http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041224/NEWS01/412240312/1079/RSS01 By Brian Sharp Iowa City Press-Citizen December 24, 2004 An Iowa City man who admitted to pirating copyrighted software then distributing it online is personally responsible for as much as $200,000 in losses to the industry, according to federal records unsealed Thursday. Jathan Desir, 26, became the first person convicted as part of "Operation Fastlink," [1] a multi-national investigation launched in April. Records show one of the two online libraries he helped create totaled 13,000 titles before FBI agents arrived at his home this spring. Desir, registered as a student at the University of Iowa, waived indictment and pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Des Moines. He faces a maximum 15 years in prison on felony counts of copyright infringement and conspiracy. Sentencing is set for March 18. He was part of the "warez scene," an underground network of individuals and organized groups that compete in the market of large-scale, illegal dissemination of protected software. Members gain access to copyrighted material, often before its release, crack the digital protections and put it online for others to access, reproduce or pass along. According to federal court records: In January 2003, Desir and others set up an online library for a private group to share movies, games, utility software and music. The library grew to about 13,000 titles by the time of the federal raid in April. Transfer logs obtained from the computer service show Desir transferred numerous titles between Aug. 16, 2003, and April 2, 2004. Records show he copied and distributed at least 10 items every six months. He accessed the system from his Iowa City home, records show. No address was provided. On April 21, FBI agents executed a search warrant at his residence, seizing six personal computers, various computer components and equipment as well as computer games and software. Desir cooperated with authorities from the beginning, even signing a statement detailing his activities. He also has admitted to creating a second library federal agents seized in California. The search of Desir's residence was part of "Operation Fastlink," which targeted the underground community's hierarchy with agents conducting more than 120 searches within 24 hours in 27 states and 11 foreign countries. At the time, authorities identified nearly 100 people as leaders or high-ranking members of international piracy groups. Business Software Alliance, which represents several software manufacturers, examined the two computer servers linked to Desir and reported that each contained client titles exceeding $2,500 in retail value. The $2,500 value is a benchmark in the federal criminal code. Desir's sentence, once imposed, may still be reduced if he complies with all aspects of the plea agreement and assists in the investigation and prosecution of one or more others identified in the piracy probe. [1] http://www.cybercrime.gov/desirPlea.htm _________________________________________ Open Source Vulnerability Database (OSVDB) Everything is Vulnerable - http://www.osvdb.org/
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