Fight Night: Round 4: More DLC Coming Soon to Xbox 360 & PS3

If your becoming a little bored of Fight Night: Round 4 you may be glad to hear that EA are releasing more download content for the game, not only will EA be releasing DLC for the game but they will also be smoothing out a few issues. Read more

Microsoft Hit Back at Xbox 360 Lawsuit Threats

Since carrying out bans on modded Xbox 360’s Microsoft have been heavily criticized by many disgruntled customers, some of these disgruntled customers were happy to hear that a law-firm called AbingtonIP were beginning to organize a class action lawsuit against Microsoft. Read more

Modern Warfare 2: Microsoft reiterate stance on Xbox 360 piracy

Following on from our post yesterday which informed you about a pirated version of Modern Warfare 2, which is already in circulation for use on modded Xbox 360 consoles, Microsoft has today issued a fresh statement in relation to the news. Read more

Modern Warfare 2: Pirated Xbox 360 version already available

It has been revealed that a pirated version of the upcoming and highly anticipated shooter Modern Warfare 2, is already making its way around file sharing websites, for use on modded Xbox 360 consoles. Read more

iPhone 3.1 OS Update: Anti-phishing defense inconsistent

It has been reported that the iPhone 3.1 OS Update - released especially for its new security meaures, is actually pretty inconsistent, especially Apple’s new anti-phishing defense. Read more

Windows 7: How to buy cheap?

If you are one of those who missed the cheap Windows 7 pre-order prices you may well be wondering how you can get your hands on Windows 7 without paying a price that seems extortionate when compared to the pre-order pricing. A four page article has recently shown up on ComputerWorld which looks into options available to you without having to pay the full retail price. Read more

2010 Jaguar XJ: Dual-view console may be illegal in U.S.

The Dual-view console, which houses the sat-nav and video screen in the 2010 Jaguar XJ, may be illegal in U.S., which the cars designer has admitted. According to Autocar, this dual screen is designed to give the driver different images when you look at it from different directions. Read more

Pirate Bay founder targets Hollywood firms

It has been reported that Peter Sunde, Co-founder of file sharing website The Pirate Bay, is claiming of harassment from entertainment companies who are trying to sue him for the website’s sharing of copyrighted material. Read more

Palm Pre: HD Movie Sharing with Kazaa

According to IntoMobile Palm Pre will soon be the first mobile phone to handle HD videos downloaded via Kazaa’s file sharing service, whether they will do a Palm Pre price plan is yet to be announced. Kazaa were initially an illegal peer2peer download application which in the end had to take the legal route. Read more

Microsoft updating Windows XP antipiracy technology

The launch of Windows Vista did not go as well as expected and saw many people sticking with the much-trusted Windows XP. Microsoft understand how popular the old operating system is and have now announced that they are updating the antipiracy technology, to detect illegal copies of the OS installed with newly stolen or faked product keys as well as new activation cracks. Read more

Women fined £16,000 for File-Sharing: Floodgates open

A woman has been fined £16,000 in a File-Sharing court battle. She is one of the first people to be fined in the UK by a computer game manufacturer who are seeking to protect their copyright.

This fine could now open the floodgates for those who illegally share games and films over the Internet. Music, film and games companies could now claim back millions in damages as a result of this successful court battle.

The Patents County Court in London has now ordered the woman to pay around £6,000 in damages and disbursements of £10,000 to Topware Interactive. They are the owner of the computer game Dream Pinball 3D.

Topware Interactive has launched civil proceeding against 100 other people who are suspected of illegally uploading copyrighted games. The High Court has now ordered Internet service providers to hand over details of their customers who they suspect of file sharing.

Just last month hundreds of thousands of letters were sent out to those Internet users who illegally download files. This is part of a new deal that was brokered with the Government and the six top ISPs in the UK.

For a full report visit The Times

Italy ban Pirate Bay: what will geek underworld do now?

The Italian government has banned the daddy of illegal torrent sites, Pirate Bay. For those honest people out there, this is a good move. However it seems as if the Italian government might have to face the geek underworld, as they are not happy about this.

It seems that those government officials in Italy have woken a beast, one that will not give up without a fight. If you visit the home page of The Bay, you will see a heated letter from the owners of the site.

In the letter the owners are venting their anger at the court of Italian Supremo Silvio Berlusconi; they have labeled him a fascist. They also go on to say that he is part of a corrupt dictatorship that is intent on quashing the Internet’s right to remain free of censorship.

At the end of the letter, it explains to wannabe Italian downloader’s how to get around this block. Pirate Bay is also asking fans of their site to complain to their ISP. They say that they should demand that the site be reinstated.

What Pirate Bay has to realize is, that this is a legal issue one that the ISP’s will not want to get involved in.

Source

ISPs and government clamp down on illegal downloading

Internet service providers have been working hard and have now worked out a deal with the government, as well as the music industry so that they can clamp down on illegal downloading.

The new deal that will be announced some time today will include a deal with UK ISPs, which means that they will send out hundreds of thousands of letters to their customers who are responsible for illegal downloading.

The BPI, the body that represents record labels, and the government have struck a memorandum of understanding, this will see the introduction of a legislation to a clampdown on people who download illegally.

The new understanding will see a deal struck with the six biggest IPSs in the UK, these include BT, Virgin, Carphone Warehouse, Orange, Tiscali and BSkyB. The deal will include all the parties to work together to come up with ways to stop repeat offenders.

It is about time that ISPs took a tough stance on this, they have failed to take action for so long. It is now time for a reform, so illegally downloader’s beware.

Source

YouTube users identities kept secret in Viacom case

There has been a lot of debate about the privacy of users data on many online sites and more recently users of YouTube have been worried about their personal data.

