to bust Stargate SG-1 fans. And you people thought it would be used against terrorist, lol.
Federal Charges Filed Against SG-1 Archive
http://www.sg1archive.com/nightmare.shtml
Posted: Mar 31 2004, 12:46 AM, By: HurricaneMB
Federal charges were filed against Adam McGaughey, creator of the
popular SG1Archive.com website - a fan website devoted to the MGM-owned
television show Stargate SG-1. The charges allege that the website engaged
in Criminal Copyright Infringement and Trafficking in Counterfeit Services.
The charges were the culmination of a three-year FBI investigation, set in
motion by a complaint from the Motion Picture Association (MPAA) regarding
the content of the SG1Archive.com website.
SG1Archive.com is one of the most popular fan-run websites among the
Stargate community. In addition to providing very active fan discussion
forums, broadcast schedules, production news, and episode guides, the site
heavily promotes the sale of the show on DVD. As of this writing, direct
links from SG1Archive.com to Amazon.com have resulted in the sale of over
$100,000 worth of DVDs. Many more DVDs have been sold to international fans
of the show through sites like Blackstar.co.uk. Upon hearing this news,
Stargate executive producer Brad Wright called the site "cool" - which Adam
took as an endorsement of his work.
However, instead of thanking Adam for his promotion of their product,
officials at MGM and the MPAA have chosen to pressure the FBI into pursuing
criminal charges. Adam was first tipped off about the investigation when the
FBI raided his and his fiancee's apartment in May of 2002 and seized
thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment. Adam later received a copy
of the affidavit filed in support of the search warrant, and was shocked to
discover that this document, prepared by the FBI, contained significant
amounts of erroneous and misleading information. For example, two social
security numbers were listed for Adam, one of which is not his. References
were made to a cease and desist letter sent by the MPAA to an email address
that did not exist. His online friendship with other Stargate fans across
the globe was portrayed as an international conspiracy against the MPAA. And
perhaps most disturbing of all, it was later revealed that the FBI invoked a
provision of the USA Patriot Act to obtain financial records from his ISP.
The FBI's abuse of its powers did not stop there. When they seized Adam's
computer equipment, he was given written documentation stating that it would
be returned within 60 days. The equipment that they did return did not
arrive until more than 8 months later, and only then after much prodding
from his lawyer. Much of it was damaged beyond repair - one laptop had a
shattered LCD screen, an empty tape backup drive was ripped apart for no
apparent reason, his fiancee's iBook was badly damaged when it was pried
apart with a screwdriver. The FBI's computer crimes staff is either
incompetent (at least when it comes to Macintosh computer equipment) or else
they just don't give a damn.
Adam has has received positive feedback about his site from multiple
members of the Stargate cast and crew at fan conventions. In addition, a
representative of MGM's fan publication interviewed Adam about his website
several months prior to the FBI raid. As a result, Adam sincerely believed
that the show's creators did not have a problem with the content of his
website. Many other sites are currently serving content of questionable
legality, without promoting the sale of DVDs or offering a community for
fans to discuss the show. Why the MPAA and FBI have chosen to ignore these
sites and target SG1Archive.com is unclear.
Up until this point, Adam has been fortunate enough to receive pro
bono legal counsel in his current hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. However, the
charges were filed in Los Angeles county. The cost of travel, trial, bond,
etc. is likely to be quite high. Unfortnunately, Adam and his fiancee do not
have the resources to pay for it all - he is a Macintosh repair technician
at a chain computer store and she is a medical student. If you would like to
contribute to the SG1Archive.com Legal Defense Fund, please make a paypal
donation by clicking the button below. Or buy a T-shirt from the SG1archive
store at cafepress.com. Thank you for your support!
if you would like to contribute or donate please visit:
http://www.sg1archive.com/nightmare.shtml
Federal Charges Filed Against SG-1 Archive
http://www.sg1archive.com/nightmare.shtml
Posted: Mar 31 2004, 12:46 AM, By: HurricaneMB
Federal charges were filed against Adam McGaughey, creator of the
popular SG1Archive.com website - a fan website devoted to the MGM-owned
television show Stargate SG-1. The charges allege that the website engaged
in Criminal Copyright Infringement and Trafficking in Counterfeit Services.
The charges were the culmination of a three-year FBI investigation, set in
motion by a complaint from the Motion Picture Association (MPAA) regarding
the content of the SG1Archive.com website.
SG1Archive.com is one of the most popular fan-run websites among the
Stargate community. In addition to providing very active fan discussion
forums, broadcast schedules, production news, and episode guides, the site
heavily promotes the sale of the show on DVD. As of this writing, direct
links from SG1Archive.com to Amazon.com have resulted in the sale of over
$100,000 worth of DVDs. Many more DVDs have been sold to international fans
of the show through sites like Blackstar.co.uk. Upon hearing this news,
Stargate executive producer Brad Wright called the site "cool" - which Adam
took as an endorsement of his work.
However, instead of thanking Adam for his promotion of their product,
officials at MGM and the MPAA have chosen to pressure the FBI into pursuing
criminal charges. Adam was first tipped off about the investigation when the
FBI raided his and his fiancee's apartment in May of 2002 and seized
thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment. Adam later received a copy
of the affidavit filed in support of the search warrant, and was shocked to
discover that this document, prepared by the FBI, contained significant
amounts of erroneous and misleading information. For example, two social
security numbers were listed for Adam, one of which is not his. References
were made to a cease and desist letter sent by the MPAA to an email address
that did not exist. His online friendship with other Stargate fans across
the globe was portrayed as an international conspiracy against the MPAA. And
perhaps most disturbing of all, it was later revealed that the FBI invoked a
provision of the USA Patriot Act to obtain financial records from his ISP.
The FBI's abuse of its powers did not stop there. When they seized Adam's
computer equipment, he was given written documentation stating that it would
be returned within 60 days. The equipment that they did return did not
arrive until more than 8 months later, and only then after much prodding
from his lawyer. Much of it was damaged beyond repair - one laptop had a
shattered LCD screen, an empty tape backup drive was ripped apart for no
apparent reason, his fiancee's iBook was badly damaged when it was pried
apart with a screwdriver. The FBI's computer crimes staff is either
incompetent (at least when it comes to Macintosh computer equipment) or else
they just don't give a damn.
Adam has has received positive feedback about his site from multiple
members of the Stargate cast and crew at fan conventions. In addition, a
representative of MGM's fan publication interviewed Adam about his website
several months prior to the FBI raid. As a result, Adam sincerely believed
that the show's creators did not have a problem with the content of his
website. Many other sites are currently serving content of questionable
legality, without promoting the sale of DVDs or offering a community for
fans to discuss the show. Why the MPAA and FBI have chosen to ignore these
sites and target SG1Archive.com is unclear.
Up until this point, Adam has been fortunate enough to receive pro
bono legal counsel in his current hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. However, the
charges were filed in Los Angeles county. The cost of travel, trial, bond,
etc. is likely to be quite high. Unfortnunately, Adam and his fiancee do not
have the resources to pay for it all - he is a Macintosh repair technician
at a chain computer store and she is a medical student. If you would like to
contribute to the SG1Archive.com Legal Defense Fund, please make a paypal
donation by clicking the button below. Or buy a T-shirt from the SG1archive
store at cafepress.com. Thank you for your support!
if you would like to contribute or donate please visit:
http://www.sg1archive.com/nightmare.shtml