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A UK advertising watchdog has walked back statements that FKA twigs is depicted as a “stereotypical sexual object” in the fashion campaignView the full article

The Los Angeles jazz luminary made Fearless Movement with André 3000, Thundercat, George Clinton, and moreView the full article

Works on Jackie Shane, Ryley Walker, Swamp Dogg, the Black Keys, and more screen at the Austin festival.View the full article

Taken from Light Verse, Sam Beam’s first official Iron & Wine album in seven yearsView the full article

Snoh Aalegra sings backing vocals on the Toronto artist’s new singleView the full article

“Yung Hearts Bleed Free” draws its influence from Bootsy CollinsView the full article

The French duo is bringing its 1998 classic to life onstageView the full article

Waze, the Google-owned navigation app known for its real-time traffic updates and community-driven insights, is rolling out a suite of new features designed to make your driving experience safer, smoother, and more informed. The suite of features, meant to roll out throughout 2024, ranges from advanced guidance for navigating tricky roundabouts to real-time alerts for upcoming speed limit changes and detailed parking information. This is part of a trend from Waze's attempts to use AI to enhance its safety features like Google Maps. Just recently in November, the company added a feature that warns users of roads with a history of crashes. SEE ALSO: Google Maps: A new time-saving feature is finally here Here's a breakdown of what to expect on the Waze app in the coming weeks and months: 1. Navigating RoundaboutsRoundabouts seem to be a foreign concept many Americans; as such, Waze is introducing a new feature that assist drivers with navigating roundabouts more effectively. Using input provided by locals in your area, the app will provide clear guidance on when to enter, the correct lane to choose, and where to exit roundabouts. This update will arrive some time this year starting with Android users before rolling out to iOS devices later this year. 2. Safety Alerts for First RespondersOne of the more interesting updates from Waze is the inclusion of advance alerts for drivers when emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, are stopped along their route. Credit: Waze This feature aims to improve safety for both drivers and first responders. It's also a warning that you might be stuck on the highway for a long time. This update is available now to both Android and iOS users, but only in select countries at the moment. 3. Speed Limit AlertsThe app will now alert drivers when a speed limit decrease is upcoming along their route. Credit: Waze This is a helpful feature for users hoping to evade tickets due to ill-conceived speed traps along the road. Coming some time this month, this update is being rolled out globally to all Android and iOS users. 4. Local Navigation AlertsUsing the power of its dedicated community of drivers, Waze plans to enhance its hazard alerts to include warnings about sharp curves, speed bumps, and toll booths. Along with speed alerts, this update is rolling out globally this month and is available to all Android and iOS users. 5. Parking InformationIn collaboration with Flash, Waze is expanding its parking features to offer detailed information about parking garages, including cost, coverage, accessibility, valet options, and the availability of EV charging stations. Credit: Waze Users will also be able to reserve parking spaces directly through the app. This feature will be available in the coming weeks for over 30,000 parking garages in the U.S. and Canada, including major cities. 6. Route Information Rolling out for all devices this month, Waze is making it easier for drivers to access information about their favorite routes, including live traffic updates and delays. This feature allows users to compare their preferred routes with alternative ones to make informed decisions about their travel. View the full article

Stockholm’s Rosendal Garden Party will host Refused’s first show in four years and their last festival appearance in their home countryView the full article

Last week, we reported that an Indian dynamic+ court order had taken down movie-web’s demo site, along with several other pirate sites. The injunction, issued by the New Delhi High Court, requires local ISPs to block access to the domains. In addition, domain name registrars are also urged to take action. The reach of this Indian order expands far outside the nation’s borders. Several international domain registrars, including the American company Namecheap, complied with its instructions. Failing to do so, could harm the ability of these companies to operate in India. At the time of our initial coverage, .to domains were a clear outlier. While several of these were registered through Namecheap, they remained online. A possible reason for this is that the .to registry doesn’t support the standard clientHold status code that’s used to suspend domain names. Namecheap For a moment, it seemed that anonymous .to domain names, registered through Namecheap, were a perfect match for pirate sites. However, recent developments show that this is not the case. Over the past few hours, all Namecheap-registered .to domains listed in the Indian court order have also been taken out. This includes several of the world’s largest pirate sites such as Zorox.to, Upmovies.to, and Flixwave.to. Smaller sites, including Sflixz.to and Streamm4u.to suffered the same fate. Instead of using the clientHold status code, Namecheap has updated the nameservers of these domains, changing them to blockedforabuse.pleasecontactsupport.com and dummysecondary.pleasecontactsupport.com. These nameservers are linked to other Namecheap abuse actions. Hollywood Connection TorrentFreak previously reached out to Namecheap requesting a comment on the domain suspensions, but the company hasn’t replied. It seems likely, however, that its actions are a direct response to the Indian court order. All suspended domains are listed in the court order and no other popular .to pirate sites are affected. Interestingly, the High Court action was instigated by American companies including Netflix, Disney, and Warner Bros. Through the Indian legal system, this eventually came back to the U.S., as Namecheap’s recent actions indicate. Given the recent success, we expect that the movie industry companies will try a similar approach again going forward. This makes it harder for pirate site operators to keep their domains secure. Why Namecheap? Finally, one might wonder why pirate sites would register their domains through an American company to begin with. However, according to a source, the reason for this is fairly straightforward. Namecheap accepts cryptocurrency payments, which offer more anonymity than credit cards and other traditional payment methods. However, Namecheap’s recent actions show that the domains, including .to ones, are not immune to legal action. The problem from an enforcement aspect is that the .to registry doesn’t show through which company the domain was registered; but there are ways to find that out, at least for Namecheap. The suspended sites may eventually make a comeback through new domain names. Upmovies, for one, already appears to have switched to a .net domain. However, Hollywood’s route through the Indian High Court might nonetheless prove to be an effective anti-piracy tool going forward. — A copy of the High Court injunction is available here (pdf). Upmovies, relocated From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

