Pirating the Pirates

We need to summarize the 4 most prevalent themes of opinions expressed in this Hacker News discussion.

We need to read discussion and identify main themes.

The discussion is about preservation of media, piracy, copyright, abandonware, fan preservation, physical media, etc.

We need to find 4 prevalent themes. Then present them concisely with direct quotations attributed to users, fix HTML entities (replace < etc. with actual characters) and output markdown. Keep summary short and focused on these 4 themes.

Let's parse the conversation.

We see many comments:

• dewey: talks about fan preservationists on torrent sites using torrenting skills for work.

• sedawkgrep: people passionate about preservation beyond acquiring for own use.

• Forgeties79: people use preservation as a magic shield to justify piracy, most are not doing it for preservation.

• hamdingers: argues that swarm is backup; community preservation; those few doing preservation are valuable.

• deadbunny: mentions donation of space on trackers, bonuses for adopting torrents.

• dewey: mentions professional archives working with torrent sites to archive content; last remaining official copy recovered via fan service.

• Waterluvian: driven by nostalgia for Macintosh games.

• MomsAVoxell: amateur recordist, bootleg concerts, preserve nature of world for future.

• theK: agrees that future needs preservation.

• ChickeNES: found film at thrift store, wants to preserve, not turned into art project.

• javcasas: big studios go after old videogames, future will be called digital dark ages because stuff illegal to own.

• the_af: abandonware scene, copyright holders aggressively pursued abandonware sites without plans to redistribute.

• tombert: home-computer world especially interesting for old games; many games on C64, Amiga, DOS made by few people, fell into obscurity; abandonware term; suggests codifying abandonware into law.

• acomjean: agrees; modifying copyrights; too many games to curate.

• jasonwatkinspdx: wants to find shareware games from Apple IIgs.

• charcircuit: copyright purpose is to allow authors to print new copies and not compete with others; nothing stops people from keeping archived copy until copyright expires.

• the_af: disagree, copyright holders aggressively pursued abandonware sites while not planning to redistribute; abandonware sites preserved games.

• LostMyWords: difficult to locate who currently owns rights to re-release legally.

• kibwen: copyright law balance between incentivizing creators and freedom of speech; original monopoly short enough to expire within average person's lifetime, but regulatory capture gutting.

• Telaneo: copyright's purpose is to promote progress; archiving until copyright expires is problematic due to long term; original game may stop working due to DRM, technological change.

• rpdillon: points out that nothing stops people from keeping archived copy until copyright expires is false due to DRM, tech change, etc.

• the_af: argues that original software often not in hands of copyright holder; need to experience it; waiting for copyright expiry may be too long.

• giancarlostoro: fair use YouTube channels get dinged; penalties needed for bogus claims.

• SaucyWrong: three strikes enforcement of bogus claims.

• Telaneo: big players have leverage; only fix is reforming or abolishing copyright.

• mahboi: old video games aren't illegal to own; but may be illegal to run if dependent on servers.

• javcasas: servers taken offline; revoking paid licenses.

• mahboi: not illegal, just can't play.

• alabhyajindal: Mubi subscription discussion.

• anderber: Mubi has independent films.

• dewey: Mubi curated approach.

• bbx: Mubi has independent movies from various countries, older classics temporarily.

• bpye: happy to give Mubi money.

• eltrain: can use VPN on Mubi.

• nalekberov: Mubi costs 15.99 EUR/month; Blu-Ray cheap.

• WorldMaker: justwatch.com says Mubi with ads.

• softskunk: remux community discussion.

• d-e-r-e-k: article wrong about remux.

• huslage: Art of Internet Pedantry.

• mahboi: non-hybrid remux community?

• ls612: high quality remux groups do both normal and hybrid.

• timdiggerm: technical difference or community naming.

• hamdingers: remux is a tag; community small group.

• askjdfksdbfhk: community exists; hybrid remux definition.

• ... continues discussion about hybrid remux definitions.

• cosmic_cheese: frustration with industry towards audiovisual media releases; older releases made unobtainable in favor of newer botched versions.

• haunter: TV shows worse due to soundtrack; music removed from GTA radios; etc.

• mahboi: bought GTA IV and still pirated it; don't have to launch Steam.

• Xirdus: hundreds of video games never re-released due to soundtrack licensing.

• mahboi: GoldenEye example.

• WorldMaker: GoldenEye re-released for Xbox One.

• mahboi: oh finally.

• RunSet: worst outcome case Uniracers lawsuit.

• throwaway219450: Top Gear soundtrack issues.

• secretsatan: BBC shows had great music but licensed via radio.

• miki123211: TV shows need soundtrack-free version or not re-release.

• LostMyWords: video games sign terrible licenses even for core parts; Forza games disappeared from digital stores because couldn't use cars.

• cosmic_cheese: agrees with blog post; absurdities within system need attention.

• mahboi: if corps make poor decisions with IP, oh well.

• mopsi: shortening copyright would fix many issues; games/movies make most earnings early; after that less important than preservation.

• xp84: maybe residuals for reruns; format change from TV to DVD to streaming blew it up.

• crtasm: Red Dwarf VHS.

