a foreign country).
Piracy is competition.
Razor distrubuted far more games than apps. The two realms are totally different. I can't believe that OSS could ever possibly be a solution for commercial games.
I'd like to agree with the rest of the things you said, though. Except I can't. Because it would make me a terrible hypocrite.
I know Guybrush Threepwood always went around claiming to be a mighty pirate, but he really was pretty harmless. Oh well, guess the wait for the next Monkey Island game is going to be pretty long.
What's that you say? A different kind of videogame pirate was jailed, not Guybrush? Oh, my bad, I just read the headline and assumed the worst.
My sig will be released in 2015 third quarter. Rating pending.
Please people how many times must you be told that the jail was for stealing 600k worth of cisco hardware. Steal that much and you deserve jail time.
Karma's over rated. Speak your mind.
First of all, your comparison to SUVs is like apples to Oranges. an SUV is a tangible physical good, software is entirely intellectual property. As well, I know this is probably the billionth time it's been said. Piracy is not theft, it is copyright infringement, there is a world of difference.
Secondly, most applications, such as the ones you mention, have more then enough business customers that every person who needed it for a hobby or curiosity pirated it, they'd barely see a difference in profits.
I also highly doubt OSS will ever fit the need for games anytime in the next 20 to 30 years, especially with the increased demands for higher and higher quality models/textures/other art stuff. You could be the best programmer in the world, have an engine and all the code finished, and not be able to make a good game merely because you lack good artists/modelers/etc willing to contribute to a "free" game.
Once again, nothing is stopping you or any other artist from contributing to OSS, OSS doesn't just entail software developers. A lot of starting artists I'm sure would love to contribute because it would look great in their portfolio. They probably just aren't really aware of the opportunity to do so, so it's up to the supporters of OSS to show them there is a world out there where than can basically do shameless advertising/portfolio stuffing.
That being said, it would be nice if companys would contribute some of their old models/textures to the OSS movement, ie when Quake III(just an example, Id might already do this for all I know) stops selling well, they should contribute some of the models(and code!) to the OSS movement.
There is nothing "stopping" anyone. There are a lot of "free" modifacations for commercial games too, those have lots of artists and art. However the majority (there are exceptions) of those modifacations have art assets that are usually inferrior in comparison to the game their modding for. A lot of the stuff is very fun, but generally not of a quality you'd deem on the same level as the 40/50$ game you are getting it for.
Not to rag on anyone or anyone's work, but frankly I think OSS has a ways to go before the concept of "free" is enticing enough to get free games that can compare with their commercially successful bretheren such as UT2K3 or Quake III. It can go there and may eventually do so, but it's got a big hurdle to overcome in the art area, especially with ever increasing quality standards (meaning more time required per art asset).
The day "free" can compete in terms of quality on all levels with commercial games is a day I'd welcome, however it's going to take a long while to get there.
He might have received a shorter sentence, and we wouldn't want that for such a naughty person!
I'm not claiming he didn't break the law, nor am I suggesting that he shouldn't "do the time". I'm just pointing out inconsistencies in sentencing, and how criminal geeks often get longer terms than murderers. *sigh*
Razor distrubuted far more games than apps. The two realms are totally different. I can't believe that OSS could ever possibly be a solution for commercial games.
What does it matter that Razor distributed games rather than apps? Both require developers to produce. If you do not like the fact that a game is $50+, don't play it until it hits the $20 rack, or $10 rack, or what ever level rack you feel it is worth. But also do not play the game until you have bought it. Otherwise the developers will not get the point that you think they charge too much for their games, they will see you as a pirate taking what they have spent time and effort writing so they can take a paycheck home at the end of the week.
Norris/Palin 2012
Fact: We deserve leaders who can kick your ass and field dress your carcass.
Looks like you aren't the only person here who has an XBox.
Creator of the popular web game Proximity
The article claims that Razor "sold" over a half-million dollars of software - don't they mean "copied and gave away?" I've seen tons of Razor releases, but never heard about them making a penny off of it.
