The Pirate Bay wants to buy their own nation

And it might actually work, too!

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Swedish file-sharing website The Pirate Bay is planning to buy its own nation in an attempt to circumvent international copyright laws.

The group has set up a campaign to raise money to buy Sealand, a former British naval platform in the North Sea that has been designated a 'micronation', and claims to be outside the jurisdiction of the UK or any other country.

The Pirate Bay says it is the world's largest 'bit torrent tracker', and is a popular way of sharing music, films, software and other copyrighted material online. It has been under the scrutiny of authorities in Sweden and around the world for some time.

The site was briefly closed down after raids by the Swedish police last May. After initially moving to the Netherlands, the site returned to Sweden in June. Swedish authorities have been put under pressure to do more to stop the site. The Motion Picture Association of America, the Swedish Anti-Piracy Bureau and the US government have all lobbied for The Pirate Bay's closure.

According to a website set up to secure the purchase of Sealand, The Pirate Bay plans to give citizenship of the micronation to anyone willing to put money towards the purchase.

"It should be a great place for everybody, with high-speed Internet access, no copyright laws and VIP accounts to The Pirate Bay," the organisation claims on its website www.buysealand.com.

The "island" of Sealand, seven miles off the coast of southern England, was settled in 1967 by an English major, Paddy Roy Bates. Bates proclaimed Sealand a state, issuing passports and gold and silver Sealand dollars and declaring himself Prince Roy.

When the British Royal Navy tried to evict Prince Roy in 1968, a judge ruled that the platform was outside British territorial waters and therefore beyond government control.

The British government subsequently extended its territorial waters from three to twelve nautical miles from the coast, which would include Sealand, but Prince Roy simultaneously extended Sealand's waters, claimed that this guaranteed Sealand's sovereignty.

The island is now being put up for sale by Prince Roy's son, Prince Michael, who styles himself head of state. A firm of Spanish estate agents has valued the island at £504 million (about 7 billion kronor), although Prince Michael told The Times of London that it is hard to gauge how much it will fetch in reality.

The Pirate Bay says it is looking at alternatives to buying the former naval platform.

"If we do not get enough money required to buy the micronation of Sealand, we will try to buy another small island somwhere and claim it as our own country," the organization says on its website.

Interesting idea, I must say. Of all the methods of circumventing the law, this has got to be the most far-fetched. Personally, I hope to see them succeed in getting Sealand. It would be a big win for file sharing and a pretty momentous event overall.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

It would be a short-lived victory, I imagine, because the powers that be would surely figure out some way to circumvent their circumvention and get standard laws and such to apply. It is definitely a very interesting way to get around the system, though. Gotta applaud them for their audacity and ingenuity.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Even if Drex is right, and the victory would mean nothing... I still want to see them win. Just for shits and giggles, ya know?

How ya doing, buddy?

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seven miles off the coast of southern England

That's not all that far from me

If they can pull it off, it sounds like a great plan. I'm certainly gonna keep an eye on it...

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Originally Posted by Soluzar

Even if Drex is right, and the victory would mean nothing... I still want to see them win. Just for shits and giggles, ya know?

Dahm straight man, I'd love to see the RIAA squeel like pigs on a honeymoon

I was speaking idiomatically.

That would be... amazing. I want to buy my own island and claim it as a country... at least then I wouldnt be able to complain about the president, because the president would be me! Hooray, free downloads for everyone!

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

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Donate money and you will become a citizien.

so if this gets off the ground would that mean I would have duel citizienship (usa and this contry?

FELIPE NO

I do like the idea of being Buccaneer-English

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Wow. Innovative. Though I doubt it would actually work.

I think just the sheer notion deserves props since it's saying big things about piracy - I wish it was this easy to be able to make up your own rules and laws.

But I imagine some money will be required (substantial amounts, I imagine) to maintain one's own country. The money would be a big issue.

Nontheless, its a novel idea.

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The idea of a data haven isn't as innovative as some are saying; the term was coined by Bruce Sterling in a 1988 novel, and, by the way, there actually already is a data hosting company operating from Sealand (called HavenCo).

That being said, I can't see the idea of the Pirate Bay buying Sealand as anything more than a joke. I mean, I'm pretty sure it is a joke, because even if we ignore everything else that's absurd about the idea, how on earth do they plan to obtain the many millions of dollars required for this? From dontions of people who download a lot of copyrighted material illegaly?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Even if this isn't a joke and Piratebay somehow manages to acquire Sealand, unless they can get another nation to formally acknowledge them, it won't mean a thing (it currently isn't recognized by anyone for those wondering). Plus, it would be incredibly easy for England to just just off Sealands connection to the inter-web thus making any hosting out of the question.

Edit: Oh, and it looks like Sealand isn't being put up for sale. According to the Evening Star, "It has been ruled for the past four decades by Major Roy Bates, now 85, and his family but they are looking to “transfer” tenancy to someone else, although they would still keep ownership." Heres the link to the source for your viewing pleasure.
http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/search/...ategory=search

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I think it would be just cool that they even get it. I guess they can go from there trying to deal it out with other countries.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Sealand doesn't meet the legal requirements to be a sovereign nation (state territory, state people, state power) so it's like totally stupid even if it was a joke. Pirate Bay sucks anyway.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I agree. Pirate Bay isn't really that good. I stick with my other site.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by The Wise Vivi

I stick with my other site.

Which would be?

Or is it a torrent site restricted to FFIX characters only? >(^^)^

FELIPE NO