Comments on: Linux felon forced to install Windows

Linux enthusiast convicted of illegal file sharing balks at probation terms demanding he install Windows if he wants to use a PC.

[Penguinisto]

*cough*Cygwin*cough*

...or building a live CD, or...?

Talk about tech-ignorance.

"oooh! only super-hackers use Linux!"

Whatever... if they want to be morons about it, let 'em.

Me, I'd ask to install Mac OSX instead, watch the idiot behind the desk say "sure", then happily bang away at the BSD/bash goodness in there.

/P

[unigamer69]

Interesting idea...

Cygwin is an idea - although I think I like the VMware idea earlier better.

[sanenazok]

They're doing him a favor

Given that it's a federal case, they could have kept him in prison in lieu of house arrest. Further, it's not unusual for computer equipment to be permanently FORFEITED in cases of criminal piracy like this. He should be glad he has a computer, even if he can't use it since he run an unsupported OS on it. I'm pretty sure that previously even petty criminals found guilty of computer crime were banned from computers for YEARS.

So stop wasting court time on BS arguments and live with consequences of your actions. I hope pirating the movie and distributing it worldwide was worth it. To me it wouldn't have been, but I guess to each his own.

[unigamer69]

You have a point, but...

...I think as the world becomes more and more digital, the idea of banning folks from computers post-sentence, will have to be phased out.

When it's your primary job skill, they can't keep it up. This isn't the 80s.

[as2319]

DUI..84 Minutes.. 2 DUIs..Slap on the wrist Uploading a Movie... 5 Months

im glad the priorities of america are firmly inline

[JaquesLenoir]

Also an interesting argument

By forcing the use of a known unsecured OS, he could be hacked and moved back to jail, this because the monitoring software could show some illegal activities done by others. (Parole violation).

Maybe it's better to have him install a compromised version of Windows an blame everything done on his computer to it.

Interesting indeed.

[ethana2]

That's horrible! I dual boot both, and

I know that Ubuntu kicks Windows butt, from personal experience.

This is fascist, cruel and unusual. Just tell his ISP to spy on everything he does. I'm sure they'd be happy to oblige :(

Don't do it, man! It is -not- worth it. Move to sweden or something. I hope they didn't confiscate your personal data permanently.

And as a word of advice, whatever you did to get yourself here- please don't do it again.

[Had_to_be_said]

Confused, and worried...

First...

I am confused by the headline. If he had been running "Microsoft" software, would they have called him a "Windows Felon"..? Or, if someone was involved in a hit-and-run, would they call them a "Toyota-Felon", or a "Ford-Felon"..? This just doesnt really make a lot of sense to me.

Second...

I seem to recall, a few months back, that members of "Federal Law-enforcement" were, publicly, decrying the fact that they just couldnt deal with "criminals" (or "terrorists") that used PCs running anything other than "Microsoft Windows". And, Im sure that ISPs, law-enforcement (...and, undoubtedly, Microsoft) would simply love to be able to dictate exactly what Operating-System, and software-applications, "computer-users" were -allowed- to run (...for all manner of, alleged, "security-purposes", "copyright protections", and "liability reasons", ...of course). But, I think it is even more frightening when you understand that the actual technology to do exactly this, has already been designed, developed, and in a large part, actually deployed. Its called "Trusted Computing" and "Network end-point security".

Among other things, this "Secure Computing Base", allows software-companies, and ISPs, to identify and decide, exactly what software, and hardware, users are -allowed to utilize. And, eventually, this is actually designed to allow the absolute identification of the, individual, "computer user".

Right now, dictating -approved- software (in this case to "protect copyright interests") is being done to a "convicted felon" (allegedly for "practical-reasons") and therefore many people seem somewhat willing to accept it. Apparently they actually do believe that "copyright infringement" is a more serious "crime", and poses an even greater danger to "society", than say... "drunk driving", "assault", or the numerous "white-collar crimes" which have been committed by wealthy corporate-officers and Government-officials, ...which have, already, cost citizens, consumers, and investors, so-much.

Frankly, I can easily foresee a day, in the not too distant future, when youll only be -allowed on the Internet once youve proven... to your ISP, the Government, and Microsoft... that youre not running anything besides the -approved- products... for -approved- activities.

Not, a appealing-prospect, in my opinion.

[My-Self]

It's harder to spy on people using open source software ...

I think the main information conveyed in this article is that it's harder to spy on people using open source software ...

BTW, he's not a "Linux Felon", he had trouble with copyright laws, that's not related to Linux in any way.

[The_Decider]

Linux Felon

CNET certainly earned its weekly check from MS for that headline!

[Orion Blastar]

If it were me

I'd cancel my Internet connection for five months duration of the probation, just to avoid being forced to use Windows and forced to install a spyware trojan on my system for monitoring.