I know that the N.E.T. act makes it a federal crime to even _share_ illegal copies, but still, there's a difference, or at least there should be.
Who the fuck cares? This isn't about OSS quality being lower. Nothing you said gives you justification for pirating games. Either buy it, or don't play it. END OF STORY.
and if you want a feature implemented, the Gimp is open source, you are free to add whatever features you want. Simple as that.
Oh yes, I think everyone would agree that programming a replacement for Photoshop is simple.
This I think is the most ridiculous argument for OSS that I always hear. Not all of us a programmers, especially the ones who need the advanced features of Photoshop. Just because I can look at the source does not mean I can understand it. Oh maybe you mean I should go out and hire a programmer to implement those changes, I somehow doubt that would cost me less then the $799.00 that it cost me to purchase Photoshop.
(admission of guilt follows)
I used to use an illegal copy of Photoshop while I was learning it. I am sure most slashdotters have. Now that I use it to earn a living I felt it was required that I go out and purchase a valid license.
Sorry, teleporters just kill you and then make a copy. A perfect, soul-less copy.
In America, you can get four times that for being gay.
I like the yahoo games service myself, $14.95 ain't killing me even as a student. I have played Freelancer, Arcanum, and an American Tail Movie Book when I was really drunk and I have not even gone through the first free 2 weeks. I know you can't get the most choice new games but hey this is like a perpetual $10 Rack and I frankly don't mind.
An Education is the Font of All Liberty
While the heart of your comment I agree with. There are still some troubling solutions that have to be met. And albeit it is not a "Legal" solution in some countries. It is a solution. I for one being of the "creators of content" still support the "piracy" (for lack of a better word because it really is not piracy). It is used by many whom do not have the means to use these product.
lets take:
Well, if they don't like the program and it's costs, DON'T USE IT! Use (and contribute to) OSS instead. It's like people complaining that Adobe prices photoshop too high so they are forced to pirate it. Well, the Gimp is out there for free, and if you want a feature implemented, the Gimp is open source, you are free to add whatever features you want.
Please tell that to the next HR person hiring you. When the list of required skills say "Photoshop and Visual C++" they do not want to hear "Photoshop and visual studio are too expensive, instead I use a modified gimp and gnu C compiler." (to a developer that would be more impressive, to HR they don't have a clue what you are talking about - they want Adobe and Microsoft because thats what it says) They will pick the next guy in line that "pirated" the software or is was/is wealthy enough to have purhcased it and made a point to learn it. I do not use pirated software to make the product. But I for one am glad that I had channels to go to when I needed to learn it.
Games are a different story, Since this is the topic we are on. Games are entertainment, and are not needed as a tool to enhance or maintain you life. So: if they don't like the game and it's costs, DON'T USE IT!
and btw this statement by Fallout2Man is correct: so correct in fact that it needs to be said again and again until everyone knows it. psst pass-it-on
by Fallout2man (689436) on Thursday February 12, @07:18AM (#8256884)
First of all, your comparison to SUVs is like apples to Oranges. an SUV is a tangible physical good, software is entirely intellectual property. As well, I know this is probably the billionth time it's been said. Piracy is not theft, it is copyright infringement, there is a world of difference.
- my $.02? - you can't have it...it's all I have!!
I used to work as a tester at an independent game company. I think we had one copy at the office of each of the games we played on the LAN at lunchtime. Pirate 3DS Max copies and plugins were in use. Talking to a few people who also work at a variety of studios, I've found that this is apparently a normal course of events. Hell, the developers of Farcry got raided a week ago for pirate software. Bearing this in mind, who are developers to complain about piracy?*
*Note, I'm not condoning it, but I think they need to take the mote out of their own eye first
RIAA president gets hard long oiled stick in the behind.
Agreed the recent releases from the gaming community of open source games has really made it harder to justify being a pirate. Unfortunatly some of the companies are footing the bill for the whole community.
