Felony arrests for “link farm” web sites!

I detest deceptive web sites that reproduce hyperlinks to my articles and then re-sell the hyperlinks to their victims.

Well, the Federal Government is now recognizing this as a crime, and they are finally making arrests!

Criminal Copyright violation arrests are now coming for those annoying web sites that steal content and re-publish it for a fee.

Check out the channelsurfing.net home page after being seized by the Feds . . .

The site was been seized by the Federal Government because it is a “Hoover”, a site that steals “teasers” and re-sells hyperlinks to copyrighted content of other web sites, content that is available for free with a simple Google search:

“This domain has been seized by ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, Special Agent in Charge, New York Office."

"It is unlawful to reproduce copyrighted material, such as movies, music, software or games, without authorization...

First-time offenders convicted of a criminal felony copyright law will face up to five years in federal prison, restitution, forfeiture and fine”

Read the story here about how creating sites that re-sell hyperlinks to copyrighted content is a crime:

When Hyperlinking becomes a crime.