• AbsurdCensor: music replaced in DVD releases.

• sillyfluke: ask for examples.

• ray_kay777: Daria example.

• tpmoney: Interview With the Vampire soundtrack changed.

• rendx: Wonder Years music replacements.

• criddell: WKRP in Cincinnati.

• opello: Scrubs music changes.

• cosmic_cheese: anime on Netflix affected; Monster ending theme removed; Evangelion ending theme covers removed.

• xp84: Daria tragic; pirates cobble together best-effort mash-ups.

• juiceland: high-quality faithful official remaster like Star Trek TNG special; not sufficient market for such restorations.

• opello: Star Trek TNG special case because needed re-cut and new digital SFX.

• Namahanna: Star Wars with Lucas tinkering and blocking old copies; project 4K77.

• jgord: difference in favor of 4K77 remaster.

• schlauerfox: Library of Congress can create DMCA exceptions; EFF lobbies.

• kristianpaul: Everything is a Remix.

• everyone: fan recreation Alien 3: The Legacy cut.

• HelloUsername: Good, Bad, Ugly restoration.

• gfody: house opened eyes to problem; reconstructing version with video resolution of bluray but original soundtrack of dvd.

• tancop: hates film and music pirates gatekeeping everything; private trackers for games and software don't try to keep content exclusive, you get faster downloads without random bad quality uploads and malware cluttering site in exchange for keeping good ratio.

• tene80i: rough not to get whatever you want without paying anyone or experiencing downsides.

• mahboi: piracy isn't activism, just people wanting free stuff or paying discounted rate.

• teddyh: that is false; criticism of copyright link.

• crtasm: content not under exclusivity rule; seeding question.

• MrBuddyCasino: Lorber version colors.

• fransje26: article explaining better version.

• bborud: George Lucas quote defiling his own work.

• mahboi: Beyond Star Wars, illicit cottage industry patches holes in film's digital representation.

• dd8601fn: Nolan wrong? sound mixing philosophy.

• mahboi: doesn't know Nolan.

• dd8601fn: liked Oppenheimer fine except crappy explosion; also liked Paul Newman etc.

• mahboi: Dark Knight top; Interstellar amazing until end; Dunkirk good but slow plot.

• dd8601fn: messing with time is a thing he does.

• mahboi: Interstellar's plot about messing with universe time; not jumping around points.

• ngc248: Memento his peak; Inception new highs; downhill after.

• segsgsgsgs: maybe you shouldn't be making comments on movies.

• mahboi: knowing director adds bias.

• settsu: working theory that he made movies he had to make then; as successful transitioned back to making movies he wanted to make.

• dd8601fn: he has juice to do whatever he thinks best.

• ButlerianJihad: 1987 parents had 4-head VHS recorder; rented another device; edited Married... with Children into single tape containing only scenes with Kelly.

• sudoevil: praise for forensics.

• settsu: side note/game: imagine not tech savvy; figure Mubi cost using only website; hard to find pricing.

• juiceland: shows pricing page.

• settsu: didn't realize page existed; could find if determined; but starting from homepage as average user nothing obvious; found under Gift MUBI which presents different pricing schemes; shouldn't be that hard.

• neves: does it mean Sergio Leone's movies on Mubi are these restoration? unclear.

• Leone is greatest director.

• shevy-java: liked Good, Bad, Ugly but post-dub voice of Wallach older didn't fit; Hollywood ruining videos; need to phase out Hollywood; movies cultural heritage; best quality must be preserved (without artificial AI slop clowning it up and changing things; see on youtube every day, it is AWFUL. AI slop constantly lies about things. I can call it lie-slop).

• thewizzardofnl: George Lucas quote about original Star Wars trilogy not existing anymore.

• paulryanrogers: few made so much money from trilogy or had creative freedom; disliked laser bolt changes of special editions; otherwise loved seeing modern CGI fleshing out worlds.

• hungryhobbit: what everyone thought Star Wars needed was more poop jokes and bad CGI.

• kurthr: could add Jar Jar and sell co-branded toothpaste.

• Groxx: ewok blinks half way between Jim Henson and Bettie Boop.

• alexpotato: trivia about A New Hope children's book; scene with Biggs returns to talk to Luke not in movie.

• kurthr: comic book before movie; sand people shoot R2D2 looked opposite.

• letsbehonest1: if you've seen this scene, does that mean you've sailed the high seas?

• throwaway219450: Luke looking up at space battle and "Treadwell" the droid.

• mcv: remembered scene from novelisation; early Jabba the Hutt scene; Special Editions added them back; Biggs works, Jabba less terrifying.

• floydnoel: scene in radio drama version.

• NamlchakKhandro: Dune came out before star ears (typo?).

• ghaff: maybe some of Ridley Scott's.

• EA-3167: took something product of its time and beloved; turned into something even hardcore fans want nothing to do with; little lost IMO if you look with eye free of nostalgia but many disagree.

• JumpCrisscross: even hardcore fans want nothing to do with; main series turned to trash but still commercially successful; liked Andor; parents couldn't sit through first couple episodes because slow moving.

