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Text File | 1994-06-04 | 25.2 KB | 430 lines

This is quite an interesting text file we found floating around the boards. While the points author makes are disputable, his theories are worth the attention. The text followed, unedited. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Pirate's Manifesto for 1994 -* RELEASED ON MAY 22 1994 *- - Read this and learn the only real facts - about the police, software companies, and the hidden agenda of phone companies Dear Fellow Pirates : Well... it certainly is beginning to get kind of tiresome about all the wienies that are trying to fuck up the pirate scene around the world. But I think the time has come to spell out some simple info to try to clue some folks into the big picture. Let us first begin by talking about all the supposed rats that think a phone call to SPA, CAAST, BSA or FAAST are going to bring about the instant death of some bulletin board - YOU ARE SO FUCKING MISTAKEN. These coalitions of software publishers are like a company. They make money from all the software publishers who lamely join them hoping it will make some form of difference to the amount of warez being spread. They are wrong. Each of these lame organizations exist solely to make money from the software publishers - think about it - if there were no pirates than these organizations would have no reason to exist. Ok so you ask how come we hear of them when a big bust occurs - well that is exactly the only time you ever hear of them - when it is a major bust that occurs. These organizations only bust bulletin boards where it will make them money to do so. Look at the Rusty & Edie bust, do you think they went after them because they were 'elite' ? No, they went after them because they could sue their asses off and make money off them. Look at any other genuine bust in the last four years and you will find that the targets they decided to eliminate all had a solid financial base against which to sue for $$$$$ Remember the pirate system in California run by a doctor... lots of money there. Each time there has been a real raid by the feds it has always turned out that the system raided was worth $$$$$ to them. Face reality, court cost are expensive. These organizations don't raid anyone just for the hell of it. They pick their targets carefully so that when they win in court they will get back $$$$$ from the targets. When was the last time you ever heard of any 14 year old zit headed sysop with a 20 line BBS being busted - it just never happens - cuz they know they can't sue him or his parents. So there is simply no point trying to drag him into court. Now what about these supposed anonymous callers who try to rat on a BBS by calling these organizations and providing information. Well in most cases the organizations simply take the information, act polite and than never do anything with the info. After all, anonymous info is not worth shit to them. It simply serves to keep sysops scared - and fear is the only weapon they have to keep pirate systems in check. Let's face it dudes - with over 10,000 pirate BBS's in the United States alone there is no way they could ever hope to kill all of them. So by means of fear they try to control the pirate epidemic. But for every elite system that goes down 10 new ones appear - so the organizations simply cannot win against the pirates overwhelming numbers. One of the problems that face the users who take time to try to rat on a BBS is that things are not as anonymous for them as they thought. All phones at SPA, CAAST, FAAST, BSA and others are monitored. All incoming phone numbers are recorded. If some fools think that 1-800 phone numbers do not record the incoming phone number than they are seriously mistaken. All calls are tape recorded - they like maintaining the information they receive on tape. Think about it for a sec. What is the value of voice recordings ? A voice recording is like a fingerprint. With the use of voice analysis they can accurately identify the caller if they should ever want to check up on him/her and take them to court. A text file like this is truly anonymous - no one will ever know who typed it. A voice recording of this same information would absolutely identify myself. So the point of this little paragraph is to simply mention that people who get into the habit of making calls to these organizations usually find that information about themselves has been passed to the Secret Service or FBI or RCMP or New Scotland Yard. After all... if you have information to give about a pirate system, than indirectly you have implicated yourself as being a pirate as well. The cops are only too interested in investigating the informers to see if they can use the information that they gain on the rats to subvert the rats to do their bidding. Trust a cop - yah - they will burn anyone if if fits their agenda. Now let us go further into the strange relationship that pirates have with the software publishers to find out why they do not take a greater level of interest in the zillions of warez that are spread throughout the world each year by pirates. I believe gentleman that we have been the unwitting dupes of the software companies. Over the past ten years the software publishers have found that by allowing pirates to run wild it has helped them sale more of their products than they would have sold if we did not exist. Face it dudes - we spread their warez, it gets into the hands of hundreds of thousands