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TL;DR: Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 for Windows is on sale for £31.93. Virtually any profession finds itself intertwined with at least one Microsoft application. Writers live and breathe Word, data analysts often use Excel, and many working in a remote or hybrid setup are familiar with Teams. Meanwhile, developers have found a home in Visual Studio, an integrated development environment (IDE) that allows for easy coding, debugging, deploying, and managing all sorts of programs and applications. Securing a Visual Studio license usually requires a hefty investment of £400, making it out of reach for many developers. Luckily, for a limited time, it's on sale for £31.93 — no coupon necessary. You'll only have to pay once and install and use the program on a single computer for lifetime use. This deal nets you the full capabilities of Visual Studio Professional 2022 for life. Whether you're writing a simple "hello world" program or a complex project, the platform has an advanced suite of tools and integrations to help you churn out high-quality code more efficiently. You can use it to build cross-platform mobile and desktop apps with .NET MAUI, create responsive Web UIs in C# with Blazor, build, debug, and test .NET and C++ apps in Linux, and more. To help you code smarter, its IntelliCode function understands your code context down to the variable name and functions and completes it automatically. If you're collaborating with a team, you can expedite your edit and debugging cycles with custom settings. It also offers access to information like changes, authors, tests, and commit history, allowing for full transparency throughout the development process. It's worth mentioning that this version of Visual Studio can only be installed on computers with Windows 11 and up, those with a minimum of 4GB memory, as well as ARM64, x64, or Quad-core processors. A lifetime license to Visual Studio Professional 2022 normally goes for £400, but you can get it on sale for £31.93. Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 for Windows £31.93 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal View the full article

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer. If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 29's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing. Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle. What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N. What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though. Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:An artsy hobby. Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no letters that appear twice. Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter C. SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution. Drumroll please! The solution to Wordle #1045 is... CRAFT. Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article. View the full article

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for April 29's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common. Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends. Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media. Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try: Yellow: Basic calisthenics Green: Western tropes Blue: Icons of peace Purple: Types of bees Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories: Yellow: Exercises Green: Featured in Westerns Blue: Leaders Who Received the Nobel Peace Prize Purple: ___Bee Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle. Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions. Drumroll, please! The solution to Connections #323 is... What is the answer to Connections todayExercises: BRIDGE, CRUNCH, DIP, SQUAT Featured in Westerns: BOUNTY, COWBOY, DUEL, SALOON Leaders Who Received the Nobel Peace Prize: CARTER, GORE, KING, TUTU ___Bee: BUSY, HONEY, QUEEN, SPELLING Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections. View the full article

Check out the best images from L.A. Times photographers on the ground at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio. View the full article

A Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire moment, Post Malone's all-star set and a strange Guy Fieri cooking demo catch our fancy at Stagecoach. View the full article

Ahead of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June — where AI is predicted to be a big talking point — Apple is reportedly intensifying its talks with OpenAI, according to Bloomberg. As Mashable has previously noted, Apple has been talking to several big AI companies in pursuit of a potential partnership for on-device chatbot capabilities. According to Bloomberg, Apple and OpenAI discussed a potential deal earlier this year. Those talks have since reopened, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The possible agreement could be about OpenAI integrations into iOS 18. SEE ALSO: iOS 18: The ‘Notes’ app is reportedly getting 2 new features No deal has been currently reached, however. It seems that Apple may be deciding whether to partner with another company to bring chatbot features to its devices. Apple is also in talks with Google about bringing the latter's Gemini to iPhone. New research hints that Apple is working on an AI upgrade to Siri as well. As Mashable's Cecily Mauran reported, Apple researchers are working on a model that would better understand context of what's on screen and running in the background of a device than ChatGPT currently can. It would also better understand conversational context. This would all be on device, a shift in the current state of large language models (LLMs) that are cloud-based, because they require a lot of computing power. Whatever Apple's plans are, we may not hear what's coming until WWDC. View the full article

