Advice for those trading titles

[julian_craster]

> I suspect these messages are from one those folks running a film search service (charging $500 or more to punters to track down a 'rare film') , and hoping that gullible members on BRITMOVIE will supply it to them for free! They clearly have no interest in British film - only in making money....

[ggm]

This is a fair point, but with some material unlikely to ever make commercial release, motivations to post here are pretty likely to wind up centering on 'can I have' requests.

really, the best thing is for people to lobby for sensible copyright reform. worldwide I might add! it won't help the problem, but it might get to the root of the issue behind the mis-behaviours.

-George

[sky10]

Hello,

I've just joined.

You could make newbies who haven't traded before use something like escrow if there paying to make sure that they pay or what they sell you is correct.

Also if your trading then you could make the newbie send the item first before you send the trade.

It wouldn't stop people from selling the films on eBay or anything like that but it would make sure you got the trade or paid.

Sky10

[wallicar44]

Hi, I'm new to the site and thrilled to find other people who get a kick out of British films. I have a particular weakness for British War Movies, mysteries and anything from the 1930s.

But I wanted to weigh in on the bittorrent comments. First, you can contribute to the sites, even if you don't upload stuff (do to lack of access to content or lack of technical knowledge), by allowing things you've downloaded to seed from your computer. Frequently people who post content are looking for other seeders because they don't have sufficient bandwidth to keep uploading to everyone who might want a program.

Second, while UKnova is a great site, you can also check out TheBox :: Login, which is UK television and radio only and requires folks to join; btjunkie - the largest bittorrent search engine, which is an open site that searches torrents available on other sites that have British stuff--you just have to look for it; and radioarchive.cc : Home, which is broadcast/streaming spoken word content only. Lots of great stuff from the bbc and some of the US public radio stations.

I whole-heartedly concur with those who want to share the experience, rather than make money. I also believe in limiting what I download to stuff that isn't commercially available. First, if you download and upload stuff that is otherwise for sale, you rip off the artists and the production companies. Second, you are at far greater risk of an infringement action by those who do have the right to sell the stuff.

So bit torrent is a good way to share, but not without risks of its own (viruses, infringement, technical time sink, etc.). I'd be happy to hear from people interested in The Box, as I have some invites that otherwise will go to waste.

[DB7]

Originally Posted by wallicar44 So bit torrent is a good way to share, but not without risks of its own (viruses, infringement, technical time sink, etc.). I'd be happy to hear from people interested in The Box, as I have some invites that otherwise will go to waste.

I'm not so sure you're assumptions are correct, the government are already seeking agreement with ISP's for the disclosure of user details in the 'three strikes' policy drive.

UK rattles 'three strikes' filesharing sabre (again) | The Register

[wallicar44]

Originally Posted by DB7 I'm not so sure you're assumptions are correct, the government are already seeking agreement with ISP's for the disclosure of user details in the 'three strikes' policy drive. UK rattles 'three strikes' filesharing sabre (again) | The Register

Just a clarification: I assume with bit torrent there is always a risk of an anti-infringement action (such as getting kicked off an ISP), no matter what you download and share. The only exception would be if the uploader is the creator and owner and gives full permission for sharing, like some people do on facebook or other networking sites. The risk assessment question is whether the stuff you are downloading/sharing is going to get people upset. Downloading music poses a huge risk in the US because of the aggressive policing of the recording industry. Downloading feature films or television programs available (or likely to be available) on DVD would also attract attention. Downloading and sharing vintage TV and radio broadcasts that aren't commercially available probably violates copyright, depending on what the applicable law is, but it may not be the sort of thing anti downloading people will spend time and money running down. The sites I mentioned in my earlier post limit what can be uploaded and police it pretty aggressively to minimize the risk that material is going up that could get the site into trouble. But that doesn't mean there is no risk.

So bit torrent has its risks, just like swapping with people who might turn out to be sleazy. But it can be one way to get access to old or rare films (more likely videos) that you can't buy, even through the glory of the world wide web!

[Third Man]

Just a little note from myself, I've had nothing but good experiences with trades and other interactions on this site with the few I have dealt with, just pays to ease into that side of things get to know the good eggs, there's plenty of them..

Simon