Creating a torrent tracker, anything I need to know

[Kenethon]

Hey guys,

I want to start a torrent tracker, where it's recommended to be hosted, and where the domain to be registered. Should it be private? There will be an option to the user to upload anything so there's a chance to be copyrights issues. It's really hard, and challenging subject. I know only few can help, but even a link to read about it will be really appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[ecmst12]

No one here is going to help you break the law.

 

[TheGeekess]

Hey guys,

I want to start a torrent tracker, where it's recommended to be hosted, and where the domain to be registered. Should it be private? There will be an option to the user to upload anything so there's a chance to be copyrights issues. It's really hard, and challenging subject. I know only few can help, but even a link to read about it will be really appreciated.

Thanks!

http://www.google.com

 

[quincy]

It's really hard, and challenging subject. I know only few can help, but even a link to read about it will be really appreciated.

The hardest and most challenging part of starting a torrent tracker is having in reserve the couple of million dollars necessary for your copyright infringement defense (for both civil and criminal actions). Once you have that, I suggest you have an attorney on speed dial and a bag packed with essentials, for your potentially-lengthy stay in jail.

Although it is potentially possible to establish a legal file sharing network, if what is shared is confined to public domain materials or material offered by a copyright holder for free distribution on the network, keeping it limited to this would be difficult.

To go along with TheGeekess' Google link and to get you started, you can search online for the following:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc v Grokster, Ltd, 545 US 913 (2005)

BMG Music v Gonzalez, 430 F.3d 888 (7th Circ 2005)

Family Entertainment and Copyright Act of 2005

Pirate Bay founder, Gottfrid Svartholm (currently residing in a Swedish jail in solitary confinement)

MegaUpload and founder Kim Dotcom

Searching the above will lead you to additional lawsuits over infringement of copyrighted material on peer-to-peer networks and will lead to information on the criminal actions that have been taken against the hosts.

My advice is to forget your torrent tracker plans and find something more productive to do with your life.

 

[Kenethon]

I don't know guys, but starting a torrent tracker is not illegal! I'll forbid by the agreements for registration the uploaders to upload copyright materials, however I won't follow the process what's uploaded, so I'll take down the torrents only by request.

And I'm not from USA, too...

 

[Zigner]

I don't know guys, but starting a torrent tracker is not illegal! I'll forbid by the agreements for registration the uploaders to upload copyright materials, however I won't follow the process what's uploaded, so I'll take down the torrents only by request.

And I'm not from USA, too...

Oh, phew! That makes it easy.

US Law Only!

 

[quincy]

. . . . And I'm not from USA, too...

Gottfrid Svartholm and Kim Dotcom are not from the USA, either, but that did not stop the US Department of Justice and the governments of several other countries from going after them.

So, Kenethon. . . . you may wish to add to your list of things to Google "Berne Convention" and "GATT."

 

[jiggy78]

No one here is going to help you break the law.

BitTorrent is merely a protocol and is no more illegal than HTTP or FTP. A method of file transfer is not by itself illegal. There are plenty of things one can legally upload and download via BitTorrent. (for example it’s commonly used to distribute Linux)

 

[ecmst12]

Sure, but OP said he did not plan on doing anything to ensure that files being uploaded are being legally shared. That means he's putting himself on the block to be sued and/or prosecuted for anything his users upload/download illegally. We are not going to help them avoid getting caught for doing this.

 

[Kenethon]

I said, I'll put agreements on the registration and the upload page, that it's not allowed to upload, coprytight content, however I'll not check every content by myself, but I'll be glad to put a tab, where everyone make requests to delete the torrent will be met.

 

[Zigner]

https://forum.freeadvice.com/copyrights-trademarks-39/creating-torrent-tracker-anything-i-need-know-584889.html#post3107957

 

[quincy]

Well, good luck with that, Kenethon.

For an interesting and informative look at the life of Kim Dotcom (currently awaiting extradition to the U.S. on criminal copyright charges), I suggest you read a recent article (10-18-12) published on wired.com and written by Charles Graeber. The article is titled "Inside the Mansion - and Mind - of Kim Dotcom, the Most Wanted Man on the Net" and it touches on the state of the law as it concerns file-sharing services.

And another informative and interesting read can be found at the link provided by Zigner.