Court Orders Convicted Pirate to Dump Linux and Use Windows

zekrahminator · Aug 26, 2007

Well, it looks like another pirate has been convicted and thrown in jail. However, Scott McCausland, ex-administrator of the Elite Torrents Bit Torrent tracker, has a rather peculiar sentence to serve. After pleading guilty to 'conspiracy to commit copyright infringement' and 'criminal copyright infringement', the court gave him five months in jail and five months house arrest. Under the condition that he follows his parole officer's orders, of course. Those orders were simple: McCausland must let the FBI watch his every online move. In order for that to happen, McCausland must dump Linux for Windows in order for that to happen. McCausland claims that this is cruel and unusual punishment, as it means he will have to buy expensive software while he is unemployed.

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russianboy · Aug 26, 2007

dude, what country is this in?

whatever that country is, it should be nuked.

Weer · Aug 26, 2007

What if it was Russia?

russianboy · Aug 26, 2007

russia doesn't have copyright laws.

WarEagleAU · Aug 26, 2007

maybe sweden or switzerland? thats harsh.

mas0n · Aug 26, 2007

He lives in the US.

Easy Rhino · Aug 26, 2007

our govt is very backwards

pt · Aug 26, 2007

mas0n said:
He lives in the US.

NUKE IT!

mas0n · Aug 26, 2007

Our legal system certainly has it's flaws. Regardless of how you feel about file-sharing I think it's just plain cruel that he is now a felon. That means he cannot EVER vote in any public election or hold a public office, he is disqualified from 90% of apartment & condo leases, his work possibilities are similarly diminished, and who knows what government lists he is on now.

He should have to forfeit any profits he made from his crime and that should be the end of it.

The movie he posted online pre-release grossed $849,997,605 in theaters despite his distributing it for free...

pt · Aug 26, 2007

mas0n said:
Our legal system certainly has it's flaws. Regardless of how you feel about file-sharing I think it's just plain cruel that he is now a felon. That means he cannot EVER vote in any public election or hold a public office, he is disqualified from 90% of apartment & condo leases, his work possibilities are similarly diminished, and who knows what government lists he is on now.

He should have to forfeit any profits he made from his crime and that should be the end of it.

The movie he posted online pre-release grossed $849,997,605 despite his distributing it for free...

hw should move to a non pain in the ass country who doesn't care much about piratary

russianboy · Aug 26, 2007

also known as Russia, you can buy pre=cracked warez on CDs in shops all over the cities, even in the Moscow airport they sold HL2 for $5!

Easy Rhino · Aug 26, 2007

russianboy said:
also known as Russia, you can buy pre=cracked warez on CDs in shops all over the cities, even in the Moscow airport they sold HL2 for $5!

that is because the russian govt doesnt want any of its citizens supporting US industry.

niko084 · Aug 26, 2007

Use windows is simply cruel and unusual let alone the having to buy it... OMGZ!!!!

erocker · Aug 26, 2007

Dude, I wouldn't touch a computer if some government told me they were watching my every move and I had to use Windows.

yogurt_21 · Aug 26, 2007

lol thats like convicting someone of criminal speeding and telling them they have to dump their chevy for a kia. I'd say that's cruel and unusual.

GLD · Aug 26, 2007

If you can't do the time (or the punishment) don't do the damn crime! If it illegal, and you do it, and you get caught, and you have to suffer the consequences, it's your own damn fault. No sympathy from me. :shadedshu HaHa, serves him right!

I have never used torrents. IMO you would be advertising to the authorities you are a pirate. You don't think they keep an eye on the peoples that use that kind of software/service? Well they do, duh. This guy got busted.

3991vhtes · Aug 26, 2007

GLD said:
If you can't do the time (or the punishment) don't do the damn crime! If it illegal, and you do it, and you get caught, and you have to suffer the consequences, it's your own damn fault. No sympathy from me. :shadedshu HaHa, serves him right!

I have never used torrents. IMO you would be advertising to the authorities you are a pirate. You don't think they keep an eye on the peoples that use that kind of software/service? Well they do, duh. This guy got busted.

I agree. People feel for him and say it's cruel but yet he does the illegal things and gets caught. He diserves it! plus windows is better than linux TBH.

niko084 · Aug 26, 2007

3991vhtes said:
I agree. People feel for him and say it's cruel but yet he does the illegal things and gets caught. He diserves it! plus windows is better than linux TBH.

your fired..... :slap:

bassmasta · Aug 26, 2007

well, even if it is illegal, he should be given a fine and some jailtime, not this crap. and, the authorities usually have a hard time figuring out who is doing this, because of fun little programs like peer guardian.

niko084 · Aug 26, 2007

bassmasta said:
well, even if it is illegal, he should be given a fine and some jailtime, not this crap. and, the authorities usually have a hard time figuring out who is doing this, because of fun little programs like peer guardian.