The Rabbit R1 shook up the tech world as it hit the scene with a bright orange chassis and a promise to save us from the chaos of navigating countless apps. If you don't know what the Rabbit R1 is, or why the internet is going crazy over the device, it's an AI assistant that can fit in your palm. However, what makes it different from ChatGPT and Gemini is that it's designed to take action on your behalf. For example, ChatGPT and Gemini can answer, "What's the best pizzeria in my area?" However, if you were to ask, "Can you place an order for a pepperoni pizza from this place?", you'd get the equivalent of a blank stare from those assistants. Conversely, in addition to an LLM (large language model), an LAM (large action model) underpins Rabbit R1. So if you were to ask it that same question, it would actually take action — and order it for you. I'll dive into the Rabbit R1's capabilities, but first, let's take a step back. SEE ALSO: Humane Ai Pin reviews: Top 5 common complaints about the 'smartphone killer' Rabbit R1 priceThe Rabbit R1 is just $199, making it relatively inexpensive compared to other AI assistant devices (e.g., the $699 Humane Ai pin). Unlike the Humane Ai pin, the Rabbit R1 doesn't require a monthly subscription. Rabbit R1 release dateThe first batch of Rabbit R1 orders are expected to start shipping some time "around April 24." Rabbit hosted a "pick up party" on April 23, allowing some buyers, even if they're not within the first batch, to grab their new Rabbit R1 at a location in New York City — but only if they RSVP'd in time. If you are in batch 2, orders will begin shipping in early May, with batch 3 shipping "shortly thereafter," according to a Rabbit support post. Orders after batch 3, including batch 4, batch 5, batch 6, and batch 7, will begin shipping in between June and July. Rabbit R1 designThe Rabbit R1 is a compact, cute, pocketable gadget with a 2.88-inch screen. This bright-orange device is striking, featuring a rotating camera (i.e., the "Rabbit Eye"), an analog scroll wheel, and a push-to-talk button. Credit: Rabbit Inc. If I were to get the Rabbit R1 in my hand, I'd instinctively want to play 8-bit games on it. It looks like a retro-esque handheld gaming device à la the Playdate, another brightly colored, squarish gadget. Rabbit R1 specsHere's a quick rundown of the Rabbit R1's specs: 2.88-inch touchscreen 360-degree rotating camera 2.3GHz MediaTek processor 4GB of RAM 128GB of storage Speaker (on the back) SIM card slot (for a 4G LTE connection) All-day battery life (reportedly) via USB-C charging Rabbit R1: 7 cool things it can doNow here comes the fun part. What, exactly, can the Rabbit R1 do? The list appears to be endless. Credit: Rabbit Inc. However, based on the X account of Jesse Lyu, the CEO of Rabbit Inc., here are some of its most noteworthy capabilities. 1. Generate AI imagesLyu boasts that you can use Rabbit R1 to generate AI images (via Midjourney) without shelling out a monthly fee. 2. Identify objects and answer questions about themWatch Lyu point his Rabbit R1 at a pair of sneakers and ask who makes them. 3. Listen and summarizeLyu commands the Rabbit R1 to listen to his own lecture and summarize it an easy-to-digest manner. 4. Problem solving with the 'Rabbit Eye'In this mind-blowing use case, Lyu tells the Rabbit R1 that he's having trouble with his Nest thermostat — and the AI device proceeds to identify the issue. 5. Translate textWatch the Rabbit R1 translate text on a KitKit bar into English. This could be a useful tool for travel, particularly while visiting countries with languages that are foreign to you. 6. Order DoorDash Putting the LAM to the test, Lyu shows how the Rabbit R1 ordered KFC on his behalf. 7. Play musicThe Rabbit R1 can play music and podcasts via voice commands. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Mashable will be at the Rabbit R1 pick-up party. Expect a review on the Rabbit R1 soon — we'll be testing how well these features work in the real world. Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses $299.00 Get Deal View the full article