In the tax filing process, there are few tasks that feel as daunting as talking to a human at the Internal Revenue Service. Taxpayers who contact the IRS continue to experience long wait times, according to the 2023 annual report published by the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization housed by the IRS. But in some cases, you must reach an agent with a complex question about your filing, or to get more information in order to successfully complete your return. SEE ALSO: Watch out for these common tax scams The good news is that much of what you may need is online, via the IRS' website or its app IRS2Go. The IRS' interactive tax assistant search tool can answer anonymous questions about several tax laws that are specific to your circumstances. The IRS' refund tracker also tells taxpayers what phase their return is in once it's been filed and 24 hours have elapsed. If there's a problem with your refund that requires you to contact the IRS, the refund status checker will let you know to do so. If you can't find the answer to your question via the IRS website or app, you can call the agency directly or visit a local IRS office. Here is a step-by-step guide to doing both: 1. Call the IRS.You can contact the IRS via phone about your personal return by calling 1-800-829-1040. This phone line is staffed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. According to the IRS, wait times can average four minutes, though some callers may experience longer wait times, particularly on Monday and Tuesday and around the April deadline to file your taxes. (When Mashable called on a recent Wednesday afternoon, the wait time was an estimated 15 to 30 minutes.) In your search for information about how to speak to a human at the IRS, you may encounter websites unaffiliated with the IRS that present a phone tree with detailed directions on which prompts to select. Mashable is not offering similar directions because the phone tree selections may change over time. However, it's crucial to listen closely to each prompt as there are several based on your needs. For example, asking about a refund is a separate prompt from questions related to your personal taxes. The same is true if you have questions about taxes related to health care law. When listening to the selections, be sure you're not multitasking; it'll be easy to miss your prompt or get confused. Also, set aside uninterrupted time and prepare for a longer waiting period. You don't want to go through the trouble of calling and navigating the phone tree only to realize you don't have enough time to wait for an agent. 2. Visit a local IRS office. The IRS has local offices across the country where you can speak directly to an agent. You can find the nearest location to you by searching the IRS' Taxpayer Assistance Center Office Locator tool. The number of offices varies from state to state. In Arkansas, for example, there are three offices, one each in Fayetteville, Jonesboro, and Little Rock. In California, however, there are 28 locations, including a few in the Los Angeles area. Services typically provided at local offices include account inquiries, basic individual tax law assistance, and payment arrangements. Call the location closest to you in advance to schedule an appointment. Be sure you arrive to the appointment prepared with documents, including a current government-issued photo ID, a taxpayer identification number (like a Social Security number), and any tax documents. While an in-person visit to a local IRS office may not be possible for every taxpayer, it may be the right solution for those who can access a location and want to talk face-to-face with someone who can answer their questions. 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 March 5 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 5 Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, March 5, 2024: AcrossTotally convincedThe answer is sold. Sound during pollen seasonThe answer is achoo. Stack in a kitchen cabinetThe answer is bowls. Greek god of loveThe answer is Eros. Morning moistureThe answer is dew. DownWhat Hans Zimmer contributed to "The Lion King" and "Dune"The answer is score. "Wait, that's crazy!"The answer is ohwow. Cracks up, in textspeakThe answer is lols. Hair arrangementsThe answer is dos. Still under the coversThe answer is abed. View the full article

A bachelor party in the Australian outback takes a turn for the disturbing in the teaser for Jack Clark and Jim Weir's horror thriller Birdeater, which sees a bride-to-be joining her fiancé for a weekend away with his friends. The teaser doesn't give too much away, but there are some strange masks, chanting, and an uneasy vibe that generally feels more like a cult and less like a friendly pre-wedding celebration. Shabana Azeez, Mackenzie Fearnley, Ben Hunter, Jack Bannister, Clementine Anderson, Alfie Gledhill, Harley Wilson, and Caroline McQuade star. Birdeater has its premiere screening at SXSW. A wider release is TBC. View the full article

A coral farm in the Bahamas is proving that the most efficient way to restore coral reefs may be growing them on land. Coral Vita is a reef restoration project which grows corals using microfragmentation — the process of cutting corals into small pieces and positioning them near each other to trigger a natural healing and accelerate the rapid growth of coral tissue. While on the farm, corals are also exposed to managed stress such as water warming or acidification, to help cultivate their resilience — this process is also known as "assisted evolution." Once fully grown, the corals are moved to degraded reef sites in the ocean where their impact is already noticeable. SEE ALSO: NASA tech can help us tell when a coral reef is in trouble "One of the restoration sites in Grand Bahama had 75 percent survivorship of corals after one year," co-founder Sam Teicher tells Mashable. "In the Bahamas, if you have 30-50 percent survivorship after one year, that's considered a good project. So we had one site 75 percent, another site 30 percent, another site 99 percent." During a mass bleaching in the summer of 2023, natural corals in the area were wiped out. But the corals Coral Vita planted, which had been given a resilience boost on the land farm, survived. "There's more work to be done," Teicher says. "But seeing corals that we've grown with these more resilient approaches, surviving is still very encouraging considering the threats we face." Credit: Coral Vita One of the elements that distinguishes Coral Vita from other reef restoration projects is that it is a for-profit organisation, which Teicher says was a conscious choice. "Having previously myself worked for NGOs, and in the policy space in the environmental and climate sectors, and my co founder Gator [Halpern] working in academia and environmental science, we felt like many environmental challenges weren't being solved rapidly or effectively enough by those sectors, despite the best intentions and hard work," he says. "So what if we could create a company that can get entities to pay for restorations instead of a donation here and a grant there, which is how most coral farming projects are funded, which unfortunately limits a lot of the critically needed impact to keep reefs alive." Not dissimilar to the 'polluter pays' principle, Coral Vita asks sectors that benefit from coral reefs, from tourism and food industry, to invest in preserving the endangered ecosystems. "We sell restoration to hotels, developers, governments, insurers, coastal property owners. Anyone who depends on the tourism, coastal protection, fisheries benefits of reefs, can hire Coral Vita to restore the reefs that they depend on," says Teicher. "And then we also use our farms as education centres for local communities, as well as tourism attractions. We have adopted coral campaigns for individuals as well as brands and corporations who can fund restoration from wherever they are in the world if they believe in what we're doing. We also license out our expertise and techniques that we develop to other coral restoration practitioners so that we can generate revenue to fund more work as well as use that expertise to help others deliver better restoration outcomes. So the whole idea is that if we can really catalyze a self sustaining restoration economy, that can eventually lead to planting the millions and billions of corals that are needed to keep reefs alive." Since the 1950s, the world has lost over half of its coral reefs to climate change and ocean pollution and we are on track to lose almost all of our corals by 2050. While Teicher admits that the actions that will have the greatest impact need to come from world leaders, he believes that Coral Vita is an example of what individuals and companies can do, while waiting on the implementation of state and international policies, to ensure coral reefs are still here for future generations. View the full article

