NEWS: Funimation Sues 1,337 BitTorrent Users Over One Piece

[† cloud1414]

Defendants allegedly downloaded, distributed One Piece TV anime episode 481

The North American anime distributor Funimation filed a copyright infringement complaint against 1,337 "John Does" over the 481st episode of the One Piece television anime on Monday. According to the suit filed in the Northern District of Texas, the unidentified defendants "collectively participated, via the Internet, in the unlawful reproduction and distribution" of the episode "Ace Rescued! Whitebeard's Final Order!" via the BitTorrent file-sharing protocol. The suit lists defendants by their host IP (Internet Protocol) addresses and Internet service providers. The alleged incidents of copyright infringement took place between January 9 and January 12.

The lawsuit identifies three of the sites where the defendants allegedly found the BitTorrent reference descriptor files for the One Piece episode. The suit also notes that users in a BitTorrent "swarm," by the inherent nature of the technology, are simultaneously downloading parts of the file and distributing parts of it to others. Funimation believes that the identities of the current 1,337 defendants and "additional infringing parties" will be revealed during the pre-trial discovery phase of the lawsuit, and it will then amend the suit to include their names.

Funimation asks the court to stop the defendants from infringing on Funimation's copyrights for this episode and any other videos now or in the future. If another request in the suit is granted, defendants "shall destroy all copies of Plaintiff's [videos] that Defendant has downloaded onto any computer hard drive or server without Plaintiff's authorization and shall destroy all copies of those downloaded [videos] transferred onto any physical medium or device in each Defendant's possession, custody, or control." Funimation also seeks compensation for damages and legal costs.

ANN is awaiting Funimation's response to a request for comment.

Update: The filed complaint identifies the representative "hash" number of the file as b305c19f8e8bdab5e39b33a4ffc364a12beb110b.

Source: ANN

[idl12]

Unfortunately at the end of the day, us pirates are ultimately the bad guys, so We really can't complain when people claim copyright for their stuff, though I really wish that the industry could make more legal options available for people not living in North America, whether it be streams, DVD's, whatever, the main reason I pirate is because I'm almost always greeted with a "This content is not available in your region) or ( We no longer ship to your country) message when attempting anything legal, but that's wishful thinking I suppose, chances are, even if they did that, it wouldn't make a difference.

[Koby]

I'll just copy/paste what I said about this on another site.

Whats up with the number of people? Seriously... we have l337 pirates now?

So is this in regards to the fansubs (Yibis) or the streaming rippers (Horrible, FUNiGuys)? I am kind of thinking it's towards the latter as FUNi hasn't had problems with the fansubs in the past.

Heck they contacted KF (One Piece fansub group) in the past and only had them remove a topic on their forum about how to download the simulcast, but said nothing about their fansub work or the episodes released.

Most of the people I see commenting about downloading vs. streaming have this to say about it: 396p is fail. Don't give us shitty 20th Century resolution. Yellow VOB styled looking subs are shit and hard to read when full-screened on shitty low res videos. Blocked in peoples countries. A lot of people would be willing to switch if they upped their quality.

My reasoning? I have limited day-time transfer data, I have to do it at night sometimes otherwise if I hit that limit during peak hours, they cut my speed in half. So streaming a lot of videos isn't much of an option. Secondly, I like having a copy to watch anytime, offline, etc. I hate the styling, etc.. of the streaming. Crunchroll freezes up the video when I try to watch.

[AaronScythe]

Thing is, when you use a bittorrent site/program, the only way to view anything is to participate in it. You also sign a legal waiver by the terms of use (even if you skipped em)

So really, if you are smart about stuff, you can countersue for invasion of privacy (yes, that is covered if they track your ip, especially if they get your name out of it), and even more importantly for a lot of these cases - infecting your computer with spyware. That is a crime.

Best part though for most legal systems - if the evidence is gained unlawfully (which for torrents it MUST be unlawfully done, there is no fully legal way) then the evidence is not allowed to be shown in court. If they try to show it anyway they are held in contempt, and a new jury can be requested.

[Koby]

The hash FUNi released was checked and turns out it was Yibis 720p release of One Piece episode 481. So anyone who downloaded the 720p version from Yibis within the days they scanned it and if you had a USA IP, then chances are you are one of the people who got noticed.

Funny thing is, people have seen the list of IP addresses. For starters there is not 1,337 IP addresses listed, and a lot of the IP Addresses are actually duplicates for the same person and stuff. If you cut it down to size there might only be a couple hundred or so actual people.

I find it a little odd they would target pretty much the only 'actual' fansub group instead of targeting the 3 or 4 groups who are actually ripping their simulcast.

[lordofelemental]

does this also pertain to the persons who use filehosting sites like megaupload, rapidshare, etc?

there is a time when i tried to watch the episodes in funimations website but it is region lock for my location. and on top of that, i usually go for a higher quality of the episodes that i watch. it seems that funimation is really going to localized most of the upcoming episodes of the series.

