It may be one of the most annoying sights on Google’s adsense, but now one of the operators behind the ads that promise discounted copies of software has been convicted of criminal software piracy.
It may be one of the more rare occasions where US copyright laws is being used in such a way that file-sharers would overwhelmingly rejoice over, but according to the Associated Press, it has actually happened.
The story details the Department of Justice detailing the activities of a Texan man named Dunaway who operated about 40 websites and sold warez to unsuspecting victims. He used advertising through major search engines to promote his sites and made off with hundreds of thousands of dollars. His operation was in existence since about 2004 all the way up to last year.
People who sell warez online end up earning the scorn of file-sharers everywhere since they blatantly break a sort of unwritten code that you don’t sell warez. Now, a sense of justice might be felt for some as he is forced to pay $810,000 in damages. The fine will be paid in part through a Ferrari and a Rolex watch he bought as a result of the booming business he had.
Still, it’s not often that people who do sell warez online who don’t reside in Asia somewhere get caught and have their stories plastered around – in fact, it has been the exception, not the rule. With that in mind, it almost seems that people who sell warez in the first place wind up in a strangely safe position. Hated by file-sharers, practically ignored by copyright holders in comparison to the massive lawsuit campaign against file-sharers who don’t make money online. An observer might point out that fewer people are actually selling warez online and more people are actively file-sharing. It’s perhaps why copyright holders are seemingly less concerned over people they probably should go after for copyright infringement.
Still, with this conviction, that means 1 down, several thousand more to go.
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That’s pretty incredible (not to mention stupid)… operating 40 paid warez sites on US soil since ‘04. Counterfeiters that live a life of luxury off the backs of legitimate business owners SHOULD be strung up to the tune of $810000 including a prison sentence. Yes probably several thousand more to go. But these are the types copyright owners should fear and pursue the most.