If you've ever thought about the first stars after the Big Bang, you might have racked your brain just trying to fathom what they were made of. Given that most of the metals of the universe are thought to have come from exploded dead stars, scientists have rationalized that the firstborn must have been composed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium, the primitive material that emerged out of the Big Bang. Nice idea. Thing is, no one has seen one of these pure-bred stars yet. But a team using the James Webb Space Telescope, a collaboration of NASA and the European and Canadian space agencies, may be onto something. While recently studying galaxy GN-z11, which existed when the 13.8 billion-year-old universe was only about 430 million years old, they found a clump of helium in the halo surrounding it. The new research, accepted for publication by the science journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, could lead to one of the most important discoveries of modern astrophysics. "The fact that we don't see anything else beyond helium suggests that this clump must be fairly pristine," said principal investigator Roberto Maiolino of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, in a statement. SEE ALSO: Spectacular Webb telescope image shows a stellar death like never before By theory, scientists have expected to find clumps like this around massive galaxies from early eras. The thinking is that these pristine pockets of gas could collapse and form so-called Population III star clusters, Maiolino said. The confusingly named Population III stars are the theorized stars that should have been formed in the early universe before metals — an astronomical term for all elements heavier than helium — existed. The stars are thought to be very massive, luminous, and hot. Scientists found evidence for the existence of first-generation stars in the outskirts of GN-z11, an extremely distant galaxy that existed in the early universe. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / Brant Robertson / Ben Johnson / Sandro Tacchella / Marcia Rieke / Daniel Eisenstein The reason why they're called "Population III" is because back in the 1940s, stars were divided into two primary categories: those that were rich in metals and those that were poor in metals, according to Swinburne University of Technology in Australia. But even the latter have far more metal content than would have been possible from the primitive gas leftover from the Big Bang. Astronomers eventually began thinking in terms of a yet-to-be-seen third population of stars, made of the pure Big Bang material that had not been processed by previous generations of stars. The cores of stars are considered element factories: They make carbon, for instance, the same chemical on which humans and much of life on Earth are based. Then, through supernova explosions, they spread heavy elements, like calcium found in bones and iron in blood, across interstellar space. This dispersal seeds new generations of stars and planets, but scientists admit they still have much to learn about the early stages of the process. The James Webb Space Telescope was built to study the first stars and galaxies that formed in the universe. Credit: NASA GSFC / CIL / Adriana Manrique Gutierrez illustration In astronomy, looking farther translates into observing the past because light and other forms of radiation take longer to reach us. Webb was built to study an extremely early period of the cosmos, detecting invisible light at infrared wavelengths. In short, a lot of dust and gas in space obscures the view to extremely distant and inherently dim light sources, but infrared waves can penetrate through the clouds. "The initial goal for this mission was to see the first stars and galaxies," said Eric Smith, Webb's program scientist, in 2022, "not the first light of the universe but to watch the universe turn the lights on for the first time." View the full article

TL;DR: Through March 10, the Ninja Dragons Blade X 4K dual-camera drone is on sale for only $71.99 instead of $199.99 with the code ENJOY20. That's a savings of 64%. Whether you're hitting the slopes or walking down an old favorite trail, you might be able to see something special from a new angle. These aren't just static pictures either. Quality quadcopters let you stream directly to your phone or the controller, so you could watch yourself zoom down the double black diamond, but you might get to the bottom a little easier if you record the whole thing and watch it later with the Ninja Dragons Blade X 4K Dual-Camera Drone. This outdoor enthusiast's drone is available for only $71.99 with coupon code ENJOY20 until March 10. A drone for nature loversTime to get some air with the Ninja Dragons Blade X 4K Dual-Camera Drone. This smart drone could be a fun way to experience the outdoors, and you can capture it all on an advanced dual 4K camera setup. Control your flight with a first-person view streamed directly to the drone's remote. That remote has a max distance of 150 meters, so you get some real room to maneuver. This drone comes equipped with an electronic stabilization system, and it can even lock its altitude and flight position to capture a nice even shot, whether it's watching you snowboard down the slopes or just taking in the sunrise. And if you want to capture a beautiful panorama, just take advantage of the 360-degree flight angle along with optimized waypoint flight. The Ninja Dragons Blade X comes with one rechargeable battery that could give you up to 12 minutes of flight time. Once your time in the sky is up, pack it in by folding up your drone and popping it back into the included carrying case. A new kind of outdoor sports You might have to put away the snowboard soon, but this drone is fun all year round, especially if you want to catch the coolest angles of your outdoor adventures. Until March 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get the Ninja Dragons Blade X 4K Dual-Camera Drone for $71.99 with sitewide coupon ENJOY20. StackSocial prices subject to change. Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Dragons Ninja Dragons Blade X 4K dual-camera drone $71.99 at the Mashable Shop $199.99 Save $128.00 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal View the full article