Meta has begun pushing AI on Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp — so much so that you can't turn Meta AI off. As it turns out, the tech giant's own features aren't the only AI proliferating on Meta's platforms. Explicit ads for AI "girlfriends" are populating Facebook and Instagram, Wired reported. Searches by Wired found that at least 29,000 ads for explicit AI "girlfriends" have been published on Meta platforms, most with sex-related messaging; at least 19,000 ads have the term "NSFW" and 14,000 "NSFW AI." Wired conducted searches on Meta's ad library, which can display all ads currently on its platforms; all ads shown in the EU in the last year; and ads from the past seven years related to elections, politics, or social issues. SEE ALSO: Here's how the TikTok ban will likely play out in the courts These explicit ads appear to violate Meta's adult content advertising policy, which bans advertisers from running ads that "contain adult content, such as nudity and depictions of people in explicit or suggestive positions, or activities that are overly suggestive or sexually provocative." Facebook and Instagram's community guidelines ban nudity and anything the platform sees as "offering sexual services." These platforms also ban sexual language in instances of sexual solicitation (or perceived solicitation), even "commonly sexual emojis." For years, sex workers — and also sex educators, LGBTQ users, erotic artists, and the like — have said that Meta unfairly targets their content and accounts due to these policies. Such users have told Mashable that they feared targeting under Meta community guidelines; Instagram shadowbans LGBTQ and sex educator accounts; and that Whatsapp bans sex worker accounts. In one experiment conducted by sexual wellness brand Unbound last fall, Meta repeatedly rejected sex toy ads targeted for women, while approving ones targeted for men. Last November, Mashable reported that Meta allegedly rejected a period care ad for being adult or political. Yet, these NSFW AI "girlfriend" ads apparently skate through. Wired's report isn't the first instance of ads for explicit AI apps showing up on Meta: Deepfake ads featuring Jenna Ortega and other celebrities ran on Meta platforms as well. When Wired contacted Meta about this, 2,700 AI "girlfriend" ads were active. Meta spokesperson Ryan Daniels told Wired that the company prohibits such ads and were reviewing them, and would remove those that violated its policies. "When we identify violating ads we work quickly to remove them, as we're doing here,” he told Wired. "We continue to improve our systems, including how we detect ads and behavior that go against our policies." Still, the publication found that thousands of these ads were still active days later. Mashable has reached out to Meta for comment. View the full article

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe. With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it. So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered. SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for April 28 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 28 Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, April 28, 2024: Across"___ a beautiful day in the neighborhood …"The answer is Its. Clothing typically washed on a delicate settingThe answer is Knits. Swing one's arms helplesslyThe answer is Flail. Quaint worker at a traveling fairThe answer is Carny. Woolly beast of TibetThe answer is Yak. DownEmbed, as a mosaic tileThe answer is Inlay. Crowning part of a princess costumeThe answer is Tiara. Really reekThe answer is Stink. Chain that temporarily dropped the "Finger Lickin' Good!" slogan during the pandemicThe answer is KFC. TricksyThe answer is Sly. View the full article

TL;DR: Through April 30, upgrade to Windows 10 Pro to add improved security tools and better integration with Microsoft 365 — only $29.97 if you. From basic integration with apps to software compatibility, upgrading your operating system could be a simple way to keep your older computer up to snuff for a while longer, and it doesn't have to be a major expense. Windows 10 Pro isn't the latest OS from Microsoft, but it's still a versatile operating system with a 64-bit architecture, and you can use a limited-time sale to get it for cheap. Install Windows 10 Pro on your compatible device for just $29.97, but that's only if you get it in the next two days. Make your old computer feel new(er)Windows 10 Pro seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365, so you may be able to work from practically anywhere. Remote workers could take advantage of integration with Teams to stay in contact with their co-workers, and you could even control your PC remotely from any device. Use the Azure Active Directory to make it a little easier to manage all your passwords and login info instead of trying to remember all of them yourself. That means you may only need one password to get into your computer, Microsoft 365, and all your other Microsoft services. Upgrade your operating systemDon't miss your limited-time chance to upgrade to Windows 10 for life. Until April 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get Microsoft Windows 10 Pro on sale for $29.97. StackSocial prices subject to change. Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Windows 10 Pro $29.97 at the Mashable Shop $199.00 Save $169.03 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal View the full article