of users, and eventually people do go and pay for the software after analyzing all the different packages. For some companies this is the only way their product would have ever made it into the hands of prospective clients. If the pirates had not helped distribute those files many of the software companies would have died a long time ago. Another benefit the pirates provide to the software companies is an excuse for the massive overcharging they do on software products. They blame the pirates for them having to charge 10 times what the damn stuff is actually worth. Convenient to have the pirates as a scapegoat for their bloated profits. We all know that a $ 59 game is really marketable for $ 6 - but because of pirates they can cry that they are not making sufficient profit margins to cover their losses and so the lamers blindly accept this crap and pay the higher markup. But let us face another fact of reality and that is that pirates may indeed steal software - but NONE OF US would have bought it in the first place, we simply steal it to steal it. Most of us spend ten minutes looking at the particular piece of software and then we delete it cuz it was crap. So it lets a lot of steam out of the software publishers claims that we stole anything or that they lost anything - nothing was lost cuz they would never have sold it to us in the first place. You can't lose profits that would never have existed in the first place. So why do some software companies really hate pirates. In most cases it is the software company that produces inferior products that hates us the most. You know which companies I mean - the ones who usually have the most spectacular advertisements in the trade magazines - the ones who spend more on their advertising campaigns than on the development of the software. The ones who by glossy advertisements suck the unsuspecting public into buying their product - only to find out that the game/util was vastly inferior or useless compared to other software products out there. The pirates analyze all the warez that pass by them. In a way we become specialist at detecting inferior and superior products. We make recommendations everyday amongst ourselves and with outsiders about which software product rulez and which one sucks. We analyze warez upto 3 months before a review shows up in the magazines - they have 3 month lead times for publication, we operate in less than 24 hours from the time we receive the warez. Pirates expose inferior warez for what they are - rip offs - and this pisses off the low life software publishers whose only existence is based on selling inferior products to the uninformed. Now let us take a moment to look at the telephone companies as they also operate on a hidden agenda that is not too well known. Pirates make extensive use of telecommunications and long distance phone calls. In some cases pirates actually pay for their long distance - this benefits the phone companies who make $$$$$ on each of those phone calls. In some cases pirates use calling cards and hacked PBX's to make their phone calls - this also benefits the phone company because in most cases THEY MAKE THE OWNER of those cards or PBX's pay even though it was not them who made the calls. Does anyone not remember how the phone company held Kodak to ransom for over 1 million dollars worth of hacked phone calls made on their phone system. Or what about the $ 500,000 worth of phone calls made against the Digital phone systems. The phone companies have a really simple approach to this - if a companies phone system is hacked and a ton of illegal calls are made on it - it is not the phone companies fault - they hold the company that owns the phones liable for all long distance charges made against their phone system. It is the responsibility of the phones owners to safeguard their calling card number or PBX passwords and if some luckless pirate happens to gain access to it than it is not the phone companies fault - the owner of the phone number has to pay. So you can see that we help greatly to boost the profits of the phone companies. In Canada for example, Bell Telephone is that countries highest profit company. Statistics taken from Bell Canada's own annual report show that their biggest area of profit is long distance charges that occur during the off peak hours. These are the prime times that pirates operate... overnight express. But if you think about it, what would that phone companies phone lines be doing from midnight until 6:00am the next morning - does anyone really believe that there are zillions of legitimate phone calls occurring during those off hours - NO those calls are almost exclusively being made by pirates. So by pumping through those calls in the wee hours of the morning we are helping to put profit into what would otherwise be totally dead time on their networks. If we weren't there - there would be only 5% of the call traffic that they presently enjoy. And so for that reason I say the existence of pirates have helped profit the pockets of the phone companies. And if you need further convincing about the crooked motives of the phone companies than consider this simple fact. When a long distance call goes from one country to another, or from one phone company to another the destination phone company receives COMPENSATION directly from the originating phone company. Between the two companies they split the profit of the phone call - this is because it took their two networks to complete the one call - and for