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Hacker Named In Torrentspy Suit
Doug Caverly
Staff Writer
2006-06-23
 Insider Reports RSS Feed
Some time ago, Valence Media, parent company to Torrentspy, filed a lawsuit alleging that the MPAA had hired a hacker to steal data. Now that previously anonymous hacker has been identified.
As reported by Greg Sandoval of CNET, Robert Anderson signed a statement reading, "I contacted (the MPAA) and offered to provide it information regarding (Torrentspy.com founder) Justin Bunnell and Torrentspy." This happened because "after our business relationship ended, I was upset with Justin Bunnell."
After going to work for the MPAA, Anderson claims he gathered information on Torrentspy. The conflicted man then, for reasons unknown, went back to Torrentspy to confess his sins and aid in retaliation against the MPAA.
Ira Rothken, Valence Media's attorney, spoke to CNET about why Anderson returned to Torrentspy. "The only person that would know the precise answer to that is him," Rothken said. "We believe that he broke the law in a serious manner . . . we're encouraged that after making a big mistake he's now mitigating his wrongdoing by providing information about things he did so we can take remedial action against the MPAA."
The document that Anderson brought to the table is allegedly a contract with the MPAA to gather information on peer-to-peer file-sharing businesses. While that seems like solid grounds for a judgment against the MPAA, the document also supposedly includes a section specifying that legal means should be employed.
But Rothken thinks it's a moot point. "There's an irony that they could put a clause into a contact and that would allow them to turn a blind eye to hiring a hacker," he said. "There's no magical term that lets them off the hook."
There seem to be some strange things going on in this case; it will be interesting to see how the suit plays out.
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About the Author:
Doug is a staff writer for SecurityProNews, InternetFinancialNews, SearchNewz, and WebProNews.
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