• EA-3167: massively profitable until last of new trilogy underperformed (~$300M box office); Andor first Star Wars property genuinely excellent after Empire Strikes Back; but dictated by personal taste; signs brand wearing thin: Mandalorian vs. Grogu flop.

• JumpCrisscross: etc.

• jasonwatkinspdx: Lucas's cut of original Star Wars was horrible; his wife came in and redid everything; she was editor on remaining two.

• leoc: version disputed.

• settsu: meme about idea person; need to be self-aware.

• chungy: Gene Roddenberry similar with Star Trek; best works under Star Trek made by others; anything he directly involved in as script writer are weakest worst parts.

• Revanche1367: oft-repeated mythology from reddit feminist revisionism; they argue man got credit for woman's work.

• dghlsakjg: She won Oscar for editing "A New Hope"; not mythology; reality; if remasters and episodes I-III are anything to judge, George really does better when there is an editor that will check him.

• segsgsgsgs: like those nags Marie Curie and Margaret Keane.

• qingcharles: seems like they are being undone for the 50th next year; most of them anyway; will have to wait to see release; definite improvement maybe definitive version.

• qingcharles: talked to Bob Gale about topic; said he and Zemeckis had veto clause in contract when sold BTTF to Universal in 90s giving them power over later fuckery with releases while alive; during height of 3D TV craze Universal asked for permission to do 2D->3D conversion of BTTF and both refused; so there's one franchise at least that won't get dicked with in near future.

• [I'm not totally against 2D->3D conversions if done right. Titanic conversion looks like filmed 3D-native, beautifully done. Star Wars: Episode 1 conversion essentially unwatchable and killed the whole project.]

• mcv: Blade Runner also has many versions with or without voice over.

• alexpotato: quote about Spencer Draper—best known as Damn Fool Idealistic Crusader on YouTube, where he reviews technical and historical aspects of digital releases with rigor usually reserved for scholarly peer review.

• alexpotato: will occasionally think about various topics "I'm really into but is anyone else in to ??"

• then read a quote like above and realize it's a big world out there and people have many varied interests.

• Plus, if folks are REALLY into then they want different perspectives about even if sub-topic covered before.

• In other words, write blog posts and make videos. Someone will consume that content and you never know where that leads.

• segsgsgsgs: yeah QAnon is an inspirational story

• jayceedenton: Can we use AI to get better lip syncing of Dollars trilogy yet? would love to see.

• antimony51: watching Lawrence of Arabia; similar stuff; scenes around "my name is for my friends" and echoey canyon where Lawrence looks like photorealistic game character; likely multiple factors: deserts bright, bright light used causing eyes to sparkle; streaming from Netflix and compression/decompression might have eaten high frequency detail; they shot movie in bigger film stock so digitized version highly regarded; if anyone has idea why these scenes look off, would love to learn more.

• polytely: project on backlog to figure out how to combine DVD copies and Blu-ray copies of X-Files to have 4:3 episode in HD; especially first couple seasons they crop a lot to fit into widescreen; waiting until AI gets good enough to use DVD quality original fill in and upscale cropped part of HD episodes.

• throooooo: Seasons 1-5 of Reno 911 were 4:3; if stream nowadays they've had awful pan and scan applied that removes ton of detail, results in heads cut off, etc; all so we don't get black bars on sides; so bad and makes me question whether people that did conversion even watched output.

• nalekberov: will say again and again: thanks to piracy, I got to watch many amazing movies especially those before 2000s; eventually bought lots of DVDs and Blu-Rays, CDs (heck I even rediscovered my music in taste); not sure which is more morally wrong: preserving works of art for future generations, or destroying them for profit.

• Groxx: liked Despecialized editions; audio remastering appreciated; VHS rarely has good audio; but certainly not poorly-fitting CGI additions.

• Insanity: tangentially related, toying with idea of buying all film and series content again rather than maintaining subscription services; SO and I watch TV maybe once a week yet maintain subscription to Crave & Netflix; pretty sure it'd work out cheaper to just buy box-sets of a series when we start watching it but haven't done deep dive yet.

• codechicago277: buying DVDs and surfacing content to Jellyfin and Tailscale; lot easier than used to be; they even have smart TV apps on some platforms; don't even have to pirate to get use out of it.

• simpaticoder: not sure this makes sense for most people who watch a series once and then never again; physical media makes sense for movies and shows you'll watch multiple times; might buy Firefly but not Reacher; with kids it makes particular sense - kids love watching same thing over and over; if Wreck It Ralph was on VHS it'd be worn out by now...

• phs318u: could share physical media with others like a library.

• seizethecheese: not saying I disagree, but very interesting how this contrasts with attitudes people have towards books; people keep physical books around just for kicks; often times they haven't even read half the books on their shelves.

• whall6: Books are a signal.

• qingcharles: ton of streaming content stuck in streaming, so you can only "buy" it, not buy it; Oscar-winning movies that you can't get on physical media; have to take things into your own hands these days and grab 2160p Dolby Vision streams and stuff them onto a BD-R, if you know what I mean.

• WorldMaker: wondering this some myself, how many services I could drop and just return to physical media budget; factors contributing to it not necessarily cheaper to buy box