TL;DR: Through May 1, if your mom is into gardening or plants, this lifetime subscription to the Plantum AI Plant Identifier app could be a hit, and the Premium Plan is on sale for $16.97 (reg. $59). The art of being a great gift giver requires you to know something your loved one enjoys and then find something interesting along those lines. For instance, if your mom has a green thumb (or wants to), this subscription to the Plantum AI Plant Identifier app could be something she'd love for Mother's Day. A lifetime subscription to the Premium Plan is on sale for just $16.97 (reg. $59) through May 1. The Plantum AI Plant Identifier makes a handy companion for anyone interested in plants, flowers, and their environment. With over 33,000 plant profiles, this app uses advanced AI technology to identify various plant species in seconds. It's like having a botanist in your pocket, ready to help expand your knowledge of the fauna and flora wherever you go. It does more than just identify, though. You'll get soil selection, temperature, fertilization, and watering tips, along with the ideal temperature for the plant. And if your plant isn't going very well, it can help you figure out what's wrong and how to help a sick plant. You can also use this app as a plant journal to keep all your gardening notes. In addition, it has the ability to measure sunlight levels in a certain area so you know just where to plant a new addition. Updates are also included. This offer is for new users only. It's only available on iOS devices. Pick up a lifetime Premium Plan subscription to the Plantum AI Plant Identifier app for your mom (or yourself) for just $16.97 (reg. $59) when you order by May 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT. StackSocial prices subject to change. Opens in a new window Credit: Plantum Plantum - AI Plant Identifier Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (For iOS Only) $16.97 at the Mashable Shop $59.99 Save $43.02 Get Deal View the full article

TL;DR: Through May 1, order this AquaSprouts® aquaponics water garden for $127.99 with guaranteed delivery by Mother’s Day. Instead of getting Mom flowers that will just wilt away, you could get her a Mother’s Day gift that lasts — this aquaponic water garden. Whether she’s been flexing her green thumb, thinking of adopting a fish, or both, this is a meaningful gift that she could cherish for years. However, the fish part is optional. The AquaSprouts® fountain is currently $127.99 (reg. $159.95). If you’re interested, be sure to order on or before May 1 for guaranteed delivery by Mother’s Day. A Mother’s Day gift that won’t just wilt awayNobody likes a gift that becomes a burden — like constant watering, fertilizing, and fish cleanup — which makes the AquaSprouts® fountain an excellent choice for Mother’s Day. When used as an aquaponic garden with live fish, the plants hydrate and fertilize themselves with fish water, using their waste as nutrients. Selecting fish that will thrive in this environment is no small task, though. Some types Mom might be interested in are small species like tetras, mollies, platies, and barbs. If Mom decides not to adopt fish, the AquaSprouts® fountain can be used as a water or hydroponic garden. The manufacturer suggests that plants may actually grow faster this way than in soil and save around 90% of the usual water. She could grow herbs, greens, and several small fruits or vegetables like strawberries or cherry tomatoes all year long, since the garden is indoors. Surprise Mom with a gift to remember. Regularly $160, get the AquaSprouts® aquaponics fountain for $127.99 with guaranteed delivery by Mother’s Day when ordered by May 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed. StackSocial prices subject to change. Opens in a new window Credit: AquaSprouts AquaSprouts® Fountain: Aquaponics Water Garden $127.99 at the Mashable Shop $159.95 Save $31.96 Get Deal View the full article

