PirateBay.org Wants To Buy Sealand.

[Broken]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Sealand_fortress.jpgLinked from the torrentsite's main page is the site staff's plan (also a link to a forum) to purchase the man-made off-shore platform known as Sealand, in hopes of creating a digital pirate haven for the group's activities.

According to the owner of the platform Sealand is an independent nation located off the coast of England. Despite this claim - it's nation status is not recognised by any other country, and is located in waters controlled by the English government.

The current asking price for the 'Nation of Sealand is approximately $1 billion USD.



Personally, although I find the idea novel, I find it even more childish and disturbing. With the walls of TPB's haven in Sweden quickly closing in, I can't help but remember the last time one of these torrent site went on a mass fund raising campaign. Remember Loki torrents?

Anyone else smell something funny here?

[lightshow]

http://cache.consumerist.com/consumer/images/piratebay.jpgWith The Pirate Bay trying its best to prevent it from being shutdown, it now has plans to buy its own nation in an aim to break free from international copyright laws, accoridng to this report on The Local. (http://www.thelocal.se/6076/20070112/) The Island, Sealand, is a former Britich naval platform in the North Sea and claims to be outside of the jurisdiction of any country, including the UK.

The Pirate pay is currently the world's largest BitTorrent traccking site, involved in helping share music, video and software content, including copyrighted works, thus agrivating the MPAA, the Swedish Anti-Piracy Bureau and various other content providers. For example, after the MPAA hailing its shutdown last may, it sprung back to life in the Netherlands, before returning back to Sweden shortly after.

In an aim to get support, the website plans giving Sealand citizenship to anyone willing to contribute money towards the purchase. Those on the Island would have access to high speed Internet, VIP accounts for the Pirate pay, not to mention the lack of copyright laws. The Island has been valued at £504 million (US$990) by a firm of Spanish estate agents.

Further details of the Island's history can be read here. (http://www.thelocal.se/6076/20070112/)

Sealand, an old military platform, is up for sale as a micronation. Rumor has it, that Pirate Bay, the famous Bit Torrent tracker site is think of buying it to escape copyright legal hassels.

It's expensive to buy, but Pirate bay says contributors become "honorary citizens".

Sounds like a plan to me!

:source: Source: http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/The-Pirate-Bay-plans-to-buy-an-Island-to-break-free.html
:view: Homepage: www.cdfreaks.com

[delimare]

Oh my God. This is so fucking crazy that it just might work. 990 million US dollars? Piece of cake, I'm donating.

[Virtualbody1234]

I think it would be better if they had a ship at sea with satellite communications.
http://www.williamson-labs.com/images/ship-sat-rev-411.jpg


Or a rig of some sort.
http://www.fbheliservices.com/FBH/Images/Oilrig.jpg


It would really suit the "Pirate bay" image!

[Sissoko]

Good luck to them.

[100%]

@VB it is a rig (platform) they want to buy....

The Island, Sealand, is a former Britich naval platform in the North Sea

[Windy72]

This reminds me of the famous Radio Caroline and the less famous Lazer 558 radio stations over 2 decades ago. Neither could get radio licenses so they went out to the North Sea or was it the Thames Estuary and broadcast from there.

[WarIsPeace]

I want the shit they're smoking. I highly doubt they are gonna get almost a billion dollars. Better off with plan B buying a island.

[Hairbautt]

This is hilarious...http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/Hairbautt/Smilies/LMAO.gif

[vipaar]

I do not think that The Pirate Bay has got any hope of raising that kind of money, are you sure that this isn`t a "spoof" news story? this can`t be real, roflmao

[biggie944]

this place would be perfect its called sealand just off the coast of England its a totally independant state and its up for sale for just over £300,000.read the link i gave u this place is amasing .

http://www.sealandgov.org/ http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h249/biggie944/fortress.jpg


fact file about sealand:

http://www.fruitsofthesea.demon.co.uk/sealand/factfile.html

[Virtualbody1234]

@VB it is a rig (platform) they want to buy....

The Island, Sealand, is a former Britich naval platform in the North Sea

Hmm. That's interesting. I thought it was an island.

[raspberry1331]

just check the opening image at www.piratebay.org, it depicts the platform itself.

[biggie944]

u know what i have never noticed that i should have read the first post properly,i watched a program on the telly about sealand the other night and they said it was only worth about£300,000.

the guy who owns it got kidnapped by some guys on the rig who tried to take it over so his son an ex army man got some of his old army mates with some big guns and took it back.They captured one of the guys put him in the cells on the rig and fined him £20,000 but got tired of waiting for someone to pay and released him.

more about indepth about it here:

http://interviews.slashdot.org/interviews/00/07/02/160253.shtml?tid=99

[lightshow]

To be an honorary citizen of Sealand by just donating money.. man I'm in.

