Pirate Banned From Using Linux 698
dsinc writes "A guy who uploaded the latest Star Wars movie got arrested, pleaded guilty to 'conspiracy to commit copyright infringement' and 'criminal copyright infringement' and got jail and home confinement. As part of his home confinement, he agreed to install some tracking software on his computer. The problem is He's an Ubuntu Linux user and the gov't doesn't have any tracking software for Linux. So he's been told that he must use Windows for the term of his confinement. Looks like a case of cruel and unusual punishment to me"
Re:Jail for movie piracy? WTF? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. (Score:3, Informative)
These terms are hardly arbitrary... He committed a crime with his computer and now he is going to have his computer activities monitored. This is the same as having ignition interlocks on automobiles in response to a DUI. When you are a "ward of the state" which you are while you are under probation, you do not have freedom, at that point you have actually had your freedom revoked. Probation is a tool for measuring your ability to fit back into society...
By the way, they did not "mandate" he use Windows, they simply said that his internet access must be monitored... Currently they only have the monitoring software for Windows, so therefore if he wants internet access he must suck it up and buy windows if he does not already have it... He has a choice, buy Windows or wait 5 months and use whatever he wants.
No pity here.
Re:what makes this punishment cruel? (Score:3, Informative)
I think (and I expect most libertarians would agree) that the government should never have the power to force a citizen to do business with any corporation, especially when that corporation is an unregulated abusive monopoly.
The Description of the Crime (Score:1, Informative)
Re:So? Can't he use a Windows box to route? (Score:1, Informative)
There is some software that doesn't compile cleanly, and it's definitely slower than native Unix, but at least it makes life bearable.
Heck you can even run sshd under Cygwin, and shell into that box if you have to.
Re:Why... (Score:2, Informative)
He can only use windows because part of his probation is to be monitored. If he doesn't personally purchase/install his own windows, then he simply cannot use the internet/computer. As for "I'll do this once they leave" ideas... are you guys really that dumb? I'm sorry, but you don't think that they would monitor his usage? If nothing is being monitored, you've got two options:
1. he's not using the internet.
2. he's subverted the monitoring.
A pirate uploading material is probably damn well used to the internet, and will probably use it because it's hard not to use it once you have.
MAYBE if he used windows for some time, and then used Linux... maybe he could get away with it by showing legitimate monitored windows usage. But then he's still using windows which is apparently like pulling teeth.
Lastly, if it was you, would you risk going back to prison for 5 months just to use Linux over windows? Or maybe i should ask that question here...
They aren't forcing him to do anything, they are telling him if he wants to do something, he has to do it a certain way.
Parole violation (Score:4, Informative)
Ie: You are not allowed to use a computer if we cant see what you are doing with it.
The point is not that he cannot do it. The point is he is not allowed to do it. He is probably not allowed to get a linux shell somewhere else either.
When the parole officer inspect his computer and see his VMware installation with a linux VM, they would probably put him back in jail.
But hey it could be worse, they could forbid him to use any computer. He probably should anyway, and try something else.
A better solution (Score:5, Informative)
It shouldn't be too hard to put together a 'loader' for this monitoring program to make it turn a blind eye to certain classes of network access. That is, if such a loader hasn't already been written. But if not, that'd be a good assignment for the various 1337 cR4ck1ng Cr3\/\/z out there.
Of course, the shim would need to heavily disguise its own existence. If the guy got caught using it, he'd better order a healthy supply of KY Gel ready for a holiday in Club Fed.
Re:Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. (Score:5, Informative)
This is where I lose you. You think that the Alabama police should be arresting people for sodomy or (until a few years ago) marrying someone of a different race?
There are many checks on dumb laws. The first is the intelligence of legislators. Since that often fails, we have other checks: the people can just not obey them, and if they don't, the police can choose to not enforce them, the judges can choose to not sentence for them... you might have heard of the Scopes trials?
This power, to selectively enforce the law, is used more often than you might think.
Re:So? Can't he use a Windows box to route? (Score:5, Informative)
There. I fixed that for you.
The same law really does apply to people who use Macintoshes, no matter what you may think.
Re:So? Can't he use a Windows box to route? (Score:2, Informative)
Windows Services for Unix 3.5 is free to Windows XP and 2003 users.
Included by default in 2003 Server R2 and all Vista editions.
WSU allows a windows machine to run perl, bash and ruby programs much the same way as
Cygwin.
WSU supports native mounting unix NFS shares also
http://www.osnews.com/story.php/5751/Review-of-Wi
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx
Re:Why... (Score:3, Informative)
But that would be "pirating" the CDs...aaaarrhh...and she could go to jail. Whereas, what was done to her was only theft of CDs, a far less serious crime (as it falls into the class of crimes with human--not corporate--victims) that the police would doubtless not even bother to record.
Umm...actually I meant to write something funny...uhh...nevermind
Re:So? Can't he use a Windows box to route? (Score:3, Informative)
Actually, that's often exactly what they do (never mind the gay/lesbian specific), it's not like you get to pick any alcohol or drug treatment program you like--there's a limited list of diversions. Now, usually you agree to a diversion to avoid a sentence like a fine or jail term; but try, for example, to find a non-smoking AA group (if that's important to you). I'd say your analogy is apt but rather undermines your point.
Re:So? Can't he use a Windows box to route? (Score:5, Informative)
A live CD also works wonders, but without the hard evidence of virtualization. Again, if they had a way to monitor his traffic from the upstream, it would be bad. If they rely on the monitoring software as the only monitor, than use a live CD for checking e-mail and other places where you don't want to compromise your online passwords. Monitoring online activity is one thing. Harvesting his login info for his online accounts is another. That over-reaches monitoring online activity and opens doors to stuff beyond the current monitoring.
I I had mandatory online monitoring, I would not log in to any online account. I would not accidentally give that info to them.
Re:So? Can't he use a Windows box to route? (Score:3, Informative)
You must be new here. "Fixed it for you" is a common
For example, you could reply to this post with:
Re:So? Can't he use a Windows box to route? (Score:4, Informative)
Main site (in Danish):
http://www.prosa.dk/om_prosa/polippix.shtml [prosa.dk]
Review (in English):
http://www.madpenguin.org/cms/?m=show&id=7822 [madpenguin.org]
Re:So? Can't he use a Windows box to route? (Score:2, Informative)
Your above statement is inaccurate. They will not buy you a new computer, they will inform you that, if you wish to access the internet, it must be through a pc running their software. The specifics are now their problem, it is up to you to comply. If you insist upon using a pc which is not compatible (i.e. a non-windows box) you will not be allowed access the internet, under penalty of fines and/or imprisonment. I will now for humorous effect craft a sentence similar to yours but altered to represent a more realistic take on the situation.
Since this is like your statement, but true, I declare this to be the "repaired" or "fixed" version of your statement! Haha!