Two men who were part of a huge network of internet software pirates, known as Drink Or Die, have been convicted at the Old Bailey. BBC News investigates how the network worked and what motivated those involved.
They called themselves Drink Or Die (DOD).
They were a network of computer buffs who derived pleasure from cracking codes protecting copyrighted software such as Windows 95.
They would then share it with each other. There is no suggestion any of them profited financially.
But the authorities in both Britain and the United States considered it software piracy and took a dim view of networks such as DOD, one of a number of so-called warez organisations operating on the internet.
In October 2000 the US Customs Service began an investigation into DOD and other networks, such as Razor 1911, Risciso, Myth and Popz.
Global raids
Fourteen months later US Customs co-ordinated a series of raids across the globe as part of Operation Buccaneer.
Seventy search warrants were executed in the US, Britain, Australia, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
At least 60 people were arrested worldwide – 45 of them in the US.
Among the leaders of the network were Americans John Sankus – known by his internet nickname Eriflleh (Hellfire spelt backwards) – Richard Berry, Kent Kartadinata and Christopher Tresco, who used a server based at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The longest jail sentence – 46 months – was handed down to Sankus, a 28-year-old from Philadelphia.
US Attorney Paul McNulty said at the time: “John Sankus and his techno-gang operated in the faceless world of the internet and thought they would never be caught.
“They were wrong. These sentences, and those to follow, should send a message to others entertaining similar beliefs of invincibility.”
But one man still in legal limbo is British-born Australian Hew Raymond Griffiths, who is still fighting against extradition to the US.
Appeal
US Customs claimed Mr Griffiths was one of DOD’s leaders but his lawyer, Antony Townsden, told the BBC News website it was a laughable suggestion and added: “He was living on welfare and had such an old computer that he couldn’t even download software.
“The allegation that he was the group’s co-leader is illusory. He had the least technical skills of anyone, he couldn’t crack any codes and he has only been called a leader because he was a loudmouth who wrote a lot on their messageboard.”
Mr Townsden said if he had committed any crimes he should be prosecuted in Australia, not the US. He claimed the Australian government’s decision to accept the extradition request was typical of their current “acquiescent” attitude to the US.
Read the complete story @ BBC News
