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BitTorrent Site Promises to Bring Back OiNK

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

October 26, 2007, 3:52 PM

The Pirate Bay said Friday that it was working on bringing back OiNK, a BitTorrent tracker that featured music files from "hundreds of thousands" of music albums.

OiNK was taken down on October 23 by police in the Netherlands and Britain in conjunction with the IFPI and BPI, and a message on the site's front page indicates that an investigation was ongoing into the "identities and activities" of its users.

However, the BitTorrent community has chosen to fight back, opening another site called BOiNK which is expected to be live within the next several days. The original owners of OiNK are not involved, nor are any other BitTorrent sites.

"The most important thing about BOiNK is perhaps the message it sends out to the IFPI and the BPI: It shows that that if you stop one tracker, others will pop up days after," Ernesto wrote for TorrentFreak. "It is a hydra. Call it a slap in the face if you want."

On Tuesday, British police arrested a 24-year-old man from Middlesbrough, a British city in east central Britain. Authorities are questioning the man on counts of conspiracy to defraud and copyright infringement, and his employer as well as the home of his father were also search as part of the raid.

The site's servers were reportedly seized in Amsterdam last week, although the site was functional until the man's arrest on Tuesday. OiNK was reportedly responsible for leaking up to 60 pre-release music albums during this year alone.

"OiNK was central to the illegal distribution of pre-release music online. This was not a case of friends sharing music for pleasure," IFPI anti-piracy chief Jeremy Banks said in a statement. "This was a worldwide network that got hold of music they did not own the rights to and posted it online.

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By bourgeoisdude

edited Oct 29, 2007 - 2:44 PM

"The most important thing about BOiNK is perhaps the message it sends out to the IFPI and the BPI: It shows that that if you stop one tracker, others will pop up days after,"

As true as that is, that is a message that will shut down the new network more quickley than the old ones.

Anyone here ever told a cop to his face that you will break the law again and this time the whole police force couldn't stop you if they tried? Talk about STUPID. Every resource in the world is already being gathered to prevent BOiNK from showing up, I promise you. It may show up, but it won't take long to shut it down.

Geez, none of these people have any sense. Napster said "in your face" and got strung up, Kazaa said "in your face" and was shut down...DUH! Stop with the offensive campaign and work of the radar if you wanna survive...

...I can't believe just gave advice to criminals, hahaha...

Score: 0

By Program86

edited Oct 29, 2007 - 11:58 AM

UPDATE: "We" are almost ready to revive OiNK (BOiNK), and their database. Luckily their data was mostly in tact and easily recompiled for the new setup. If you want more updates, you know where to find us.... *WINK*

Score: 0

By skapig

posted Oct 27, 2007 - 3:19 PM

The problem with so many discussions like these is that they are based on the assumption that the RIAA represents all recording artists when in fact they only represent a small minority. Disagreeing with the RIAA's boneheaded policies does not justify getting away with not spending a dime on music.

You really have to consider the reality of the independent music business. Supporting the performers you enjoy matters a great deal. When the numbers are smaller, each sale matters a great deal. If you enjoy what you hear from an artist that is still around, you should absolutely contribute something. That way you can help keep the goodness coming because studio time is not free and they have to pay the bills too.

Some argue that record labels are becoming irrelevant, but that's another over broad statement. The practices of the major labels are becoming irrelevant as they persist in dragging their feet when it comes to adapting to the changing market. That and for some reason they have forgotten past marketing practices that would still be very effective (merged alongside the new, of course). Independent labels and labels in general aren't going anywhere because, simply put, the artists suck at marketing their music. It's an entirely different skill set and they would really much rather be focusing on making it and performing it anyway.

All of this comes from the unique perspective of a concert promoter who works with plenty of artists and labels. I'm not ashamed to admit that I do my fair share of P2P, but I have no silly entitlement delusion. With all the RIAA-centric talk, it's easy for many to forget the bigger picture. My goal is just to get you thinking a bit broader whether you agree with me or not.

Score: 0

By bufftbone

posted Oct 27, 2007 - 2:24 PM

thank god oink is gone. they were a bit to stuck up. I'm glad pirate bay is doing something to continue it. pirate bay is much better.

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Oct 26, 2007 - 11:43 PM

What's a "Bit torrent"?

Score: 0

By mackintire

edited Oct 28, 2007 - 12:15 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bittorrent

You asked. Wiki explains.

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Oct 28, 2007 - 9:18 PM

What's a "wiki"?

Score: 0

By notomat

posted Oct 29, 2007 - 10:48 AM

New Zealand flightless bird.

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Oct 29, 2007 - 12:16 PM

So I need to fly to New Zealand and ask a penguin what "Bit Torrent" is?

Score: 0

By t1k

edited Oct 26, 2007 - 5:29 PM

"This was not a case of friends sharing music for pleasure,"

That is *exactly* what OiNK was.

I think it's a shame so many people quote verbatim from the press releases from the likes of the BPI without doing any of their own investigation.

Anyhoo - something else exactly the same will pop up within days - there are 100 other similar sites out there, OiNK was just the biggest and best - the capitalists and politicians can suck my balls, they are finished as far as digital rights goes (and they put themselves in this situation)

Long live freedom - on the internet and in real life too!

Score: 0

By mrow

posted Oct 26, 2007 - 7:05 PM

It's funny how clueless these copyright agencies are..

Score: 0

By KRome

posted Oct 26, 2007 - 7:05 PM

people buy music?

Score: 0

By Hall9000

posted Oct 29, 2007 - 1:05 PM

Yes! They do! Would you believe because of file sharing of all things? At least in my case. Today I'll be getting, at least if I can find them where I live the three CDs of Days Of The New. That's what I also did with Wolfmother, and quite a few other artists. MP3s are great but are NOT high quality. They don't equal the CD itself, even if the player is not top of the line. Plus, and this is rather strange, most MP3s you find in file sharing are poor quality sounding. But then, maybe it's just me wanting quality over quantity.

Score: 0

By ingram091

edited Oct 26, 2007 - 6:58 PM

Pfft. Whatever..

That's the point this is a game of Wackamole. That's why I think these RIAA MPAA type organizations are wasting their time and more importantly the Artists share of revenue on these kinds of things instead of EVOLVING to embrace a royalty system from ISPs as they would from Radio & Television stations. I know if they added a $5 fee a month on my Internet bill and I could download whatever the hell I want, I would be fine with that. as would millions of others... If they just did that for the numbers of Bittorrent users; that's $1.2 BILLION a year in profits Right there... If all Internet users I'm sure it would go into Trillions a year profit. What are these Idiots waiting for? Oh yea. they are grasping to a archaic few million $$ a year market that with every intimidation and threatening to their customer base have sales falling every year... Humm? VISION people VISION!!!

Score: 0

By marrix

posted Oct 27, 2007 - 8:47 AM

To echo, and perhaps expand upon the sentiments expressed by ingram091, we are seeing the beginning of an evolution re disto of music by artists themselves.
If I recall correctly Arctic Monkeys realized this at the beginning of their careers, however I must stress, now they are "mainstream" I have no idea how much control they now retain.
Should I be mistaken kindly correct me in regard to the last sentence.

Score: 0

By Adrian79

posted Oct 26, 2007 - 5:08 PM

wow these crimals are very daring!! gotta love it ;-)

Score: 0

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