TorrentReactor Buys Town, Gives It Free Internet
TorrentReactor has "purchased" a Russian village.
TorrentReactor.net, supposedly one of the biggest torrent sites on the Internet, has apparently purchased a small village in Russia for $148,000 and re-named it as TorrentReactor. The site administrators claim that the purchase wasn't a promotional stunt, but rather a way to reach out and provide help "to at least one single village."
Originally called Gar, the village was established in 1958 by the Old Believers, a religious movement of the Russian Orthodox Church. Currently only 214 citizens reside in the forgotten, desolate village--their only means of survival is to sell home-grown vegetables in a nearby town. The average income per villager is around $42 per year.
TorrentReactor said that it was met with some resistance from the Tomsk region authorities at first, however the matters were cleared when money came into play. Most of the "donation" will be split amongst the people while the remaining funds will be used to repair roads, purchase agricultural equipment and machinery, re-equip the local school and more.
Previously there were only three PCs in the village--two in the school library and one in the administration office, one of which had an Internet connection using a dial-up modem. In addition to the $148K payment, the site administrators said that TorrentReactor would pay for the installation of a broadband connection, estimated to cost $30,000 as there are no local networks nearby.
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My gut feeling says that there's a second motive. But my gut is also currently handling a lot of pizza, so meh.
+1 pirates! Arrrrrrr!
In Soviet Russia, the Village buys you.................
IMO this is WIN
this makes the beginning of fight club when he talks about how corporations will own the universe seem way more plausible
That's a really nice thing to do, even if it does sound like a stunt of some sort (no matter what they say).
Sweet now when they get sued for any form of piracy they probably worked it into the contract so that this town is held responsible.
This is a hoax/publicity stunt, nothing to see here move along, refresh your torrentfreak tab for an update.
hahahahahahahaha
plonk a server in a town you own, imagine a town where the RIAA and MPIAA has no juristiction....
Wow, if this is true, thats one hell of a nice thing to do for a small town in Russia. Tho i have to admit, makes me curious if this was really out of the goodness of their hearts. Either way, that's pretty awesome.
hahahahahahahahaplonk a server in a town you own, imagine a town where the RIAA and MPIAA has no juristiction....
Imagine said town denyed access to the net...
Hahahah! but i bet they plan on turning that village into a hosting site. or.. they might actually be doing something good!
Wait.. where are the villagers going to get computers? i can't see 200+ people sharing 2 computers! (third one not accessible)
The RIAA will come in and sweep the village clean for illegal file downloads... you'll see.
Imagine said town denyed access to the net...
Those oraganizations don't have the rights to make a decision about who gets internet access.
If there is another motive for TorretReactor, then at least there is a mutual benefit for both them and the villagers.
The RIAA will come in and sweep the village clean for illegal file downloads... you'll see.
its in russia....explain how that would happen.
There is jurisdiction, but anybody filing a suit will need 20 years to pass it through the bureucracy, and then it will be worthless, since the initial claim expiration is 15-17 years...they will need to file again


There is jurisdiction, but anybody filing a suit will need 20 years to pass it through the bureucracy, and then it will be worthless, since the initial claim expiration is 15-17 years...they will need to file again
20 years plus a few million in bribes and protection money.
Nothing is free.
next: 4chan buys small village in Nicaragua, names it Anonymous, creates giant goatse crop circle seen from space
next: 4chan buys small village in Nicaragua, names it Anonymous, creates giant goatse crop circle seen from space
Omg speechless win.
next: 4chan buys small village in Nicaragua, names it Anonymous, creates giant goatse crop circle seen from space
LOL
With an average income of $42, do they even have computers anyway?
Also, the article says most of the $148,000 went to the 214 people living there. Even if it was only a tenth of the money was divided up, that's $70 a person - a year and a half of work.
They may be cold and starving, but at least they'll have internet porn
Not a promotional stunt. Riiiight.
So. Win. Amg.
"all hail your benevolent BitTorrent God!"
"can't, just discovered porn"
seriously. who would have thought you could make this town less productive. enter, the power of the internet...
Good for them. Those people sound like they need new management and an opportunity for change. Sad that it's a torrent site that will bring it. This is the kind of world we live it. Way to go Russia for helping out the little guy. lol
i taste vodka.
I smell server island...
With an average income of $42, do they even have computers anyway?Also, the article says most of the $148,000 went to the 214 people living there. Even if it was only a tenth of the money was divided up, that's $70 a person - a year and a half of work.
Uh.... you missed the 8 after 14 or you just suck that much at math. 148,000/214 = 691.5
Still not enough to replace all the PLEX cards lost in eve in that krestal hahahaha! Sorry I just find that hilarious.
The RIAA will come in and sweep the village clean for illegal file downloads... you'll see.
They will be met by drunken AK-47-totting angry commies.
They will be met by drunken AK-47-totting angry commies.
You don't have to be drunk to work here, but it helps.