That way I can still use Linux, and not violate probation. I'd take my 5 months writing a book about the whole experience and how I have been persecuted by the authorities and made an example out of and had my civil rights violated in that they tried to force me into using Windows and installing a spyware trojan virus to monitor my Internet usage. I'd also write how DUI violators get a slap on the wrist, even for multiple violations and violations of probation and the punishment for file sharing a movie is more severe and unjust.

[qwerty75]

Good idea

The government needs to stop bowing to these greedy idiots.

[aSiriusTHoTH]

oh no.. jail time, felonies, now the death penalty?

This moron kid thinks using windows is like the Death Penalty! He is lucky he only served 5 months....

[Xenu7-214951314497503184010868]

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Sounds unconstitutional to me. Perhaps when his probation is over they'll let him install OS X.

[devbost]

It's only cruel and unusual...

...if they make him use Windows ME. Otherwise, I think he's making a mountain out of a molehill.

[marcyu]

You EARNED 2 felonies - they weren't given to you

Take some responsibility for your actions, punk.

[Dalkorian]

criminal

Forcing anyone to install and use Winblows should be a criminal
act. We *do* have constitutional protections against cruel and
unusual punishment, you know.

I agree with other posters here that state he should just live
without the internet for the next few months. Then he won't be
suseptable to all the viri, worms, trojans and spyware that makes
Winblows so notorious.

[sal-magnone]

LOL

LOL. This is great.

[rkinne01]

Gimme a damn break!

He's complaining that he has to use Windows, he could be in prison as Big Bubba's plaything instead. You tell me which is the bigger pain in the butt?

[dhtechs]

LOL

For crying out loud! The guy is a convicted felon. Depending on what state he lives in, he can never vote, hold public office, own a gun, go fishing or hunting legally...the list of personal freedoms and civil rights has gone out the window. Not to mention the fact that during is probation period, the police and his probation officer don't even have to have probable cause to search his person, property, house or car.

The judge could have made it illegal for him to even use a computer again. Gimme a break.

[theriverlethe]

Absurd

And all over a movie that wasn't even worth watching.
Can't he get somebody to make him a copy of Windows? :P

[spindoctor720]

ARE YOU SERIOUS? Poor Baby....

Having to use Windows "AS PART OF YOUR PROBATION" is the least of your problems. I am assuming that you live in the US. If so you are lucky that the sentence you received was as lenient as is was "5 months and 5 months" what NO FINES? Although the length of probation is not mentioned, you should be thankful that you can even use a computer at all. WHY? Because YOU plead GUILTY and CHOSE not to go to trial or whatever probably in order to receive the sentence you did. Understand that you have LOST many rights because you are now a "CONVICTED FELON". Here's some things you have to look forward to, NO OWNING FIREARMS, NO MORE VOTING, CHANCE OF EMPLOYMENT BY COMPANY THAT DOESN'T CARE THAT YOU ARE A SHADY CHARACTER? About 1000000 to 1. Just a few, however look at the bright side you are now a member of the criminal underground and should have no problem using a computer elsewhere outside your residence that uses Linux to do what ever is sooooooooo vital to your survival. Oh WAIT don't tell me YOU'RE REFORMED NOW, FOUND GOD IN JAIL, ONLY TOOK THE RAP FOR A FRIEND, ALREADY PAID YOUR DEBT TO SOCIETY OR JUST ANOTHER POOR VICTIM OF THE US JUDICIAL SYSTEM? Whatever the case count your blessings you're not still locked up and able to enjoy a grande mocha latte at Starbucks while you check your email. Bottom line DEAL WITH IT for crying out loud!

[spindoctor720]

Let's not forget

Let's not forget he was an ADMINISTRATOR of the torrent site. Not just a guy who uploaded a copy of a DVD. "HE" posted a major motion picture "BEFORE" it was released in the theaters (clearly stolen property). You cannot say "I didn't know it was wrong". And he probably plead guilty to avoid any other prosecution if they found anything else he may have done that was illegal. Be real people if it's illegal where you live be prepared to face the consequences or do it in another country where it's not illegal. As an administrator it is their job to make sure that nothing illegal is posted. And in some cases it is their job to post illegal content, which if caught has legal consequences. Don't look at the fact that he was one guy and how many others are doing it. Look at this example first: 10,000 people downloaded this movie. 10,000 people didn't pay at the box office. Do the math and then imagine that it was YOUR movie. I'm sure the actual number far exceeded that. Now is it still no big deal?

[Kansas LE]

Linux is all about shell, gcc, perl, cron

You can run almost anything if it compiled inside your OS. Just like you were in Linux. But yes, sometimes a little bit surprise.

But let us don't bother him, perhaps he insist to use Linux because he is part of developer community. "I'm Linux kernel developer, and I'm using Windrop".

Who knows, he will create a new OS within and after his boring times. And that's useful for people.