[biggie944]

To be an honorary citizen of Sealand by just donating money.. man I'm in.

duel nationality probably has no extradition laws either.

[100%]

I think it would be better if they had a ship at sea with satellite communications.
http://www.williamson-labs.com/images/ship-sat-rev-411.jpg


Although a satellite station could have some potential...

[biggie944]

Would be a good idea then we could all buy a sattelite dish off pirate bay and get our internet connection off them (no more dodgy letters of u isp) but i think nasa would charge a little bit more than they could afford to send one up

[Virtualbody1234]

I wonder if there's enough pirates to be able to afford to purchase a satellite and store all our files there. :shifty:


An out of this world idea!

[biggie944]

well with 1398701 members if each one gave £10 thats £13,987,010 not a bad start and if they advertized it i bet they could 10 times that amount.if they were going to do that i would certainly pay as im sure a few others would.

[Nardz]

oh no!!!! this awesome!! i hope they go through with it.

[WarIsPeace]

"Sealand's claims to sovereignty and legitimacy are not recognised by any country, yet it is sometimes cited[1] in debates as an interesting case study of how various principles of international law can be applied to a territorial dispute.
Contents"

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

[silent h3ro]

As of 15 January, donations are at $15 327.


From 2007 Sealand is available for transfer by Spanish estate company InmoNaranja.[20] It is explicitly stated that Sealand is not for sale, as a principality cannot be sold.[21] A sum of between £65,000,000 and £504,000,000 (US$977 million, €750,000,000) is set as the price for the new tenant(s).[22][23][24] Offers of "eight digits or over" are being solicited.[25]


lol I have gotta keep up with this news. They obviously must've been smoking some serious shit. No way they are gonna raise just under $1 billion unless Bill Gates starts smoking what they are and visits their donation web page while he's doin' it.

[biggie944]

i didn't know them prices but it is a small amount to pay for your own country where u make the laws and no other country has a duristriction over u, man u can virtually say what u want.he not so long ago fired shots over the bow of a ship because they got to close to his teritory and no one could do a thing he got took to an international court and they said they had no duristiction over sealand.Europe has acepted this there is only the US that are disputing this but hey when are they ever gonna pissoff the US never.

[100%]

The nation of Tuvalu would have given it to them for free.

http://www.benettontalk.com/002897-tuvalu.jpg

(especially cause they are sinking due to global warming and trying to sue everybody for it)

[Darth Sushi]

I think it would be better if they had a ship at sea with satellite communications.
http://www.williamson-labs.com/images/ship-sat-rev-411.jpg


Although a satellite station could have some potential...
A jolly-roger flag is needed on that boat.

[biggie944]

The nation of Tuvalu would have given it to them for free.

http://www.benettontalk.com/002897-tuvalu.jpg

(especially cause they are sinking due to global warming and trying to sue everybody for it)

yeah but if looked after sealand will be there for the next 100 years if not more

[silent h3ro]

(especially cause they are sinking due to global warming and trying to sue everybody for it)lol
You actually believe that bullshit?

[biggie944]

(especially cause they are sinking due to global warming and trying to sue everybody for it)lol
You actually believe that bullshit?

well said i couldn't of put it better myself

[Yono]

I donated to the cause. Even if they don't buy Sealand, they have decided to purchase an island of some sort, so the money's not going to waste.

[Broken]

TPB's end is near. The Swedish government is becoming less tolerant of their presence. They are such a high profile entity that it is hard to say they will find sanctuary anywhere.

Their asking for such grand amounts of money in the twilight hours of their existence for an unattainable goal reminds me of the past. It reminds me of the sad events that unfolded with another torrent site, Loki Torrents (http://www.omgili.com/preview/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5mbGV4YmV0YS5uZXQvZm9ydW1zL2luZGV4LnBocD9zaG93dG9waWM9NjE1Mw==). Almost a hundred thousand dollars was scammed out of users with promises - not even half as grand as those presently presented by TPB.

I have, and can see giving to a site to help buy equipment, bandwidth, and upkeep. But they are asking for a billion dollars for either a pipe dream, or more likely a scam to cash in at the end.

I would do some real thinking before handing over money to TPB for this campaign.

[Colt Seevers]

TPB's end is near. The Swedish government is becoming less tolerant of their presence. They are such a high profile entity that it is hard to say they will find sanctuary anywhere.


http://hpd.chiconcerts.com/emot/pirate-thumbs1.gif
Or perhaps some like minded TPB members might stand for election, become the majority, and change the law.