TL;DR: Pay only $31.99 for a lifetime license to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro through March 10 by entering the code ENJOY20 at checkout. That's a savings of 84%. You don't necessarily have to buy a new computer to upgrade your tech arsenal. Sometimes, all it takes is installing a brand-new operating system to boost your productivity and enhance your computer's security. If you happen to have a Windows PC that meets the necessary requirements, consider breathing new life into it by upgrading to Microsoft 11 Pro. Through March 10, the coveted Microsoft 11 Pro license is on sale for $31.99. All you have to do is key in the code ENJOY20 at checkout, which can be used on products sitewide. This OS boasts a bunch of nifty features, including a new-and-improved interface, advanced security, and an elevated gaming experience. Microsoft 11 Pro is great for modern professionals, especially those working in a remote or hybrid setup. For instance, if you're a stickler for security, the OS packs BitLocker device encryption, meaning you can lock your device remotely so no one else can access it and its contents. Windows Information Protection is included, too, allowing you to remotely manage your system to prevent data leaks. Plus, you can also take advantage of biometrics login, Smart App control, advanced antivirus defenses, and more. In terms of usability, enjoy Windows 11 Pro's new interface, which includes snap layouts, seamless redocking, better voice-typing, and a more powerful search experience. It's primed for play, too, thanks to DirectX12 Ultimate, which bolsters the quality of your computer's graphics, resulting in more immersive gaming. You'll have all these and more with a one-time purchase of the license. You can install it on up to two devices, provided that they have 4GB RAM and 40GB of hard drive space. Until March 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can grab a lifetime license to Windows 11 Pro for only $31.99 with coupon code ENJOY20. StackSocial prices subject to change. Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro Lifetime License $31.99 at the Mashable Shop $199.00 Save $167.01 with code ENJOY20 Get Deal View the full article

TL;DR: As of March 5, you can pick up a refurbished MacBook Air (Core i5, 4GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for only $345.99 instead of the original $1,109. That's 68% in savings. When we need to add a computer to our collection — whether it's for a main device or just for traveling purposes — we usually think of buying brand-new. However, new isn't always necessary, depending on your needs. If you are in the market for a smooth-running laptop for everyday tasks, an older refurbished model could support you as well as a new one, but at a lower price point. Such is the case with this refurbished Apple MacBook Air. From the model year 2015, it's been cleaned and inspected to work very well. Since it has a grade "B" refurbished rating, it might have some slight cosmetic blemishes like scuffing or scratching. First, it runs a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 4GB RAM. And while that might not be the latest and greatest, it can easily support multitasking, browsing, streaming, and running productivity apps for work. And you can view it all on the 13.3-inch LED-backlit display. Weighing in at less than three pounds and measuring only 0.68 inches thick, the MacBook Air is designed for maximum portability and convenience. Whether you're working on the go, traveling, or commuting, you can take your MacBook Air with you wherever you roam without feeling super weighed down by a bulky laptop. It has built-in Wi-Fi to easily stay connected with friends, family, and the team. And the Bluetooth is there for connecting accessories. There is even an SD card (SDXC) expansion slot, which newer models don't have. See if an older refurbished laptop would work for you, and you might be able to save some money without giving up the features you need. Get a refurbished 2015 Apple MacBook Air with a plastic case for just $345.99 (reg. $1,109) while it's still on sale. StackSocial prices subject to change. Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished 2015 MacBook Air (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $345.99 $1,109.00 Save $763.01 Get Deal View the full article

TL;DR: As of March 5, lifetime access to Consultio Pro is on sale for only $29.99 instead of $199 — that's a savings of 84%. So, you’ve decided to start your own business, but where do you go from there? The Consultio Pro software gives you access to 50+ AI experts who can help you make informed decisions every step of the way. Take advantage of knowledge from a diverse collective of AI experts in event planning, social media, marketing, fitness, and more. When you have second thoughts, this program makes it feel like you always have someone in your corner. Whether you’re a large corporation or a mom-and-pop shop, Consultio Pro provides data-driven and evidence-based insights. This innovative software allows you to fine-tune your goals, financial stats, and strategies as you go. The high-tech software is constantly evolving and updating its proficiency to ensure you get the most relevant data. Forget waiting for your regular consultant to answer an urgent question, Consultio’s experts reply in real-time, with no appointments needed. This software gives you 24/7 access to expertise that is well ahead of the curve. Copywriters, data analysts, and project managers alike love having Consultio’s AI experts at their disposal. If an issue is keeping you up at night, it’s comforting to know you can chat with "someone" at 3 a.m. should you need to. Stay in the know and give your competition a run for their money. Access your lifetime subscription to Consultio Pro from both desktop and mobile devices. With no maximum number of devices it can be used on, you can sign into your account from work, home, or cell phone anytime. Please note this offer is only available to new users. Get lifetime access to Consultio Pro for $29.99 (reg. $199). StackSocial prices subject to change. Opens in a new window Credit: Plus 8 Group Consultio Pro: Lifetime Access $29.99 at the Mashable Shop $199.00 Save $169.01 Get Deal View the full article

