GoFuckYourself.com - Adult Webmaster Forum - View Single Post - Website Owner Could Get Five Years In Jail For Linking To Pirated Site!

bathhouseblog · 03-09-2011, 12:20 PM

Brian McCarthy, who found out the hard way that the simple act of linking can land you in prison (because they need another reason to cram people in our more than overcrowded prisons).

His now lifeless website, Channelsurfing.net, which did not host any copyrighted material, just linked to it, led to his arrest for ?criminal copyright infringement for the ?reproduction and distribution? of copyrighted material.? He could spend up to 5 years in jail.

Bryan McCarthy did not possesses, did not broadcast, nor did he copy copyright material. If linking is distribution, then anyone with a blog or website is guilty of breaking the law.

The criminal complaint lodged against McCarthy calls the site "an online portal," which indexed links to live TV streams of sporting events available on other websites.

"Brian McCarthy allegedly sought to profit by intercepting and then streaming live sporting events, hiding behind the anonymity of the internet to make a quick buck through what is little more than high-tech thievery," said Preet Bhara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

The complaint alleges McCarthy profited $90,000 from ads on ChannelSurfing.net over the past five years.

If convicted, McCarthy faces up to five years in prison.

03-09-2011, 12:20 PM
bathhouseblog Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 311	Website Owner Could Get Five Years In Jail For Linking To Pirated Site! Brian McCarthy, who found out the hard way that the simple act of linking can land you in prison (because they need another reason to cram people in our more than overcrowded prisons). His now lifeless website, Channelsurfing.net, which did not host any copyrighted material, just linked to it, led to his arrest for ?criminal copyright infringement for the ?reproduction and distribution? of copyrighted material.? He could spend up to 5 years in jail. Bryan McCarthy did not possesses, did not broadcast, nor did he copy copyright material. If linking is distribution, then anyone with a blog or website is guilty of breaking the law. The criminal complaint lodged against McCarthy calls the site "an online portal," which indexed links to live TV streams of sporting events available on other websites. "Brian McCarthy allegedly sought to profit by intercepting and then streaming live sporting events, hiding behind the anonymity of the internet to make a quick buck through what is little more than high-tech thievery," said Preet Bhara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The complaint alleges McCarthy profited $90,000 from ads on ChannelSurfing.net over the past five years. If convicted, McCarthy faces up to five years in prison.