Feds Shut Web Site in Piracy Crackdown
By MARK SHERMAN
The Associated Press
Wednesday, May 25, 2005; 8:51 PM
WASHINGTON -- Federal raiders. Internet pirates. Intergalactic screen adventures. The government announced a crackdown Wednesday on the theft of movies and other copyright materials that has the elements of a film plot.
Federal agents shut down a Web site that they said allowed people to download the new Stars War movie even before it was shown in theaters.
The Elite Torrents site was engaging in high-tech piracy by letting people download copies of movies and other copyright material for free, authorities said.
The action was the first criminal enforcement against individuals who are using cutting-edge BitTorrent software to obtain pirated content online, Justice and Homeland Security Department officials said.