In February 2023, Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security revealed an extension to Operation 404, an ongoing anti-piracy operation to disrupt websites and apps involved in online piracy. The purpose of 404-offshoot Operation Anime was to “suppress crimes committed against intellectual property” with a specific focus on piracy of Japanese cartoons, better known as anime. Several sites were shut down including goyabu.com and animeyabu.com. Close to a year later, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed a new phase of Operation Anime with a new partner appearing for the first time in 2024. Operation Anime Phase 2: Japan Joined By Korea The announcement confirms that the goal of Operation Anime Phase 2 remains unchanged for 2024 and Japan-based anti-piracy group Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) still features prominently. A change comes in the form of a new partner, South Korea-based Copyright Overseas Promotion Association (COA), which aims to suppress piracy of animated content, known locally as webtoons, on behalf of companies such as Kakao, Webtoon, and many others. In the latest operation, authorities in Brazil report that police in five regions – Alagoas, Ceará, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo – executed 11 home search and seizure warrants this week. The objective was to seize computer equipment containing evidence to show involvement in intellectual property crimes. The Ministry of Justice reports that two websites were “blocked and/or suspended” but didn’t officially name either. Based on information obtained from other sources, at this point, we feel confident enough to name one as definitely shut down Animetvonline.cx The search and seizure warrants covering Ceará were coordinated by the Cybercrime Repression Police Station (DRCC), with support from the Operational Center of the Specialized Judiciary Police Department (DPJE) and the Crateús Regional Police Station. The target was a 26-year-old man, alleged to be the operator of a pirate site receiving around 1.2 million visitors per month. At the man’s home in Planalto Crateús, police seized cell phones, computers, hard drives, and other IT equipment. As data from SimilarWeb shows, Animetvonline.cx had around 1.2m visits per month. In Google search, the site is now listed as “closed due to copyright infringement” and if one clicks through, a seizure banner hosted on CODA’s website confirms it ran into terminal trouble. With animetvonline.cx as a starting point, other domains start to show up that also appear to have been seized. They include animetvonline.xyz (zero traffic), animesbr.cc (3.4m), animesone.cc (60K), and animesonline.one (zero). These have links to animetvonline.cx but exactly when they were seized isn’t clear. Other information points to the shutdown of anime.vision and potentially a handful of others, but there’s not enough solid evidence to show anything beyond coincidental downtime. The action was coordinated by the Directorate of Integrated Operations and Intelligence (Diopi), through the Cyber ​​Operations Laboratory (Ciberlab), of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP). CODA and COA signed a memorandum of understanding in December 2017 and have been working together ever since to protect content overseas, including in Brazil. From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

Post Malone's special set of country covers at the Indio festival included some big names in the genre, including Brad Paisley. View the full article

From Jelly Roll's big night and Eric Church's somber set to Dwight Yoakam's flying fringe, these are the biggest moments from Day 1 of Stagecoach 2024. View the full article