Library Genesis (LibGen) is one of the oldest shadow libraries on the Internet, offering free access to millions of books and academic papers people otherwise have to pay for. The site’s origins reportedly trace back to the Soviet Union’s underground publishing culture ‘samizdat,’ which was used to bypass state censorship in the last century. LibGen launched around 2008 as a digital version of the same concept. In addition to bypassing censorship, it’s widely used to circumvent the paywalls of major international publishing companies, serving as a popular ‘pirate’ site for books and academic works. In recent years, rightsholders have made several attempts to shut the site down. Through court orders, LibGen is now blocked in several countries but taking the operation permanently offline has proven quite the challenge, not least since the identities of its operators are unknown. In 2017, Elsevier won a court case against LibGen and Sci-Hub in a New York federal court, which awarded the publisher $15 million in damages. However, both shadow libraries remained online and continue to operate to this day. Publishers vs. LibGen Hoping for a better outcome, textbook publishers Cengage, Bedford, Macmillan Learning, McGraw Hill, and Pearson Education filed a similar copyright infringement lawsuit against LibGen last year. According to the plaintiffs, LibGen is responsible for “staggering” levels of copyright infringement. Months have passed since the complaint was filed but LibGen’s anonymous operators did not respond. This prompted the textbook publishers to move ahead and request a default judgment in their favor. According to the rightsholders, LibGen distributes at least 20,000 of their copyrighted works without permission. The site is designed to be user-friendly while remaining resilient to enforcement measures. For example, LibGen can easily switch domain names, and relies on censorship-resistant decentralized technologies such as the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), the publishers write. By making textbooks available to students for free, rightsholders are losing revenue, which leads to lower payments for authors and devalues the market as a whole, the publishers complain. $30 Million in Damages With a default judgment, the textbook publishers hope to obtain an injunction that will limit LibGen’s ability to operate. The plaintiffs also request compensation for the damage suffered thus far. The rightsholders propose maximum statutory damages of $150,000 for 200 copyrighted works, arriving at a total damages claim of $30 million. Since this amount represents just a small subset of all infringements, the request is reasonable, the publishers note. “This damages award is a fraction of what it could be if this case were litigated and the full scope of Defendants’ infringement revealed,” the publishers note. In addition to financial compensation, the damages award should also be sufficient to act as a deterrent to others. LibGen has a dedicated following and an eventual order should provide a clear signal to those people too. “Defendants are among the worst offenders in a growing online piracy crisis affecting publishers. Thus, a significant damage award is needed to deter Defendants and others who are engaged in the commission and facilitation of digital piracy,” the publishers write. Compel IPFS Gateways Even if the court grants the damages award, collecting money from LibGen’s unidentified operators will be a challenge. For this reason, the publishers are also asking the court to issue an injunction that will compel others to stop providing services to LibGen. The plaintiffs describe this aspect as “critical” and specifically mention IPFS in the context. IPFS files can be accessed through various means, including dedicated gateways, which are offered by external companies such as Protocol Labs, Pinata Technologies, and Cloudflare. The first two gateway providers have disabled URLs in response to takedown requests, but Cloudflare allegedly failed to take action. “Cloudflare did not disable the gateway URLs in Plaintiffs’ notice, prompting Plaintiffs to send additional notices in September 2023 and January 2024, on which Cloudflare still has not acted, resulting in Libgen users’ continued ability to access the infringing URLs,” the publishers write. Broad ‘Non-party’ Injunction If the court issues a broad injunction that applies to non-party services such as Cloudflare, the plaintiffs believe that will limit the illicit distribution of its copyrighted works. The request isn’t limited to IPFS gateways, of course. The proposed injunction also mentions hosting services, search engines, proxy services, CDNs, donation platforms, browser extensions, social media, payment providers, and advertising services, among others. None of these services should be allowed to “enable, facilitate, permit, assist, solicit, encourage, induce, participate with, or act in concert with” the infringement of the publishers’ copyrighted works. Finally, the proposed injunction would also require domain registries and domain registrars to suspend and hand over all infringing domains to the textbook publishers. This applies to all existing domains, but also new ones that may pop up later. LibGen Troubles? Needless to say, LibGen’s ability to operate will be seriously hampered if the court agrees to issue the proposed order and injunction. It directly puts domain names at risk, especially those that are connected to U.S.-based registrars or registries. While LibGen remains online today, the site appears to have some internal struggles. The person in charge of the site’s coding has reportedly been missing in action for a while, which resulted in broken functionality. For example, there are various upload-related troubles, and searching the database regularly results in errors too. In addition, new torrents were not added regularly for a while. Whether LibGen can solve all these issues is unclear, but the recent legal trouble will only make the site’s future more uncertain. — A copy of the publishers’ proposed order and injunction is available here (pdf) and the associated memorandum can be found here (pdf) From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

