Man behind online file-sharing hub pleads guilty to theft

**Ne007** · August 30th, 2005, 01:06 PM

LOS ANGELES -- A man who ran an Internet file-sharing hub where computer users could swap movie, music and software files has pleaded guilty to grand theft, prosecutors said Friday.
Jed Frederick Kobles, 34, pleaded guilty to a single felony count. His conviction represents the first in a criminal Internet file-sharing case in the state, according to the Los Angeles County's district attorney's office. Kobles, who lived in Los Angeles when he was arrested, has since moved to Las Vegas.
According to the original complaint against Kobles, he operated an online file-sharing hub known as UTB Smokinghouse under the name Raging8.
Over four days in January, Kobles and other unidentified conspirators made films like "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," and "National Treasure" available on the Internet for others to download without permission.
To have access to the free content on Kobles' hub, computer users had to have their own selection of content that they were willing to make available. An undercover investigator who gained entry into the file-sharing ring downloaded more than 14 movies, TV shows and music videos, prosecutors said.
Kobles faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 20.

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**black_magiic** · August 30th, 2005, 01:16 PM

holy shit 14?!?!?! I think I downloaded more than that last week :P

**mcovey** · August 30th, 2005, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by black_magiic

holy shit 14?!?!?! I think I downloaded more than that last week :P

so true...

**Digital Bliss** · August 30th, 2005, 02:40 PM

14 thats it *looks at the 20 cases full of dvds at side*

**scarby** · August 30th, 2005, 03:20 PM

same as above. lol

**teto** · August 30th, 2005, 04:17 PM

ARRG its NOT STEALING *explodes*

...ahem. I requestfully demand that the courts reword the charges as "We're sending you to jail for copyright infringement," not for "grand theft," and not for "larceny." You don't want to mess with the language, mister judge, otherwise people will start doing silly things like replacing the word "law" with "unjust."

**1985** · August 31st, 2005, 06:10 AM

Start using anonymous p2p file sharing or moves your own server elsewhere. Hub owners, indexing forum admins, releasers, sharers: why do you risk? Move elsewhere, defend your privacy and your rights, or use anon p2p programs

**Daimonion** · August 31st, 2005, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by teto

ARRG its NOT STEALING *explodes*

...ahem. I requestfully demand that the courts reword the charges as "We're sending you to jail for copyright infringement," not for "grand theft," and not for "larceny." You don't want to mess with the language, mister judge, otherwise people will start doing silly things like replacing the word "law" with "unjust."

I agree Its smacks of double speak to me and some are lapping it up using words like "take", "steal", "theft" when blatently this isnt happening . . . alas allot of people have trouble distinguishing between their opinion and fact.

I am suprised that this is occuring in courts, I thought generally these people were supposed to be well educated.