Pirate Site Survives ‘Operation: Sunstroke’ But Massive Lawsuit Awaits
At least on the surface, the story of Sdarot, Israel’s most popular pirate site, sounds quite similar to that of The Pirate Bay. Loved by millions and loathed by entertainment companies, both have demonstrated an unusual ability to remain online, despite overwhelming odds. But while The Pirate Bay has generated considerable revenue over the years, Sdarot’s existence and its ability to generate profit seem inexorably intertwined. The...
Youtube-dl Site Goes Offline as Hosting Provider Enforces Court-Ordered Ban
In 2020, the RIAA infuriated many players in the open source community by targeting YouTube-ripping tool, youtube-dl. The RIAA sent a takedown notice to GitHub, claiming that the software bypassed technological protection measures, in violation of the DMCA. GitHub initially complied but later changed course. After consulting legal experts, including those at the EFF, it restored the youtube-dl repository and launched a million-dollar...
