The Witcher 2 Contains Secret Sauce To 'Catch 100% Of Pirates'

[badtaylorx]

sounds like the op has some pirated games to me....

 

[qubit]

sounds like the op has some pirated games to me....

I do not. You shouldn't go making accusations like that.

 

[digibucc]

don't you know Q, people only need .6 posts in order to know everything about you. if it seems they are wrong you are just being dishonest. rule #44 of the internet.

 

[Blacklash]

If there is nothing wrong with pirating games why do the folks defending it get upset when someone suggests they may engage in the activity?

I don't expect people that do pirate games to get on their rooftops and scream, "I pirate software!" On the other hand, I don't expect people who aggressively support such things to be outraged or indignant if people suspect them of pirating.

If I was vehemently arguing on a forum for the legalization weed, I wouldn't be surprised if people suspected that I blaze. If it could bring me trouble, I simply wouldn't confirm or deny.

 

[digibucc]

If there is nothing wrong with pirating games why do the folks defending it get upset when someone suggests they may engage in the activity?

it's amazing how many times it can be said and people still don't even want to recognize the argument. just because you disagree with the way publishers are handling the issue doesn't mean you are a pirate. just because you recognize that the word steal doesn't apply to situations where nothing is actually physically removed, doesn't mean you are a pirate. just because you don't fall in line and eat the lies doesn't mean you are a pirate.

it is entirely possible to recognize the lies, price gouging, and general disdain for customers that the game industry contains - while at the same time refraining from illegally downloading software. And when you assume we are pirates ourselves, from your base argument you are personally calling us thieves. do you really expect us to not become upset with that ? not to mention there is simply no need to make assumptions about someones personal character, just because they disagree with you. if you can't add anything more than that to the discussion, imho you don't really deserve to be a part of it

 

[Wile E]

This news story is not true. Reread the PCGamer source.

There is no mention of tracking software being installed anywhere. The are monitoring piracy sites, and using that to catch people in some manner.

 

[Blacklash]

I did not say people who defend pirating are pirates.

I said it's not >surprising< that some may suspect others of it if they vigorously defend such a position.

I support gay rights however I'm straight. I don't become indignant if people accuse me of being gay. Why? I don't find being gay morally objectionable.

 

[digibucc]

I support gay rights however I'm straight. I don't become indignant if people accuse me of being gay. Why? I don't find being gay morally objectionable.

I don't "support" piracy. i don't know who on here actually does, save maybe for newt - and he's been silent here. replace every instance of "are a pirate" with "support piracy" (in my last post) and maybe it'll be clearer.

Also - you are not (i don't think) currently in a discussion ABOUT homosexuality. no one is calling you gay in order to personally disparage you in an attempt to evade the fact that they have nothing to add, or can't logically respond to an argument. it's bad enough when people assume knowledge and use insults out of ignorance - when it's a deliberate attempt to derail and defame... yeah that's a little annoying

 

[qubit]

This news story is not true. Reread the PCGamer source.

There is no mention of tracking software being installed anywhere. The are monitoring piracy sites, and using that to catch people in some manner.

Yes, they're using those torrent sites as a starting point. However, as has been mentioned in the PC Gamer article and widely shown elsewhere, accurately targeting individuals using this method is next to impossible. Then, as they are being all cagey about revealing their methods or which company they're using, I speculated on how they could be achieving this alleged "100%" success rate, which sounds highly dubious to myself and the authors of the source articles - and I clearly stated that it was speculation in my story. The fact is that short on spying on users by lifting their details off their PCs you just can't identify them with any accuracy.

Yes, they should come clean on what methods they're using and I don't buy the argument that it would compromise their ability to catch people. If their methods are really so legal and benign, then they shouldn't have a problem discussing them.

 

[Wile E]

I don't disagree they should come clean. But it shouldn't be assumed that it's software that gets installed on our computer, and your aticle takes a heavy bias in that direction, with no real facts to base it on.

Then the part about how them tracking down suspected pirates is extortion is also something I strongly disagree with. They have a right to protect their intellectual property. It doesn't matter what effect piracy has on the issue, it's taking something you were not authorized to take, and is therefore illegal. The monetary ramifications on the gaming industry are irrelevant.