In the summer of 2009, hackers from all over the world gathered at an outdoor conference near Vierhouten in the Netherlands. The event was mostly a meetup of like-minded geeks, but one person stood out a mile; Tim Kuik, director of anti-piracy group BREIN. Kuik joined a panel discussion where he calmly explained why his organization helped rightsholders to shut down pirate sites. The group was winning its lawsuit against Mininova at the time and had just booked a victory against the founders of The Pirate Bay just a few weeks earlier. As the panel was opening up for questions, a stereotypical neck-beard sporting hacker stepped forward, questioning Kuik on comments he made about The Pirate Bay’s revenues. It was none other than Pirate Bay founder Anakata, easily identifiable thanks to his Pirate Bay t-shirt. The two opposites engaged in a brief tete-a-tete of which the contents are irrelevant at this point. However, Kuik’s presence there, on that day, is exemplary of his tendency not to shy away from conversation, no matter the audience. The friendly photo both men took afterward is a testament to that. Anti-Piracy Veteran Retires Earlier this month, Tim Kuik informed TorrentFreak that he’s retiring, passing on the baton to BREIN’s new director Bastiaan van Ramshorst. While people retire every day, Kuik’s departure deserves a special mention; he’s an anti-piracy icon that formed a common thread throughout our reporting over the past 19 years. Unlike others operating in a similar position, Kuik never dodged questions. Not everyone shares BREIN’s goals but the organization is transparent whenever that’s possible. The group also differs from many of its counterparts in its pragmatic approach. Instead of going for ‘headline’ convictions, BREIN focuses on the main goal; stopping pirates. Kuik started his professional career at CIC Video International, shortly after he graduated from law school 42 years ago. In 1992 he became anti-piracy director at the Motion Picture Association’s European branch, moving on to a role as MPA’s global anti-piracy boss soon after. When a new anti-piracy group was formed in the Netherlands, just before the turn of the millennium, Kuik changed positions again, albeit for the last time. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Needless to say, a lot has changed since Kuik started working in the anti-piracy field. In the early 80s, bootleg VHS tapes were just getting popular, while the World Wide Web had yet to be invented. Speaking with TorrentFreak, Kuik recalls that the home video market was just opening up. Initially, movie studios saw videotapes as a threat, but they soon realized that they could market official movies to consumers as well, which proved to be a new source of revenue. The downside was that pirates would create bootleg copies. This wasn’t unexpected, but it posed a major problem. When E.T. came out in the early 80s, director Steven Spielberg was particularly upset and Kuik, working for CIC Video, was called in to solve the problem. “When ‘E.T. The Extraterrestrial’ was released theatrically by Universal, Spielberg was very upset about the video piracy because he envisaged the movie as theatrical only and didn’t want it on TV screens,” Kuik says. “So, I was tasked to collect evidence against video rental shops that carried illegal copies of it. The shops were full of illegal titles and we realized we had to band together instead of chasing individual titles.” This realization that ‘cooperation’ between studios was wise, paved the way for future anti-piracy initiatives. CIC Video was a joint venture of Paramount and Universal, both members of the Motion Picture Association, which became a key anti-piracy force in the following decades. Kuik helped to bundle the powers of the major Hollywood studios, first at CIC Video, and later at the MPA. In that role, he helped to establish more than thirty local anti-piracy programs. Eventually, he moved to Los Angeles to become head of MPA’s global anti-piracy program. At the end of the nineties, he moved back to his home country, the Netherlands, to manage BREIN. This was the start of a 25-year adventure that left a mark on the industry in many ways. Threats Kuik served as BREIN’s first director, which was initially a temporary role that he planned to fill for a few years. However, years turned into decades. While the role was rewarding, it also came at a cost. As the public face of an anti-piracy group, Kuik was often scolded by supporters of his opponents. Most of this critique came from keyboard warriors, but there were escalations. At some point in the early 2000s, the threats got so out of hand that BREIN’s office needed strict physical security. There was a constant barrage of hate aimed at the group, with Kuik often the prime target. In a recent interview with a Dutch film magazine, Kuik mentioned that BREIN received hydrochloric acid in the mail at some point, adding that police complaints were filed on various occasions. These threats have faded in recent years. In part, perhaps, because BREIN often found the law on its side in courts. The group can be credited for shutting down thousands of sites and services, including