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/9246/jollyroger6lg.gif

[Broken]

It appears that what TPB is proposing has already been tired from Sealand.

HavenCo Limited is a data hosting services company founded in 2000 which operates from Sealand, an unrecognised self-declared 'sovereign principality' that occupies a man-made former World War II defensive facility originally known as Roughs Tower located approximately six miles from the coast of Suffolk, southeast England

and


"...the British government "reacted quietly" by enforcing British laws concerning unlicensed data transmissions to and from Sealand..."

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


And considering that HavenCo is still in operation "within British law", TPB could just buy hosting services from them if they think their fool idea is a good one, without buying the island.
http://www.havenco.com/


This whole thing by TPB just stinks worst and worst the more I look into it....

[Skiz]

There's no way this will ever happen. I seriously doubt that Pirate Bay will ever have $900 million in which to buy a tiny platform. It's obviously not big enough for their needs either, so they would have to expand it. Add a few more million.

[Skiz]

The nation of Tuvalu would have given it to them for free.

http://www.benettontalk.com/002897-tuvalu.jpg

(especially cause they are sinking due to global warming and trying to sue everybody for it)

yeah but if looked after sealand will be there for the next 100 years if not more

I'm pretty sure it would still be safe. It's only sinking .03 inches per year.

Plus, the scenery would be much better than Sealand.

[dymn]

A billion dollars?! They might as well build their own ocean platform.

[Skiz]

http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/news-section/t-the-pirate-bay-plans-buy-island-break-free-149437

[mcshazzo]

If i were a billionare I would buy that place for myself

[rokie]

It's rather anarchy if their dreams are achieved. What's next from those MAFIAAs: launch an assault on the island just like Iraq?

[kabloomz]

actually this would be a nice business plan if they open a massive DC there to lease bw to other businesses requiring offshore protection like online casino's, data storage operators, etc...

[RealitY]

Sealand won’t be sold to The Pirate Bay (http://www.rlslog.net/sealand-wont-be-sold-to-the-pirate-bay/)

Posted on 19.01.2007 at 20:07 in Tech News (http://www.rlslog.net/category/tech-news/) by Martin
Attempts of The Pirate Bay to buy a neutral piece of the world failed. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Sealand said in an interview (http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=1306) with ‘CBC The Hour’ that buying Sealand (http://www.rlslog.net/the-pirate-bay-attempts-to-buy-sealand/) is probably a good way to circumvent international copyright law, but that he won’t sell sealand to the Pirate Bay. Prince Michael, also known as Michael Bates, said the following about the activities of the popular BitTorrent tracker. “It’s theft of proprietary rights, it doesn’t suit us at all. In fact, I’ve written a book and Hollywood is making a movie out of it, so it would go right against the grain to go into the filesharing thing.”Sealand is currently prized at 750 million euros, which equals nearly one billion US dollars, a sum of money that would be impossible for The Pirate Bay to raise anyway.

Prince Michael said that maybe some wealthy Russian, who doesn’t want to have a radioactive isotope dropped in his cornflakes when he’s not looking, might be a potential buyer instead. Sealand’s Spanish estate agent, the one who came up with the price, also said that The Pirate Bay may not be allowed (http://www.out-law.com/page-7661) to buy the micronation, because Sealand has pledged not to allow a sale that would damage the interests of, or act against the UK. TPB’s blog BuySealand.com still remains unupdated and informs about the ongoing negotiations with authorities of Sealand. They will have to find some other place to hide - may be this awfull rockish island Ladonia (http://ladonia.net/) could work well…
http://www.rlslog.net/

[kabloomz]

http://www.havenco.com/

these people would be smart to oust the current Prince of sealand...

[cpt_azad]

(especially cause they are sinking due to global warming and trying to sue everybody for it)lol
You actually believe that bullshit?
And you don't? Point out the bs in global warming for me please, I need to be enlightened :)

on topic: ill donate 50 bucks, hell, you get citizenship for donating, why not

[salak1]

good luck

[Skiz]

good luck

With what?

[end]

if piratebay buy any island that was awesome but this a little bit impossible huh?

anyway good luck for the pirate bay users and admins :rolleyes:

[Skiz]

if piratebay buy any island that was awesome but this a little bit impossible huh?

anyway good luck for the pirate bay users and admins :rolleyes:

http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/p-the-pirate-bay-plans-buy-island-break-free-post1675504/postcount38

[Laxxonn]

piratebay lives in a fucking dream XD

[kingace]

I Heard An Awesome Rumour That One Private Site Is Goin To Construct A Man Made Island With Lots Of Server's & Stuff...;)

Its Time People Lets Joinin.....