Anime piracy site B9Good first appeared way back in 2008, initially operating under B9DM branding. Defying the usual odds, 15 years later the site was still alive and kicking. Last March, Japan-based anti-piracy group CODA reported an estimate of B9Good’s traffic for the two years running up to February 2023. Based in China, the site had been accessed more than 300 million times and, crucially, around 95% of those visits came from Japan, mostly seeking access to Japanese content. The China Complication Rightsholders based outside China have long complained that tackling infringers inside the country can be extremely difficult. Key obstacles include safe harbors for intermediaries viewed as overprotective, and the so-called server principle, which turns on where infringing content is hosted. This means that when infringing apps, websites and set-top boxes linked directly to China utilize pirated content hosted overseas, foreign rightsholders have limited opportunities to enforce their rights against their operators inside the country. That raises the question of how Japan-based anti-piracy group CODA, representing several major Japanese anime rightsholders, were able to convince Chinese authorities to shut down B9Good, arrest its operators, and then prosecute them for criminal offenses. With Planning and Patience, China Became Less Complex After revealing a few details in 2023 when B9Good was targeted and later shut down, this morning CODA put more meat on the bones. The details arrived as part of an announcement celebrating three first-of-their-kind convictions which, seemingly for legal reasons, CODA has been sitting on for a few weeks. CODA says that its work against B9Good dates back to 2016 when it filed an administrative complaint in China. In response, however, a site operator referred to as ‘Man A’ implemented geo-blocking measures at B9Good, then operating as B9DM, to give the impression the site had shut down, while continuing to infringe everywhere else. With the launch of CODA’s International Enforcement Project (CBEP) in 2021, the anti-piracy group set out to personally identify the operators of pirate sites. After being identified in China, B9Good’s operators would soon discover that the country’s borders offered less protection than before. CODA Levels Up in China In January 2022, CODA’s Beijing office was recognized as an NGO with legitimate standing to protect the rights of its members, which include anime rightsholders Aniplex, TV Tokyo, Toei Animation, Toho, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), and Bandai Namco Film Works. CODA filed a criminal complaint with the Public Security Bureau, and starting February 14, 2023, Chinese law enforcement began rounding up the B9Good team. In Jiangsu Province, a 33-year-old unemployed man was held on suspicion of operating B9Good. He was reportedly released a month later after confessing to his involvement. That led to the authorities seizing his home. In the meantime, a 30-year-old woman living in Chengdu, a 38-year-old man from Shanghai, and a 34-year-old woman from Fuzhou City, were questioned at their homes. It was alleged that the women were paid by the site’s main operator to upload pirated content, while the man uploaded content to file-hosting sites to generate revenue from advertising. In total, 45,880 anime titles were made available via B9Good without permission from rightsholders. Taizhou People’s Court Hands Down Sentences On December 26, 2023, the People’s Court of Taizhou Pharmaceutical High-Tech Industrial Development Zone handed down three sentences. The main offender, Man A, was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for three years and six months. In addition to the seizure of his home, he was fined 1.8 million yuan (38 million yen, US$253,000), an amount equivalent to the ad revenue he earned through B9Good. The conviction is now final after the appeal period ended. Female B, who was paid by Man A to upload pirated anime to the site, was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for one year and six months, for copyright infringement offenses. Female D, who also received payment for uploading pirated anime, was sentenced to eight months in prison and one year’s probation. According to CODA, Man C, who allegedly generated revenue from pirated anime uploaded to file-hosting sites, was not sentenced. CODA doesn’t go into detail other than reporting that he was “subject to exemption measures stipulated by China’s criminal law.” Sentences May Disappoint, But Value Lies in Convictions For deterrent purposes, it’s likely that CODA would’ve preferred immediate custodial sentences, but this wasn’t simply a routine case that failed to live up to expectations. Under normal circumstances, a case like this wouldn’t have even gotten off the ground, let alone end in convictions. “In this judgment, the punishment was reduced to a suspended sentence and the conviction was decided based on the fact that Man A was a first-time offender and that he voluntarily confessed, acknowledged the crime, and showed a willingness to accept punishment,” CODA explains. “However, this is the first time that criminal penalties have been imposed on the operators and uploaders of overseas pirated sites due to an approach from Japan. CODA hopes that the recent crackdown and judgment against such malicious sites will have a significant impact on deterring the operation of similar pirated sites. “In response to online infringements, which are causing damage worldwide, CODA will continue to proactively develop countermeasures beyond national borders, even if their operations are based overseas, and will continue to eliminate unauthorized use of Japanese content,” CODA concludes. From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

There’s rarely a shortage of conflict and controversy in the perpetual online piracy wars. For some, the David versus Goliath imagery, of ordinary people fighting faceless corporations, will never get old. For others, the right of creators to receive fair compensation for their work is non-negotiable; it puts food on the table, literally. Yet spend enough time digesting every possible detail presented by those shouting most loudly about piracy, and it becomes increasingly clear that piracy is already too big to fail. Anti-piracy is now a multi-billion dollar industry in its own right, that means companies investing real money, long-term, into a fight where the ultimate reward for achieving the impossible is self-destruction via redundancy. Very obviously that isn’t going to happen because according to regular reminders, pirates never stop innovating and there’s nothing anyone can do about that in the absence of draconian tool (x) AGCOM – Hold My Beer If piracy is too big to fail, then the same also holds true for events playing out in Italy. After expending huge resources to obtain legislation to a precise specification, rightsholders have the legal basis to give pirates everything they’ve got, with little to fear, even when things go terribly wrong. With full support from AGCOM, the whole of Italy has endured non-stop lectures on piracy, the capability of the Piracy Shield blocking platform, and how nothing will ever go wrong because this mission is too big to fail. When things did go wrong two weeks ago, AGCOM claimed that journalists made the whole thing up and when an even bigger blunder took out countless innocent sites last weekend, proponents of Piracy Shield disappeared and said nothing. In parallel, information on which domains and IP address have been blocked, aren’t being published according to the rules. This means that when innocent sites are rendered inaccessible, those affected are denied any right to know what went wrong or who can be held responsible. That seems incompatible with even a basic level of responsibility towards innocent third parties. Piracy Shield Blocking Data – Feb 2024 – Weeks 1-3 Since information apparently likes to be free and access to justice is a basic human right, here’s the first three weeks of IP addresses blocked by the Piracy Shield system. The list handed to TF over a week ago appears to cover the first two-and-a-half, possibly close to three weeks of February. It contains 1267 IP addresses but less than 10 domains names have been revealed to the public in official records. Long lists of IP addresses tend to become a bit meaningless, so we’ve added relevant data (everything beyond the bare IP addresses) to help the numbers make sense. We used IPInfo to obtain approximate server locations and various other tools to compile the rest of the data. IP addresses mapped to IPinfo location data (click to enlarge) From a total of 1267 IP addresses, 558 geo-locate to the Netherlands, 433 to Romania, and the rest as follows: Austria (69), Germany (57), Italy (33), France (28), Ukraine (28), Nigeria (13), Ireland (8), Switzerland (6), Greece (6). All other countries were were linked to five IP addresses or less. While the usual caveats apply in respect of geo-location data not necessarily being accurate, it seems reasonable to conclude that European server locations caused many issues in the first two or three weeks of February. Focus on Europe (click to enlarge) However, dots on a map don’t always tell the full story. Server operator data (presuming that can be relied on) may offer a few more clues towards a more distant problem than ‘Frankfurt’ may first suggest. Indeed, GZ Remittance (China) Industry Ltd (specifically, Hong Kong) turns up no less than 350 times in the list (29% of all blocks) but appears to have almost 4,100 German IP addresses in total, so quite a few to go yet. For those interested in the data, a .csv file is available here. If anyone can make the data look really nice, please send us a copy here. Note: An earlier version of this article referenced Superhub Limited in Hong Kong in connection with the IP addresses listed above, as reported by the database queried. There is more than one company with that name in Hong Kong but in this case the IP addresses are linked to Superhub Ltd in some online databases, which does not appear to be correct. The full name listed in other databases is IPv4 Superhub Limited, which appears to be accurate. This is also a Hong Kong company but does not immediately appear to have connections to Superhub Limited, even though the two entities are very close geographically. From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