Mininova, the largest torrent site at the time. Accomplishments BREIN also went after The Pirate Bay. While it never managed to take the site offline, it did book many victories in court that greatly helped international anti-piracy efforts. This includes a ruling from Europe’s highest court, which allowed The Pirate Bay to be blocked. The court ruling laid the groundwork for other European pirate site blockades and, in the Netherlands, led to the first site blocking order after a legal battle of more than ten years. “The best [achievement] is the CJEU ruling that The Pirate Bay is a copyright-infringing service. Although that did not close down the site, it set EU case law and, for us in the Netherlands, it made blocking possible, leading to a covenant with access providers about blocking illegal services,” Kuik notes. Site blocking is an essential tool, Kuik says, as it’s often the only way to act against anonymous site operators who do all they can not to get caught. Various other court rulings, where online intermediaries such as hosting platforms and payment providers were held accountable, also proved to be important. This helped takedown efforts and investigative work; to track down site operators, whenever possible. While BREIN won most of the lawsuits it initiated, not all succeeded. The greatest defeat came in a Usenet-related lawsuit, where the court ultimately ruled that the provider was not violating copyright law. The provider, NSE, had already shut down years before that final ruling came in but ended up with a moral victory. After a legal battle of 14 years, the Dutch Supreme Court concluded that NSE itself was not liable for copyright infringement. The fact that NSE had a takedown procedure and no apparent knowledge of infringement, weighed in its favor and BREIN was ordered to pay €65,000 in legal fees. Kuik sees the NSE verdict as the worst legal outcome in his career and still believes that the court reached the wrong conclusion. Despite the loss, he stresses that BREIN can and does hold usenet services accountable today, as they are required to take down infringing content while taking additional measures. Piracy Remains a Problem Despite all the hard work over the past 42 years, the piracy problem hasn’t been solved. While the industry has more tools to tackle copyright infringement today, new forms of piracy continue to show up. This includes emerging technologies including artificial intelligence. “Currently, illegal IPTV is the main threat to TV, film, series, and live sports. In addition, there are illegal sites that serve as large repositories for generative AI, which forms a threat to man-made creative content of any kind,” Kuik notes. If Kuik could dictate the law, he would make it mandatory for online services to verify who their customers are. Such “know your customer” policies could help to identify operators of pirate sites and services more easily, so they could be held accountable. “In general, intermediaries should verify who their customers are and should be willing to share this with parties that are injured by such customers,” Kuik says. “Currently, such an obligation is based on case law and the principle of it is often denied by intermediaries, even though it exists for example for VAT purposes and for online marketplaces.” Rightsholders are already lobbying for these types of policies, which are high on anti-piracy wishlists around the globe. Piracy Positives? For Kuik, the active anti-piracy work ends here. When asked whether there is anything positive about piracy at all, he’s willing to entertain the idea that unauthorized use, in some cases, has shown the way for legal business models. For example, one can argue that Napster led to the first legal digital music store, and that services such as Netflix and Spotify were positioned as piracy alternatives when they first hit the market. Kuik recognizes this, at least in part. “You could indeed argue that there are instances where illegal (unauthorized) exploitation showed the way forward before licensed models were established,” Kuik tells us While piracy may lead the way, Kuik stresses that it’s certainly not sustainable. Without proper enforcement, it’s hard for legal services to compete and their revenues are vital for creating the new content consumers demand. “Enforcement is one of the conditions to get rightsholders to enter a market and make legitimate businesses thrive. And that, in turn. secures structural employment in content creation and distribution. Which is what the customer wants. Piracy does not provide that,” Kuik concludes. Back in 2009, when Kuik and Pirate Bay founder Anakata went head-to-head, the situation was no different, and both men agreed to disagree. However, battling The Pirate Bay indirectly brought BREIN its key site blocking victory several years later. While Kuik moves on, his legacy remains. The same is true for a ‘copy’ of the iconic Pirate Bay t-shirt Anakata was wearing at the hacker conference, which is one of the many relics still on display in BREIN’s office. — The Kuik / Anakata photo was taken by and is credited to Reinoud Van Leeuwen From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