Another thread from other forums about this issue:

http://www.apforums.net/showthread.php?t=31669

[Koby]

does this also pertain to the persons who use filehosting sites like megaupload, rapidshare, etc?

there is a time when i tried to watch the episodes in funimations website but it is region lock for my location. and on top of that, i usually go for a higher quality of the episodes that i watch. it seems that funimation is really going to localized most of the upcoming episodes of the series.

Another thread from other forums about this issue:

http://www.apforums.net/showthread.php?t=31669

No like I said, they only went after the 720p torrent of Yibis' release and only against citizens of the USA.

[lordofelemental]

No like I said, they only went after the 720p torrent of Yibis' release and only against citizens of the USA.

so most of the IP addresses that they show was all americans? is it even possible if they show the list of all non american people who download the episode that time? this is just like a scare tactic for people to stop downloading the funsub uploads.

[Asch]

It is applied to citizens of USA only because they can't take any legal action directly upon citizen of other countries, also Funimation is a company registered in US so priority is given to a US court, cause thats the procedure(I remember Nintendo suing a local manufacture here but their appeal was rejected) , about torrents the policy was made by BitTorrent, that Prohibits sharing protected files via torrents, and observation(not completely interception) of a torrent is not illegal, even I can check what are the IPs via I am downloading files, and their are certain laws governing the company, which allows them to track them illegal usage of their products by superficial means, So as with Funi, they didn't install a rootkit or something like that, if they did, then it would be illegal.

And yes, Funi should extend their product reach to other countries, cause it will slightly help them to reduce workforce wasted on suing =P

Hmm......I am not praising their move, but still they had to what they should as a company, but by opting some different strategies(The post because so long cause I accidentally happened to know law xD )

[ragnawind]

It is applied to citizens of USA only because they can't take any legal action directly upon citizen of other countries, also Funimation is a company registered in US so priority is given to a US court, cause thats the procedure(I remember Nintendo suing a local manufacture here but their appeal was rejected) , about torrents the policy was made by BitTorrent, that Prohibits sharing protected files via torrents, and observation(not completely interception) of a torrent is not illegal, even I can check what are the IPs via I am downloading files, and their are certain laws governing the company, which allows them to track them illegal usage of their products by superficial means, So as with Funi, they didn't install a rootkit or something like that, if they did, then it would be illegal.

And yes, Funi should extend their product reach to other countries, cause it will slightly help them to reduce workforce wasted on suing =P

Hmm......I am not praising their move, but still they had to what they should as a company, but by opting some different strategies(The post because so long cause I accidentally happened to know law xD )

The reason why their videos are region-locked, though, is because they are only allowed to distribute to the NA content, rather than the rest of the world. They would need to set up offices around the world and pay extra money to keep them all operating in order to legally let currently disallowed videos to be played in certain countries. It is a license issue for why the region-lock is up in the first place.

[lordofelemental]

The reason why their videos are region-locked, though, is because they are only allowed to distribute to the NA content, rather than the rest of the world. They would need to set up offices around the world and pay extra money to keep them all operating in order to legally let currently disallowed videos to be played in certain countries. It is a license issue for why the region-lock is up in the first place.

is it even possible to stop this internet piracy thing? the technology today is so free that everyone can get what he wants in the web.

still, it's quite reasonable for them to stop the fansubs in translating each episodes because i know that it's illegal.

well there are still much more bigger things than this one like the emergence of ps3 jail break, but yeah, every company has the right for their own copyrights.

[Clockwork]

What is a John Doe?

[Koby]

What is a John Doe?

Someone who hasn't been identified by name. Usually males only, as females are often referred as Jane Does. It's the internet though, so gender isn't involved.

[Clockwork]

Someone who hasn't been identified by name. Usually males only, as females are often referred as Jane Does. It's the internet though, so gender isn't involved.

Thanks, the first thing that came to mind when I heard that was Yumekui Merry.

[lordofelemental]

this is pretty bad, it seems that scare tactic really give a scare and doubt to most people.. even i, have my doubts if its safe to download the current episode now.

if feels like you download this now and you will be shock in the coming weeks if funimation will took your head or come after you.

[Koby]

this is pretty bad, it seems that scare tactic really give a scare and doubt to most people.. even i, have my doubts if its safe to download the current episode now.

if feels like you download this now and you will be shock in the coming weeks if funimation will took your head or come after you.

Well they are only claiming to target USA citizens. They also claim 1,337 people.

Yet there is really only a couple hundred in the swarm of IP's released.

This was nothing more than a failed publicity stunt and show of power.

FUNimation had to look like they were combating piracy after the whole Fractacle thing happened. It worked and they are now streaming the series again.

I'm doubting that FUNimation even did anything with the IP addresses they released.

[lordofelemental]

Well they are only claiming to target USA citizens. They also claim 1,337 people.

Yet there is really only a couple hundred in the swarm of IP's released.

This was nothing more than a failed publicity stunt and show of power.

FUNimation had to look like they were combating piracy after the whole Fractacle thing happened. It worked and they are now streaming the series again.

I'm doubting that FUNimation even did anything with the IP addresses they released.

i just cant do anything about it, i have to watch it regardless of these kind of things. so im downloading it with megaupload. i just cant use torrent anyway.

[Sebastian]

OMG!!!! They Sued??!?!?!?