Case in point: ID released the doom 1 + 2 code (also quake1?) 6-7 years after their release(Copyright law says 2 years but America has it's head so far up it's ass this is saintly by comparison), Siera on the other hand hasn't released any of their orignal adventure games (Wizardrys recently repackaged, Leisure suit Larry still in boxes, King's Quest rereleased). Also they've been experimenting with all kinds of shit like Steam, now I can't have lan parties at the cottage anymore.
Solution:Buy Doom 3, Pirate HL2 and mod communities please make mods for free engines, it really makes more sense.
but YOU have the power to change that.
No WE don't. The fact if you want more people to use OSS you cannot expect them to contribute code to projects they need. Because they can't! They don't know C(or whatever) they don't have the time to learn because they have lives and jobs themselves.
So, OSS projects must be ready to hear the whining of the world and not whine back, "The source is there, do it yourself"
Please realize that you are 'better' than the rest of the world in that you are contributing to such OSS projects. Bite your lip, remember you're a great person, take the valuable information out of the whining and try and make use of it.
-Sincerely
OSS users
> but I simply don't give a fuck if it is theft, I'll take what I want, society be damned.
I'm going to laugh like a motherfucker when somebody breaks into your house.
Going to be hard to pirate anything other then the half-life 2 single player only edition, since all multi-player and the mod interface is going to go through steam. :p
Steam may eventually not require a connection to the internet but it's going to most likely discourage a lot of pirates, as even if they managed to seperate any sort of callback or key verifacation, the best you'd get is a LAN only option. I don't know about you but playing online's a big draw for me.
Of course, I'd be likely to buy the HL2 collector's edition even if I could pirate it fully featured, since I really want to support Valve for all the hard work they're doing for the fan community.
How does it discourage us/them more than CDkey's?
You can never stop piracy or someone intent on cracking your software. However a robust server-side key engine and file hash verification system such as what's used by MMOs are generally difficult enough to crack that they discourage most people.
.gcf's were for?).
How does this sort of a system work? it's really rather simple. Every key you print for a CD you have listed in a database, when a user enters a key it's checked for a presence in the database, then mapped to that user's account. The account usually requires some form of personally identifiable information. In the rare instance a keygen is made and the pirate gets a valid unused key printed on a CD, if the real customer ever gets that box and finds their CD key doesn't work, they can contact the MMO company, prove they bought it and that is their CD key, then say goodbye to Mr. Pirate.
Since they know the pirate had that CD key and have a method of identifying him, that paints a bulls-eye on his ass begging for legal action. Now, MMOs require online play so for steam it's a bit different. You could hack the binaries so that you could have only LAN play with other hacked binaries, however to play online you'd run into problems with both a similar CD key style database as well as hash verification to ensure files aren't hacked (what do you think the
It won't stop most pirates, but it will reduce the playability of the game, steam hacking may also remove the ability to load mods, which may or may not be part of steam and not the game engine itself. Were this the case you'd essentially be getting a value similar to a pirated Tribes 2, yes there was single player and LAN, but the meat and potatoes of the game was online, and you couldn't get on without a legit CD key. Half-Life 2 and Steam will present a very similar problem for pirates, with the slight difference being Half-Life 2's single player will be generally better then Tribes 2 SP.:p
Idiot. First of all, the Doom source has been out for roughly 7 years, and the game itself has been out for 10 years. Second of all, they've only released the ENGINE SOURCE to Wolf3D/Doom/Doom 2/Quake/Quake 2. The game data (maps, textures, art, characters) are still strictly copyrighted and NOT FREE.
He stole hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of actual, physical Cisco hardware. Don't feel sorry for him--feel sorry for other software reversers who make no money from their wrongdoing but do it out of a sense of social justice and a desire for Robin Hood-like notoriety.
Repeat after me: endlessly copyable digital media is not the same as a physical, limited-available physical object like an SUV.
Would you have the same problem if a device were made that you could aim at an SUV and which would make a complete and perfect copy of it at little or no cost to the owner of that SUV?
Of course not. The SUV owner isn't deprived in the slightest.
Now run along...