- Pirates With Attitude
Infobox computer underground
group_name = Pirates With Attitude
caption = PWAASCII art logo by R.Noble of MiRAGE
origin =New York
country = international
status = inactive
years_active = early 1990s
category =warez / cracking
founders = Orion
BarManager
products =
affiliates =International Network of Crackers
website =
Pirates With Attitude (PWA) was a major international
warez release group between1992 and2000 . The group was established by two formerInternational Network of Crackers members known by thepseudonym s Orion and BarManager. PWA was also very well known during the tail end of the BBS-era for their development of modifications and enhancements ("mods") for thePCBoard BBS software.On May 4, 2000, the United States Department of Justice released a press report stating that conspiracy and copyright infringement charges had been brought against several members of PWA under the
NET Act (No Electronic Theft Act). The day after the DOJ's report, PWA released a.nfo file officially announcing their retirement. PWA was one of the first groups ever to be prosecuted under this act of law.Members
Alleged members of Pirates with Attitude according to
U.S. Department of Justice :
* Robin Rothberg, aka "Marlenus," (9/11/67) 32, ofNewburyport, Massachusetts (pled guilty)
* Mark Veerboken, aka "Shiffie," ofBelgium
* Steven Ahnen, aka "Code3," (4/13/58) 42, ofSarasota, Florida (pled guilty)
* Christian Morley, aka "Mercy" (4/13/73) 27, ofSalem, Massachusetts (convicted)
* Justin Robbins, aka "Warlock," (2/10/76), 24, ofLake Station, Indiana (pleaded guilty)
* Jason Slater, aka "Technic," (4/28/70) 30, ofSunnyvale, California (pled guilty)
* Todd Veillette, aka "Gizmo," (11/21/59) 40, ofOakdale, Connecticut (pled guilty)
* Thomas Oliver, aka "Rambone," (7/14/65) 34, ofAurora, Illinois (pled guilty)
* Mark Stone, aka "Stoned," (3/24/66) 34, ofCalifornia (pled guilty)
* Dionne, aka "akasha", ofWest Palm Beach, Florida (pled guilty)
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_v._Reimerdes Shawn Reimerdes] , aka "SkaTeMasTer", (11/01/76), ofWhitestone, NY , SysOp of Harmony Skates BBS in the 718 area code (1988-1994) and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCBoard_Programming_Executable PPE] programmer (DIZ/2-PCB, Oneliners).External links
* [http://www.defacto2.net/web.pages/bust.1a/ U.S. INDICTS 17 IN ALLEGED INTERNATIONAL SOFTWARE PIRACY CONSPIRACY] - Mirror of US DoJ website posting
* [http://www.defacto2.net/text.files/PC%20Modern/PWA_the-end.txt PWA'S FINAL RELEASE - RIP 1992 - 2000] – PWANFO file declaring the group disbanded
* [http://www.defacto2.net/groups.cfm?mode=detail&org=pwa Pirates With Attitude file and information repository on Defacto2]
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