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Each year the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) publishes a new update of its Special 301 Report, highlighting countries that fail to live up to U.S copyright protection standards. The annual overview is meant to urge foreign governments to improve policy and legislation in favor of U.S. copyright holders. The process has shown itself to be an effective diplomatic tool and has helped to kick-start copyright reforms around the globe. Not all governments are equally susceptible to critique and Canada once described the process as flawed. Still, no country wants to be included in the list. 2024 Special 301 Report USTR’s latest Special 301 Report, published yesterday, features considerable overlap with previous editions. The ‘Priority Watch List’ countries remain unchanged; they are Argentina, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and Venezuela. The reported issues range from high levels of online piracy to problems with trademark protection. Inadequate legal protections, enforcement shortcomings, and other trade barriers are frequently mentioned too. These priority threats are followed by regular Watch List countries, twenty in total. They include United States’ neighbors, Canada and Mexico, as well as Brazil, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Vietnam. The inclusion of Vietnam doesn’t come as a surprise since it’s been on the Watch List for a few years now. According to reports from rightsholders, the piracy problem has only worsened since then. ‘Online Piracy Haven’ The USTR’s report is partly based on these rightsholder complaints. They include a detailed submission from IIPA earlier this year, which characterized the Asian country as the leading global exporter of piracy services. “Vietnam has become a leading global exporter of piracy services and Vietnamese operators have been associated with some of the world’s most pervasive piracy websites, causing significant damage to both the local and international marketplaces,” IIPA wrote. The country is considered ‘home’ to problematic sites and services such as Fmovies, AniWave, 123movies, 2embed, BestBuyIPTV, and Y2mate, which have many millions of monthly users globally. Rightsholders repeatedly report these problems to local authorities but apparently with little effect. Earlier this week there appeared to be somewhat of a breakthrough when the operator of “BestBuyIPTV” received a suspended prison sentence from a local court. However, the popular IPTV service remains online and despite rightsholder celebrations, it’s uncertain whether the relatively mild sentence will have any deterrent effect. ‘Leading Source of Online Piracy’ What’s clear, however, is that Vietnam is a high-priority country for anti-piracy efforts. While that didn’t translate into a “Priority Watch List” label, USTR’s Special 301 listing for Vietnam is becoming more concrete. The Trade Representative starts by acknowledging that Vietnam has taken steps to improve its copyright law. Other positive signs include an increase in raids and seizures of counterfeit goods and increased enforcement. However, piracy remains a problem. “Vietnam has increasingly become a leading source of online piracy, including through online piracy services that capitalize on the widespread use of illicit streaming devices and applications,” USTR writes. “Vietnam currently hosts some of the most popular piracy sites and services in the world that target a global audience,” the Special 301 Report adds. The language in USTR’s report is more robust than last year when there was no mention of Vietnam’s leading role in online piracy. And that’s not the only change either; complaints about the lack of enforcement are sharpened too. Vietnam’s Failure to Deter Online Piracy In recent years the major Hollywood studios have made a series of criminal referrals backed up by their own investigations, but responses from the authorities leave a lot to be desired. “Despite having criminal laws imposing substantial fines and years of incarceration for copyright and trademark infringement, Vietnam has almost no criminal investigations or prosecutions,” USTR writes. “Stakeholders note there has yet to be a single criminal conviction for a copyright offense in Vietnam, as a criminal investigation against the operators of Phimmoi.net has stalled and Vietnamese authorities have not addressed other criminal complaints submitted by stakeholders.” USTR’s enforcement comments are somewhat dated as they were written before the recent conviction of a ‘BestBuyIPTV’ operator. That said, one suspended prison sentence after a four-year legal process seems unlikely to change much. Vietnam mostly relies on administrative enforcement actions, but they have failed to stop the large pirate sites and services from operating. The MPA and ACE had limited success by privately taking action against 2Embed and Zoro.to, but ‘successors‘ of both platforms remain active today. According to the USTR, these private actions are no substitute for full-fledged criminal prosecutions. “[A] few successful efforts by stakeholders to negotiate directly with operators of piracy sites to shut down the sites are no substitute for enforcement actions and criminal prosecutions by government authorities,” USTR writes. Reading between the lines, it’s clear that the U.S. would like Vietnam to step up its anti-piracy efforts significantly. While things have been slowly moving in that direction recently, the critique will likely remain, at least until some big fish are caught. — A copy of the USTR’s full 2024 Special 301 Report is available here (pdf) From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

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