At the start of the last decade, The Pirate Bay teamed up with Sweden’s Lund University to conduct the largest online piracy survey in history. The research elicited responses from 75,000 ‘pirates’ from all parts of the world. Despite this geographical diversity, a rather traditional gender pattern appeared. Of all respondents, only 5% were female. These findings were rather extreme but they fit the old stereotypical image of ‘the online pirate’ as a young, somewhat nerdy male. While that might have been relatively accurate 25 years ago, piracy audiences are much more diverse today. Recent studies have shown more diverse age distribution and increasingly gender is seen as a less relevant variable too. One of the largest longitudinal studies on piracy conducted by the European Union, doesn’t even mention gender as a factor anymore. Research: Who Pirates and Why? This doesn’t mean that there are no differences, of course, but these rarely add any explanatory value or new insights. That said, new findings published by researchers from Northumbria University Newcastle, which include gender, are worth highlighting. The survey data, looking at piracy trends in Thailand and Indonesia, was released by Marketing professor Dr. Xuemei Bian and Ms. Humaira Farid. The results were presented to WIPO’s Advisory Committee on Enforcement recently and the associated presentation was published online. Through an online survey and in-person interviews, the research aims to map consumer attitudes and behaviors in Indonesia and Thailand, particularly in connection with online copyright infringement. One of the overall conclusions is that piracy remains a common activity in both Asian countries. Pirates are present in all age groups but and music, movies en TV-shows tend to be in highest demand and younger people. Those under 40, are more likely to pirate than their older counterparts. These findings are not out of the ordinary and the same trends are visible in other countries too. Interestingly, however, some notable differences between the two countries appear when gender is added to the mix. More Women than Men Pirate in Indonesia The tables below show that women are more likely to pirate than men in Indonesia. This is true for all content categories, except for software, where men are slightly in the lead. In Thailand, however, men are more likely to pirate across all categories. Pirating Genders The researchers do not attempt to explain these differences. However, they show once again that ‘dated’ gender stereotypes don’t always match with reality. And when they have little explanatory value, one can question whether gender is even relevant in a piracy context. Looking at other differences between Thai and Indonesian consumers there are some other notable findings. For example, in Indonesia, 64% of the respondents say they’re aware of the availability of pirated movies and TV-shows on YouTube, compared to ‘just’ 32% in Thailand. Indonesian consumers are also more familiar with music piracy sites and pirate much more frequently than Thai consumers, as the table below shows. Discouraging Factors Price vs. Convenience Finally, the researchers also looked at various attitudes toward piracy. This shows that Thai pirates would be most likely to stop if legal services were more convenient, while Indonesian pirates see cheaper legal services as the largest discouraging factor. All in all, the researchers conclude that these attitudes and the regional differences are important to take into account for policymakers. “[P]olicies and anti-piracy strategies aimed at eliminating consumer piracy should take into account product category and consumer characteristics, as well as national level differences,” the researchers conclude. Indonesian Anti-Camming PSA .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

Anime is growing globally as an entertainment category and this popularity surge isn’t limited to legal platforms. Today, several of the world’s largest pirate sites are exclusively dedicated to anime. This includes Aniwatch.to, the streaming portal that operated as Zoro.to earlier last year. The streaming portal, which is arguably the largest pirate site in the world, is a prime target for anti-piracy groups. The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), for example, is actively trying to shut the platform down, which they believe is operated from Vietnam. Last year, ACE had its sights set on shutting down the rogue operation. And indeed, it managed to take over the domain name Zoro.to, but not before the site had rebranded to Aniwatch.to. Under that new brand, business continued as usual. ACE and others kept up the pressure and in recent months branded Aniwatch one of the most notorious pirate sites. However, taking it offline is easier said than done. Zoro -> Aniwatch -> HiAnime A few hours ago, Aniwatch users were in for a surprise as the anime streaming portal rebranded again. Instead of Aniwatch, the site formerly known as Zoro will now continue under the name HiAnime. Users who try to access the old Aniwatch.to domain name are redirected to the new domain name automatically. With the previous rebrand, the operators said that the site was being acquired by a new team. There are no such mentions today. Neither is there an explanation for the move but users are assured that their information remains intact. “All data and information shall be transferred and shall remain the same as before. User accounts and watchlist records shall thus remain unchanged,” a message in the site’s Discord reads. Why Now? Without an official explanation, we can only speculate as to why the operators have decided to adopt another new brand. It’s unlikely that this is a facade to confuse anti-piracy groups, as they’re not easily fooled anymore. What would make more sense is that the new brand and domain are an attempt to evade blocking efforts, at least temporarily. This includes advertising blacklists and site-blocking efforts, including one issued in India recently. As reported last week, the High Court in New Delhi, India, issued a dynamic+ blocking injunction that requires local ISPs to block several pirate domains, including Aniwatch.to. Since nearly a quarter of all the site’s visits come from India, this order may have quite an impact on the site. Whether a ‘rebrand’ will be sufficient to evade this order is unclear though, as these dynamic orders can be updated with new domains, precisely to deal with these types of situations. H*anime Confusion Whatever the reason, the site’s users are not as shocked by the new name as they were last time. Changes generally elicit some backlash and that’s also the case here. However, most of the critique we’ve seen stems from the similarity to another anime-themed site. Several users note that Hianime is only a typo away from Hanime, which is an adult-themed site focusing on Hentai content. In fact, the logo reads “Hanime” as the first “i” is replaced by an exclamation mark. “Cool rebrand and all but…. You decided to pick Hanime I thought I was on a very different website for a minute..,” one user writes. The good news is that both sites use different TLDs which makes it less likely that people will end up at the wrong site. And even if any more serious brand clashes emerge, the site can always pick another name and try again. They know how it works by now. From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article

