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29/06/2012
Links Website Operator Faces Jail
A man who ran a site offering links to TV content has been convicted of conspiracy to defraud.
Anton Vickerman, 41, will be sentenced next month and faces up to ten years in jail for charges relating to surfthechannel.com.
His wife Karen was found not guilty on the same charges.
The landmark case against the operator of the streaming links website has been condemned by internet commentators.
Linking sites have previously won such cases by claiming they were innocent as they did not host the copyright-infringing material.
The case was brought by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) and the Motion Picture Association of America.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the site had up to 400,000 users a day and made about £35,000 a month in revenue.
Surfthechannel was one of the 500 most popular websites in the world.
FACT director general said: "Those operating pirate websites are not outside the law but can be tracked down and brought to justice. This was a criminal conspiracy for criminal profit to fund a criminal lifestyle and Vickerman is now paying the price."
But Graham Linehan, writer of sitcoms The IT Crowd, Black Books and Father Ted, said such prosecutions were cause for alarm.
He said: "The internet has changed everything, people doing what comes naturally in these new, uncharted waters and suddenly they're getting their collars felt by people who still have Hotmail addresses."
(NE)
Anton Vickerman, 41, will be sentenced next month and faces up to ten years in jail for charges relating to surfthechannel.com.
His wife Karen was found not guilty on the same charges.
The landmark case against the operator of the streaming links website has been condemned by internet commentators.
Linking sites have previously won such cases by claiming they were innocent as they did not host the copyright-infringing material.
The case was brought by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) and the Motion Picture Association of America.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the site had up to 400,000 users a day and made about £35,000 a month in revenue.
Surfthechannel was one of the 500 most popular websites in the world.
FACT director general said: "Those operating pirate websites are not outside the law but can be tracked down and brought to justice. This was a criminal conspiracy for criminal profit to fund a criminal lifestyle and Vickerman is now paying the price."
But Graham Linehan, writer of sitcoms The IT Crowd, Black Books and Father Ted, said such prosecutions were cause for alarm.
He said: "The internet has changed everything, people doing what comes naturally in these new, uncharted waters and suddenly they're getting their collars felt by people who still have Hotmail addresses."
(NE)
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14 August 2012
Four Year Jail Term For Surfthechannel.com Owner
A 38-year-old man has become the first person to be jailed in the UK over piracy, and has been sentenced to four years in prison at Newcastle crown court. Anton Vickerman made £35,000 a month through the website, surfthechannel.com, that linked to pirated copies of films and TV shows. The website had around 400,000 users a day.
Four Year Jail Term For Surfthechannel.com Owner
A 38-year-old man has become the first person to be jailed in the UK over piracy, and has been sentenced to four years in prison at Newcastle crown court. Anton Vickerman made £35,000 a month through the website, surfthechannel.com, that linked to pirated copies of films and TV shows. The website had around 400,000 users a day.
30 March 2010
'Meow Meow' Banned
Mephedrone is to be banned as a Class B substance following recommendations from the Government's drug advisory panel. The previously 'legal-high' will face an immediate ban on imports, with Border patrols given the power to destroy any further shipments of the drug.
'Meow Meow' Banned
Mephedrone is to be banned as a Class B substance following recommendations from the Government's drug advisory panel. The previously 'legal-high' will face an immediate ban on imports, with Border patrols given the power to destroy any further shipments of the drug.
24 March 2009
Dubai Prison Mother Loses Custody Of Children
A British mother jailed in Dubai for adultery has lost her court battle to keep custody of her two children. Marnie Pearce, originally from Bracknell, Berkshire, was found guilty of adultery by a Dubai court in November, after her Egyptian ex-husband, Ihab El Labban accused her of adultery.
Dubai Prison Mother Loses Custody Of Children
A British mother jailed in Dubai for adultery has lost her court battle to keep custody of her two children. Marnie Pearce, originally from Bracknell, Berkshire, was found guilty of adultery by a Dubai court in November, after her Egyptian ex-husband, Ihab El Labban accused her of adultery.
16 November 2010
Smoking During Pregnancy 'Linked To Offending'
New research, published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, suggests that mums who smoke heavily while pregnant run the risk of having kids who grow up to become repeat criminal offenders.
Smoking During Pregnancy 'Linked To Offending'
New research, published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, suggests that mums who smoke heavily while pregnant run the risk of having kids who grow up to become repeat criminal offenders.
27 June 2011
More Criminal Justice Data For Police.uk
Launched in January, www.police.uk allows people to type in a postcode and find out what crime and antisocial behaviour has been committed in their neighbourhood. The site has received more than 420 million hits since its launch.
More Criminal Justice Data For Police.uk
Launched in January, www.police.uk allows people to type in a postcode and find out what crime and antisocial behaviour has been committed in their neighbourhood. The site has received more than 420 million hits since its launch.
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