Google was ordered by a court to turn over log files that show how users browse YouTube; this was because Viacom International wants to use this information as evidence to show how their copyrights are being breached.

Today we have heard that Google will be able to conceal YouTube user identities when it has to hand the database to Viacom that shows viewing habits on YouTube.

Many users were in uproar over the request that they thought would lead to their personal details being revealed, they can now rest in peace knowing that Viacom will know what people viewed but not what IP address.

Viacom will still get to see unique values for each IP address so that they can see peoples viewing habits, but this will be replacing IP Addresses.

This current lawsuit was filed against Google and their YouTube subsidiary back in 2007, they claim that YouTube is illegally distributing Viacom’s copyright content.

If you’re a YouTube user, is this the result you wanted?

Source: Read

Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) features a paedophile website: Warning, Do not look!

Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) the controversial game by Rockstar has been blasted by The Sun because it has revealed that it features a parody of a paedophile website, which is quite sickening really.

The game is controversial in itself but many gamers love this game to bits and play on it for hours on end, The Sun reported that the illegal website little lacysurprisepageant.com was revealed when a cheat was used which allows the main character in the game to have a five-star wanted rating. This report claimed that the fake site will display a message from virtual authorities and that it says “it has been closed down”, there is a warning to anyone caught looking at this website will be investigated and features the warning ‘We see it all, we know it all.”

Someone called Jason Deschoolmeester who is 23 from South Wales said “I was looking on the internet for cheats and the name of this caught my eye as my daughter is called Lacey. This crosses the line. The makers have obviously sat around and discussed putting this in, and it’s not on. What will they do next? “It’s disgusting. It could lead people to indulge in things like that. It is totally sick. I won’t play it again.”

This is quite sickening and this paedophile website address is reportedly one of many fake sites featured within the game, which results in cheats. Do we really need this sort of crap within our games? Rockstar has so far refused to comment on the allegations.

What are your views on this matter?

Source – Digital Spy

Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto IV is downloading damaging viruses

It seems that nothing is safe when it comes to cyber criminals, now they are using one of the biggest console games to spread damaging viruses around the globe. John Safa who was a former hacker is now IT security expert and head of security for DriveSentry has warned that gamers who are downloading illegal copies of the game on to their PC and unknown to them are downloaded damaging viruses. Safa has said “People are exploiting the popularity of Grand Theft Auto IV in a way which could bring mayhem to the internet.” He then added “The only thing that many gamers can think of at the moment is Grand Theft Auto IV and hackers are using that interest to try to generate chaos as quickly as they can.”

John Safa is very worried about this problem and has warned anybody to be very careful with some of these links, the thing is some have been designed to look official and as we know they are not. The best thing that any PC owner should do is invest in a good anti-virus program which will hopefully be able to protect you against such attacks. The thing is hackers are getting very resourceful and will not stop at nothing to disrupt the web.

I do have one problem with this piece of news though, people should not be downloading illegal copies of Grand Theft Auto IV or any other game, ok so they want to try and save a few dollars, but in doing so you are damaging the industry as a whole and us gamers who purchase our titles from the store are now having to pay more to solve the problem.

Source

Unboxing and review of the Psystar Open Apple Mac Clone

Not so long ago people did not know or did not pay much attention to Pystar, but with their release of the Pystar Mac Clone they might just get the unwanted attention of Apple and their legal people. The computer is almost ready for shipping, but some lucky people have had the chance of trying the clone out before the masses get their hands on it.

Those lucky guys over at Engadet has been giving the opportunity to try it out and have some nice photos of the unboxing as well as their first review, well just a short one just letting you know about the performance of the Pystar Open Clone. As you would expect it comes with all the major parts that make up a computer and it also comes complete with a copy of Mac OSX Leopard.

I think that Pystar are very brave as it does not seem to bother them that installing a copy of Leopard on their computer is actually illegal, as the software should only be installed on Apple hardware.

When you first boot up the Pystar you will notice just how noisy the system is, but come on what do you expect from a clone rip-off. One thing you should remember, do not try and use the update feature for your Mac OSX software as it has been disabled. Ok so the Pystar does look like a clone and the build quality is like a clone, but one thing is for sure, the Pystar Open Clone is a lot cheaper then the real Apple Mac.

Source - Engadget

Google being sued by couple over Street View of their house

If your street was to come up in Google Street View, would you think that it is worth a lawsuit, well a couple is now suing Google. Aaron C. and Christine A. Boring are to sue Google as an image of their house is coming up on Google Maps Street View; they say that as the road is private it is reckless conduct on Google’s part.

The problem that the Boring couple faces is that there is no Private Road sign on their street and all information about their house is available from Allegheny County Web site. However the couple might have a case, as it is illegal to take picture of people’s houses. This is protected by the First Amendment

Source - Switched

Angelina Jolie Baby Pictures Worth $10 Million

Christina Aguilera and Nicole Richie each got under $2 million for their exclusive baby pictures, and J.Lo snagged a whooping $6 million fro pictures of her twins.

But if you thought $6 million for baby pictures was a lot then what do you make of Angelina Jolie who is rumoured to be getting $10 million for her baby photos?

National Enquirer Executive Editor Barry Levine said that “It’s become big business now. It’s outrageous, they’ve gotten very sophisticated. The rights are bought up now even before the celeb enters the hospital. They hire extra security so it’s impossible to obtain a photo illegally.”

source

Apple’s iPhone illegal in Australia: under current trade practice laws

It seems as if the must have gadget that everybody wants to get their hands on, could face a setback in Australia. Under current Australian trade practice laws, the Apple iPhone is illegal. With this legal issue in mind, it seems as if the Read more

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