 

[digibucc]

Then the part about how them tracking down suspected pirates is extortion is also something I strongly disagree with.

that's something a us judge has agreed with. tracking down actual pirates is obviously fine - but when you just send letters that demand $1000 or you will be brought to court - and people who definitely, 100% did not pirate get caught in that net - and not just caught, but they were aimed for -then it is extortion, and that's what the us judge and i believe qubit were referring to - not to speak for either.

 

[Wile E]

that's something a us judge has agreed with. tracking down actual pirates is obviously fine - but when you just send letters that demand $1000 or you will be brought to court - and people who definitely, 100% did not pirate get caught in that net - and not just caught, but they were aimed for -then it is extortion, and that's what the us judge and i believe qubit were referring to - not to speak for either.

Still can't assume it's extortion when we don't know how much compensation they are demanding. The judge only agreed that unnaturally inflated amounts are extortion, not legitimate amounts.

 

[qubit]

I don't disagree they should come clean. But it shouldn't be assumed that it's software that gets installed on our computer, and your aticle takes a heavy bias in that direction, with no real facts to base it on.

Well, I did say it was speculation. But it's very reasonable and plausible speculation. If you have a better suggestion of how they can do this without spyware, I'd be interested to hear it.

Then the part about how them tracking down suspected pirates is extortion is also something I strongly disagree with. They have a right to protect their intellectual property. It doesn't matter what effect piracy has on the issue, it's taking something you were not authorized to take, and is therefore illegal. The monetary ramifications on the gaming industry are irrelevant.

Yes, it's extortion. Demanding money/compensation from someone without actually demonstrating any losses from their actions is extortion. This is regardless of the legality or morality of the target's initial action (the alleged piracy here). It's particularly out of order and extortionate when you have some big corporation going after an individual whom they know damned well doesn't have the resources (ie money) to fight back. Regardless of their guilt or innocence, they're just gonna pay up, because they are forced to and these big companies totally rely on that. In fact, they CD Projekt actually admitted that none of the cases had actually reached court. And I can tell you that's the way they want it to stay, lest their little extortion scams get scrutinized to closely, like happened in England. Davenport Lyons & ACS Law the two scam artists who tried this scam on people got destroyed by the courts in the end, didn't they?

 

[Wile E]

It is not reasonable or plausible to speculate it's something installed on our computers when the sources you used for this editorial make no mention of anything being installed. There are no facts to back your speculation.

It's not extortion if they have valid claims against the subject, and the amount demanded is not exorbitant. If they have proof a person pirated it, they have a valid claim. You simply do not have enough facts on this issue to be able to label it extortion.

 

[qubit]

It is not reasonable or plausible to speculate it's something installed on our computers when the sources you used for this editorial make no mention of anything being installed. There are no facts to back your speculation.

The sources don't have to say it. It's just a bit of deductive reasoning from the facts in the source stories. Seriously, how do you think they can identify individuals with such accuracy without doing this?

It's not extortion if they have valid claims against the subject, and the amount demanded is not exorbitant. If they have proof a person pirated it, they have a valid claim. You simply do not have enough facts on this issue to be able to label it extortion.

Claiming any amount without proving damages is extortion. I don't care whether the law legally allow them to do so or not, in my book, it's extortion. For every other crime on the planet, the plaintiff has to show some kind of loss - except for bloody copyright. This is some kind of hallowed ground where they can just claim without showing any kind of losses. What kind of BS is this? :shadedshu And my point about big corps just squeezing the little guy regardless of guilt is still valid - you've not addressed this.

 

[Wile E]

The sources don't have to say it. It's just a bit of deductive reasoning from the facts in the source stories. Seriously, how do you think they can identify individuals with such accuracy without doing this?



Claiming any amount without proving damages is extortion. I don't care whether the law legally allow them to do so or not, in my book, it's extortion. For every other crime on the planet, the plaintiff has to show some kind of loss - except for bloody copyright. This is some kind of hallowed ground where they can just claim without showing any kind of losses. What kind of BS is this? :shadedshu And my point about big corps just squeezing the little guy regardless of guilt is still valid - you've not addressed this.

They are only claiming accuracy. They have provided no proof. Again, no facts to back the theory at all. It's not a reasonable assumption in the slightest with so few facts.