I think some people here are taking this wrong because of the catchy headline...

He is not being "Forced" to use windows... He was told that if he wants to use a computer his actions have to be monitored the software only runs properly on "windows"... This is a VERY common practice for people involved in large computer related crimes, some are not allowed to use a computer at all.

As it says also he is doing jail time.

As goofy as it sounds he does make a good point in the end, funny but good.

strick94u · Aug 26, 2007

Someone should send him a hacked version of xp.

Which of course I am glad none of us have.

cdawall · Aug 26, 2007

yeah none of us have cracked xp

this is dumb flee to another country fuck that windows only shit stupid cali beaurocrats making up laws b/c hollywood isnt making the bazillion dollars they want

niko084 · Aug 26, 2007

cdawall said:
yeah none of us have cracked xp

this is dumb flee to another country fuck that windows only shit stupid cali beaurocrats making up laws b/c hollywood isnt making the bazillion dollars they want

Ditto and Ditto........

None of us would every dream of modifying our operating systems... I mean that would make MassiveShaft mad...

cdawall · Aug 26, 2007

i have XP PRO corp edition if you catch my drift

niko084 · Aug 26, 2007

cdawall said:
i have XP PRO corp edition if you catch my drift

Ya me too.... But I do own "a" copy of XP Pro..

Processor	AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Brisbane @ 2.8GHz (224x12.5, 1.425V)
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Power Supply	ThermalTake 430W TR2
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Processor	AMD 3500+ Venice at stock
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Memory	1 Gb Corsair Valueram CAS 3
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Storage	4 mixed up drives
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Software	Win2k Pro, XP, Ubuntu linux, and Vista

System Name	//////////////////////////////////////Crunching/Folding Builds\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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Power Supply	OCZ 750w [62A] \| OCZ 750w [62A] \| Antec 380w [31A] \| Antec 650w [54A] \| OCZ 400w [33A] \| GeN [20A]
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit + Windows XP 64-bit \| Windows Vista SP2 64-bit \| Windows 7 RTM 64-bit
Benchmark Scores	////////////////////////////////66,666 [Crunching] + 45,455 [Folding]\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Processor	AMD 3500+ Venice at stock
Motherboard	ECS K8T890-A
Memory	1 Gb Corsair Valueram CAS 3
Video Card(s)	Connect3d X800 GTO OC'd to 551.25/551.25
Storage	4 mixed up drives
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Power Supply	500 watt Ultra PSU
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Mouse	Razer Death Adder
Keyboard	Corsair K95 Mechanical & Corsair K65 Wired, Wireless, Bluetooth)
Software	Windows 10 Pro x64

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Storage	160GB on laptop+250GB external
Display(s)	ASUS 15.4
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Audio Device(s)	on-board
Power Supply	1:30minutes battery
Software	"genui xp", 'cause i hated vista

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Audio Device(s)	onboard HD -> Yamaha 5.1
Power Supply	EVGA 850 GQ
Mouse	Logitech wireless
Keyboard	same
VR HMD	nah
Software	Windows 10
Benchmark Scores	no one cares anymore lols

Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5700X, AMD Wraith Prism.
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Case	Antec GX202.
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Power Supply	Seasonic Prime GX-750.
Mouse	Logitech G203 Prodigy.
Keyboard	Logitech G213.
Software	Windows 11 Pro, @ Day 1.

Processor	AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Venice 2.4GHz
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Storage	Seagate 250GB SATA
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Case	cheap
Audio Device(s)	Creative SoundBlaster
Power Supply	500 watt
Software	Vista Ultimate
Benchmark Scores	4.1 Vista index

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Storage	2 X WD 150 Raptors Raid 0+600gig usb/ 500 gig hitachi
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Power Supply	OCZ extream Gaming 650 watt 4x18a/ external
Software	Dos 6.22/ win 3.11 for networks/ms bob server
Benchmark Scores	3dmark06 18,201/10601 3dmark05 23,943/not run Aquamark 218,094/not run

System Name	Moving into the mobile space
Processor	7940HS
Motherboard	HP trash
Cooling	HP trash
Memory	2x8GB
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Storage	512GB+2TB NVME
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Court Orders Convicted Pirate to Dump Linux and Use Windows

McLovin

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Bird of Prey

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not a suicide-bomber

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not a suicide-bomber

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bassmasta

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where the hell are my stars

where the hell are my stars