[dkra2004]

Will you need a passport ?? :)

[Rabayev2205]

i heared about this...
not look realy good..

[srfchsr]

at one 10th the price they could never come up with the dough... Interesting idea though...

[Hairbautt]

http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/news-section/t-the-pirate-bay-plans-buy-island-break-free-149437
At least some people view the News Section (http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/f-news-section-95/) ;)

[mbucari1]

So, if by some chance they actually purchase this island, who will be there isp. The seas around england aren't that friendly, so satellite wouldn't be that reliable. And if the ran a lint to the mainland, the isp could still be sued and pull its service from tpb

[Broken]

http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/news-section/t-the-pirate-bay-plans-buy-island-break-free-149437
At least some people view the News Section (http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/f-news-section-95/) ;)

In defense, I posted my topic before it made the news section.
But the two could be combined.

[Skiz]

http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/news-section/t-the-pirate-bay-plans-buy-island-break-free-149437
At least some people view the News Section (http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/f-news-section-95/) ;)

We have a News section?! :O

[Hairbautt]

At least some people view the News Section (http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/f-news-section-95/) ;)

In defense, I posted my topic before it made the news section.
But the two could be combined.Oh, yeah you're right and it looks like they're merged now/ :01:



At least some people view the News Section (http://filesharingtalk.com/vb3/f-news-section-95/) ;)

We have a News section?! :O
:mellow:

[Skiz]

:mellow:

:lookaroun

[jonasfjeld]

What about using the money on buying RIAA instead!?:rolleyes:

[silent h3ro]

What about using the money on buying RIAA instead!?:rolleyes::P

[lee551]

i guess sealand snubbed tbp organization now. so they're going to just buy an island and try to make it a country. keep trying! :01:

[deadondepartur]

I'm starting to wonder how good of an idea this is. I mean, I support pirate bay in the reform of copyright law, but I'm not sure how much buying an island will help things. I'm not entirely sure how one would go about gaining independence as well.

I personally believe in my completely non expert opinion that the money could be much better spent funding interest groups and congruent organizations.

[Broken]

i guess sealand snubbed tbp organization now. so they're going to just buy an island and try to make it a country. keep trying! :01:

I believe the new plan is to raise three billion dollars and start a moon base.
lol

[skYlancer]

heard about that seems like funny

[Snee]

TPB's end is near. The Swedish government is becoming less tolerant of their presence. They are such a high profile entity that it is hard to say they will find sanctuary anywhere.


They moved the contents their servers abroad and had them running shortly after that bust last year, and the swedish government could do fuckall about it.

And as far as I know, there hasn't been any sort of high-profile moves against TPB since last year, nowt has been said about anything theatening to shut them down, in the Swedish media, anyway. (I should know, seeing as I live here.)

What I have heard plenty of, however, are protests against how tpb's servers were treated, and I highly doubt the government could make any sort of attempts aimed at shutting them down, as it is now.

I do know, however, that they have plenty of fun answering legal threats like these (http://thepiratebay.org/legal.php), and as they say, they have yet to take down a single torrent due to doubts about its legality. With that in mind, it doesn't really seem as anyone can touch them ATM.

In short: I really don't know what you are on about, speaking of their twilight and that.

[vatoslocos]

nice idea but which iso will connect them to the internet?

[shutdk]

I will move to teh island :)

[motarocks]

I like the idea, but I doubt they will ever raise even 50 million.

[anak]

nice idea but which iso will connect them to the internet?
I am also interested in how they are going to connect to the internet without going through a country first

[silent h3ro]

nice idea but which iso will connect them to the internet?
I am also interested in how they are going to connect to the internet without going through a country firstThey will buy their own ISP too. :rolleyes:

[anak]

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet-infrastructure1.htm
Gam3guy, ISPs still need permission to connect to other ISPs via the internet's 'Backbone.' I just see no way for them to be connected with the rest of the world without running into a form of government.
:dabs:

[silent h3ro]

Ohh, I didn't know that.

[janine]

2 things:

1. People with no clue have been spreading scarestories about the downfall of TPB since forever. It probably adds to anakata's LHAO sessions together with the legal threats. So far these guys have proved to be complete GODS, why exactly should that change?

2. Just for the mere IDEA i'd gladly donate 50$, even a 100$ (and i never donate). I don't give a shit what they end up using the money for - I'd treat anakata to a night out on the town any day!

[Sprint1337]

I hope they will get it :)

[mgemseg]

I like the idea

[clos]

So I guess it didn't go through then right?