If you have a copy of the game that was not obtained legitimately, you need to pay the retail value for that game, plus any costs associated with them having to take legal action. If you do not want to obtain the game legitimately, you don't get to have it, period. It's pretty cut and dry to me. There is no gray area. This is not extortion if all they are asking is for the cost of the game plus any legitimate legal fees. That is 100% reasonable.

 

[Frick]

I don't care whether the law legally allow them to do so or not, in my book, it's extortion.

This is one of the main issues have with your entire argument. Why would you be above the law?

 

[digibucc]

This is one of the main issues have with your entire argument. Why would you be above the law?

he never said he was above it, he said that's how he viewed it. if you blindly obey the law with no thought to morality or ethics ... that's something i have an issue with. do you know how complicated the law is? how many things are illegal? i would bet that you do something illegal every day without even noticing it.

if the law were set by hitler or pol pot, does it have as much weight then? well then who are YOU to decide whose laws are worth following and whose aren't? we don't have that right?

but your staunch defense of software pirating certainly makes it sound that way....

he's not defending piracy - i don't think anyone here actually is. he is defending the innocent people who get snared in the extortion trap. i don't get why it is so hard to separate the two. there is more to the argument than they are pirates, pirates = thieves, end of story. the publishers actions DO matter, regardless of what caused them. the have repercussions and to just shift that blame to "pirates" is simply an attempt to scapegoat, though a good one at that.

 

[badtaylorx]

I do not. You shouldn't go making accusations like that.

but your staunch defense of software pirating certainly makes it sound that way....

btw...an accusation would start out "you are"

not "sounds like"

don't you know Q, people only need .6 posts in order to know everything about you. if it seems they are wrong you are just being dishonest. rule #44 of the internet.

common sense is all we need here...

anybody know the difference between a brown-noser and an a$s kisser???

depth perception

 

[Legacy-ZA]

Pffft, there is already a problem that I can see with this thing, it tracks your IP address? Ooooooo brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, I am sure you got them running scared now...
All they will have to do is; Open Firewall, block all incoming/outgoing traffic / Remove LAN cable / switch off router... good luck "tracking" that IP /rolls eyes

 

[Mussels]

Pffft, there is already a problem that I can see with this thing, it tracks your IP address? Ooooooo brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, I am sure you got them running scared now...
All they will have to do is; Open Firewall, block all incoming/outgoing traffic / Remove LAN cable / switch off router... good luck "tracking" that IP /rolls eyes

they're still talking about when you download the game in the first place via torrents, not about software in the game itself.


despite the theories about software being used to track you, all the comments from the sourcem materials sound like they're just checking IP's from the torrents again.

 

[Legacy-ZA]

they're still talking about when you download the game in the first place via torrents, not about software in the game itself.


despite the theories about software being used to track you, all the comments from the sourcem materials sound like they're just checking IP's from the torrents again.

What you say is true.

But (there is always a but isn't there? ) I wouldn't get my hopes up too much, I am sure there will be pirate that will create some sort of "3rd party tool" that will block their eyes, they always seem to find away around the system.

 

[Mussels]

What you say is true.

But (there is always a but isn't there? ) I wouldn't get my hopes up too much, I am sure there will be pirate that will create some sort of "3rd party tool" that will block their eyes, they always seem to find away around the system.

seedbox or someome elses internet. its why IP tracking is so crap.

one person can download it and share it to 50 other people or 5,000 so the IP addresses really are worthless.

 

[Legacy-ZA]

seedbox or someome elses internet. its why IP tracking is so crap.

one person can download it and share it to 50 other people or 5,000 so the IP addresses really are worthless.

I concur.

 

[qubit]

but your staunch defense of software pirating certainly makes it sound that way....

btw...an accusation would start out "you are"

not "sounds like"

I'm not "staunchly defending piracy". I'm against underhand methods to try and track people down for it, as I've explained very clearly in the article and in posts in this thread. Or put another way, just because someone may or may not be committing an illegal act against you, doesn't give you the right to engage in illegal acts yourself to get to them. That's basic law and order.

btw, no I don't see this whole "piracy" issue as such a big problem, as I've said. That doesn't change anything, either.

Finally, an accusation can made any way one likes and yours was a semi-veiled and not very subtle one, so don't BS me that you weren't.