that both deserve a percentage of the $$$$$ made on that phone call. Now think about this for a second - a pirate system in the 201 exchange receives 10,000 illegal calls per month. This represents quite a few dollars for which the destination phone company is going to make $$$$$$$ no matter what happens - it is going to be paid by the phone company where the calls originated from. I think you can see that the destination phone company has absolutely no motivation to assist the police or anyone to kill that pirate system that is bringing in these long distance phone calls. But how about one final stab at the scum that manage the phone companies - just to expose how crooked they are - Like the software companies, the phone companies use the pirates as scapegoats when they go to seek higher phone rates. Yes, they use us to extract higher rates from the regulators who control how much they can charge. They cry that they are being burned to the tune of millions of dollars and have to charge the honest law abiding phone callers higher rates to make up for all the losses they suffer at the hands of telecomm pirates. Well I think you can see now that they never loss anything in the first place because Bell always makes money - even on a pirated phone call. I will not bother to discuss how the modem manufacturers have gotten a free ride on the backs of pirates. But let's face it - without pirates the world would still be limping around with 2400 baud modems. It is the pirates - NOT BIG BUSINESS - that demanded and got faster and faster modems. Our needs for the movement of files are far greater than all of that of Big Business. In a way you could say that the demands of the pirate world have helped Big Business. We force cutting edge technology to do our job and the modem companies are glad to supply us AT A COST. Who do you think will make up the majority of purchasers of the new 28.8 baud modems ? I laugh if you thought it was the government or some big companies. We all know it is the pirates. It sure as hell isn't going to be Henry PD Dickwad who calls CompuSlave or Genyuk. Let's face it dudes - pirates made US Robotics the leader in the industry by making it the modem of choice of the underworld !! And I believe you can rest assured that they know that all to well ! Have you ever wondered why US Robotics never gave to the cops a list of all the sysops who have bought their high speed modems ? Course they wouldn't - without us John Q Pirate would have no need to keep upgrading to the latest product offering coming from them. Lastly, let us share a few fast words about the police. The cops do not even have enough money to eradicate drugs, illegal weapons or prostitutes. Do the lamers of the world really think that in these tough economic times that the cops would dedicate the ever shrinking budgets that they have to use it up chasing pirates. Get real. The cops are FORCED to spend their ever shrinking budgets fighting real crime - ones where there are victims - and as I have already shown software piracy is a victimless crime. So to the lamers of the world who operate under some mistaken impression that there are thousands of police out there with nothing better to do than chase pirates, I simply say to you to 'Wake up and smell the coffee you uninformed dickwad' Now that I have exposed the hidden agenda of the phone companies, the software companies, and the supposed anti-piracy organizations I will now slip comfortably back into my silent mode again and smile knowing that after 13 years in this pirate business I will still have at least another 13 years of this fun to enjoy. The wienies that attempt to scare pirate boards with their idle threats of bust simply do not know the big picture, the hidden agendas or how their lame actions simply do not matter. The only people their lame actions hurt are themselves as they find themselves kicked out of all the pirate circles and they are removed from the elite world that we know as piracy. It is too bad that a few lamers surface in our underground world trying to act tough by speaking of bust and betrayal. Grow up kiddies and learn to play the game or leave it.... because you will never change it. In closing I extend special greets to all the groups that are out there bringing warez to the masses. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by all, including the software companies, telephone companies and yes even the anti-piracy organizations. For without your excellent efforts they would never have continued to exist either.....or made such profits !! --* TC *-- May 22 1994 PS : Hey... you didn't really expect me to put my full handle here ( believe me... they will be pissed to learn this info is out ) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- And another file on the same topic - this one is really hilarious: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This info release is of interest to pirates and sysops in North America/England/Europe/Australia/South America ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Summary - Pinkerton's & Wackenhut hired to catch pirates of - SPA reports $7.4 billion losses to pirates in 1993 Contents - SPA reports that in 1993 they busted 245 entities and recovered $3 million in settlements. - India, Pakistan, Brazil, Korea and Malaysia reported to be experiencing SPECTACULAR growth in piracy ! ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── TEXT AS FOLLOWS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> SPA NEWS PRE-RELEASE DATED 31 MARCH 1994 Washington (CP) Two top international security companies have been hired to bust pirate bulletin boards around the world! According to SPA, Pinkertons and Wackenhut were awarded multi-million dollar contracts to infiltrate and bust pirate bulletin boards. SPA reports that US software publishers lost an estimated $7.4 billion dollars (US$) in 1993 which was down from the $7.9 billion they lost in 1992 The report to be released in June 1994 by SPA, the Software Publishers Association, claimed that the United States had the largest dollar loss, $1.57 billion in 1993, followed by Japan with $650 million and France with $435 million. It is also reported that piracy is growing at the highest rate in India and Pakistan, up 95% in 1993, followed by Brazil and Korea which are up 89%. Malaysia took third place honours with an 88% increase in software piracy. SPA reported that in 1993 their association reported audits or lawsuits against 245 companies or individuals. Through settlements, the association received $3 million, which was given to member companies < this means each of the software companies got approximately $2727 hahahahaha what suckers > Terri Shields, a spokesperson for SPA stated that " to put our losses in perspective, the total United States's sales of recorded music was only $9 billion in 1993 - the pirates stole $7.4 billion from the software industry!!" END OF TEXT :>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> So the bottom line to the pirate world is this : a. Euro pirates had better get their pirating act together because frogs and paki's are both reporting higher growths of piracy ! Hehehehe what an insult ! b. SPA likes to compare $10 records to $90 software progs maybe because the software is overpriced in comparison. c. Be on the look out for 'rent-a-dicks' from Pinkertons and Wackenhut - cuz they are on the look out for us. d. SPA has shown that they seek and destroy mostly targets where they can make money suing the company or sysop. e. I wonder how much money was paid to the staff of SPA and to their lawyers in 1993 ? They seem to forget to mention their operating cost in this 'Annual Report' The report tells us that SPA squeezed $3 million out of the accused companies/sysops, but it fails to mention how much it cost them to bust/prosecute each of the 245 entities. I am sure that the prosecution and harassment of the 245 companies cost far more than the pitiful $2727 paid to each of the members of SPA ! So SPA still ended up paying out more than they got back and that makes them suckers... f. Help keep the SPA employed - pirate a program today ! g. As for Pinkerton's and Wackenhut - just remember that rent-a-cops come cheaper by the dozen. Yah I am just trembling at the thought of one of their security guards coming to my house heheheeh - NOT! If we don't fear the Secret Service, AT&T, MCI, SPRINT, FBI, Interpol, New Scotland Yard, the Bundeposte, the RCMP, or local cops than why the hell does SPA think we would fear these $4 an hour losers in their psuedo cop uniforms. Shit they aren't even allowed to carry guns and we are. The Cheech and Chong Live Theatre Presents F U T U R E S C E N A R I O Future Pinkertons : Knock knock... Scenario A Pirate : Whose there ? Act Pinkertons : Pinkertons - open the door this is a bust! One A Pirate : <<< B A N G >>>> Hehehhehheh Future Wackenhut : Knock knock... Scenario A Pirate : Whose there ? Act Wackenhut : Wackenhut calling on behalf of SPA Two A Pirate : Here's $6 - now go an fuck off Wackenhut : Ok thanks SIR!! Future Pinkertons : Knock Knock... Scenario A Pirate : Whose there ? Act Pinkertons : Pinkertons with a warrant for your arrest! Three A Pirate : There's nobody home ! Pinkertons : Ok.. I will come back when someones home. Future Wackenhut : Knock knock... Scenario A Pirate : Whose there ? Act Wackenhut : Wackenhut! We are here to bust you! Four A Pirate : If only you knew how fucking little I care << SLAMMING THE DOOR IN HIS FACE >> Wackenhut : Sorry for bothering you SIR ! Future Pinkertons : Knock Knock... Scenario A Pirate : Whose there ? Act Pinkertons : Pinkertons - we are the software cops ! Five A Pirate : Eat my one-eyed-trouser-snake you parasite Pinkertons : Sure if you pay me more than the lousy $5 an hour these scum at Pinkertons pay me ! Future Wackenhut : Knock Knock... Scenario A Pirate : Whose there ? Act Wackenhut : Dave << trying to trick the pirate >> Six A Pirate : Dave's not here... < in a stoned voice > Wackenhut : No man.. this is Dave... A Pirate : Dave... No way.... Dave's not here... Wackenhut : I am confused SIR. Maybe I will come back later. A Pirate : Confused is not here... Wackenhut : Forget it... A Pirate : Forget it's not here... Future Pinkertons : Knock Knock... Scenario A Pirate : Whose there ? Act Pinkertons : I understand your a pirate... can you give Seven : me a copy of Ultima 8 for my kid... A Pirate : Sure... come on in you poor underpaid leech ! Pinkertons : Thanks man... that's why I took this job... I get to meet all the top pirates in person and get great warez ! Hey, I sure can't afford any of this shit on $5 bucks an hour. Epilogue Sung to the tune of 'Whose afraid of the big bad wolf' (c) Disney " Whose afraid of the rent-a-dicks the rent-a-dicks the rent-a-dicks Whose afraid of the rent-a-dicks Certainly not me..... " ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, hope you enjoyed these texts. We sure did and send the warmest greetings to the authors.