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TV Links Raided, Operator Arrested

Posted by Zonk on from the there-goes-the-neighborhood dept.

NetDanzr writes "TV Links, a Web site that provided links to hundreds of movies, documentaries, TV shows and cartoons hosted on streaming media sites such as Google Video and YouTube, has been raided by UK authorities. The site's operator was also arrested, The Guardian reports. Even though the site has not hosted any pirated content, it was a thorn in the side of movie and TV studios, thanks to having links to newest movies and TV shows. As the largest site of its kind, it showcased the power of user-driven Internet, with the site's visitors helping to keep links to content constantly updated."

7 of 246 comments (clear)

  1. I didn't know this existed by bit+trollent · · Score: 5, Funny

    I didn't know this existed but now that I do I would really like to know what other websites have the same type of conent.

    A little help?

    1. Re:I didn't know this existed by op12 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Nice try, MPAA!

    2. Re:I didn't know this existed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      What I don't understand is, why shut it down? I mean, here is a site, leveraging user content to provide the MPAA and such with direct links to content that is in violation. This seems like the perfect way to quickly and easily send massive amounts of DMCA takedown notices and such. The users of pirated content provide the latest, best links to pirated content for you to have taken down.

      They might have just killed something they could have used as a great tool.

    3. Re:I didn't know this existed by ravenspear · · Score: 5, Informative

      Most of the actual content was hosted on foreign servers in asia/europe, so a DMCA takedown notice would have done diddly squat to remove it.

  2. Power Play by whackco · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah, although it existed, I dont' know what the law states in the EU as to linking to protected content. This might just be a power play by the studios to make an example of them. I have a feeling this is going to be similar to the raid that was done on the pirate bay servers, and in a few months they will drop the charges, after almost or completely bankrupting this poor sap.

  3. By their logic... by Korveck · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Google needs to be shut down for "facilitation of copyright infringement on the internet", or even "facilitation of terrorism on the internet".

  4. Re:The obvious question.... by Yer+Mum · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In Spain, a judge has found that a similar site which holds links to films or music is not illegal, saying that they did not host any material and .

    http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/293205/0/enlaces/descargas/sharemule/

    (in Spanish, Babelfish may help if you don't speak it)