In countries where internet access faces restrictions, from general government censorship through to more limited site-blocking programs to protect copyright, citizens have grown comfortable with the use of VPNs. In Russia, where the government censors certain material and has an anti-piracy site-blocking regime on top, around 20% of the internet population regularly use VPNs. While accessing blocked websites and communicating in relative privacy is now fairly common, the government would like sites carrying “illegal information” to remain inaccessible. But after endless legal tweaks, advice, orders, and confused messaging that mostly contradicts reality on the ground, Russians may be a little confused by now. New Law Isn’t a VPN Ban, Illegal VPNs Are Already Banned Sites blocked by the government, whether they’re pirate sites or those branded extremist by the state, are blocked for good reasons, authorities insist. Facebook and Instagram, for example, are both blocked for being extremist platforms, so when people use VPNs to undermine blocking, they put themselves at risk. Given that over the years Russians have grown fond of their VPNs, the government hasn’t immediately spoiled things by simply taking them away. Instead, authorities determine the quality and security of a VPN provider based on its operator’s willingness to cooperate with the government. On the other hand, less cooperative overseas VPN providers with a presence in Russia, are known to suddenly experience connectivity issues. Faced with an untenable situation, some VPNs threw in the towel and never looked back. When new legislation compelled VPNs to register with the government, and leave the ‘back door’ open in case officials needed to call round for a coffee, almost all reputable overseas providers chose privacy over certification and began to leave. Meanwhile, local VPN companies with official approval found themselves declared legal, while those without certification were legally unable to do business. That line in the sand now allows the government to identify safe, legal services; all are registered with the state, they enjoy coffee, and would never dream of undermining state censorship. Obviously unsafe and most probably dangerous, illegal VPN providers are not registered, enjoy privacy, and want to help users to circumvent site-blocking. As a result, 167 unregistered VPN providers and 200 email providers were blocked according to a report last October. VPNs Still Available, Time For More Action Providing a service to unblock blocked internet resources has been illegal in Russia since February 2020, but judging by the volume of VPNs still available for Android and iOS devices, not everyone got the memo. In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, imposition of sanctions prompted the Kremlin to step up imports via the back door while simultaneously winding up the drawbridge on some Western tech platforms. With Google Play and Apple’s App Store less useful than before, Russia launched its own variant, RuStore, which at last count was also offering VPNs to the masses, in large numbers and mostly without hindrance. VPNs capable of tunneling to the nearest pirate site or accessing the extremists of Instagram, remain popular in Russia. Advertising and recommendations help to quickly spread the news but for Moscow, that’s unacceptable and needs to change. In the summer of 2023, a new phase of the Kremlin’s plan was made public. With the introduction of yet more new law, posting information online that amounts to promotion or advice on how to use VPNs, Tor, or similar tools, for the purposes of circumventing blocking, was about to become a criminal offense. Promotion of Unblocking Tools Illegal From Today From today, publishing information about tools that undermine blocking in Russia, including ads for VPN services with circumvention capability, is a criminal offense punishable by fines of up to four million rubles (US$43,840). Roscomnadzor says the law won’t target the general public, but there are few bright lines to differentiate sellers online. Other enforcement measures available to the telecoms regulator include blocking any offending materials in the same way blocking is carried out against other content. Roscomnadzor will also attempt to purge search engine results mentioning VPN providers that are blocked already in Russia or otherwise found to be illegal. The latter group could be sizeable since any unblocking-capable provider without a government issued license is automatically considered illegal. And VPN PSYOPs, obviously In April 2023, a series of PSAs appeared in Russia hoping to scare the masses away from VPNs by their own free will. The video shorts majored on data leaks, blackmail, threat to personal information, plus a seemingly psychic man who understood everything about his partner on their first date, purely because she used a VPN. That campaign was put together by ROCIT, the government-funded Center for Internet Technologies. Right on cue, ROCIT conducted some new research on VPNs recently, the results of which are published on its website (Russian, pdf). They’re a little puzzling, let’s put it that way. “[RCOIT] conducted a study of VPN services in terms of the content of their data processing policies and applicable processing laws in the country of registration of the owner company,” ROCIT’s conclusions begin. “Despite restrictions, regular data leaks and risks, a significant proportion of Russians continue to use VPN services,” ROCIT adds, noting that over one-in-five Russians use a VPN while 40% believe they’re unsafe. The providers studied by ROCIT read as follows: Lantern VPN, Psiphon, Safe Connect VPN, Tunnel Bear VPN, Proton VPN, AdGuard VPN, Express VPN, VPN Proxy Master, Surfshark, Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 +Warp Hide.me VPN and VPN – Super Unlimited Proxy. Other than their names, no further information is provided about the assessment of the providers, with the same going for the study itself. Nevertheless, ROCIT reached the following conclusions: VPN services, as a rule, operate with a standard set of data for online services: account information, user IP address, payment information, information about the user’s device, and so on. In addition, VPN services for the most part do not recognize at the policy level the receipt of data about the resources visited by a specific user. Statistical and analytical data, such as the volume of data transferred, may also be collected. However, some services may collect location data. The study also notes that the jurisdiction that provides the least guarantees for users is the United States, and the most protected from a legal point of view is the personal data of users in Switzerland. The United States has the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows surveillance of non-US citizens. In addition, US Executive Order No. 12333 applies, which allows the interception of data transmitted through the States. And the Stored Communications Act allows law enforcement agencies to obtain data stored by operators based on court orders It’s hard to say whether users of VPN – Super Unlimited Proxy factored in the above when developing their threat model, but they’re on notice now and there are millions of them. For its part, Roscomnadzor seemed a little short on ideas, eventually concluding that criminals can use VPNs to carry out crimes. From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article