News: 0178695250

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'Yubin Archive' Pirate Library Operator Arrested, Illegal Study Materials Group Canceled For 330K Members (torrentfreak.com)

(Friday August 15, 2025 @11:30PM (BeauHD) from the cease-and-desist dept.)


South Korean authorities have [1]arrested the operator of Yubin Archive , a Telegram-based "pirate library" that grew to over 330,000 members by sharing textbooks, workbooks, lectures, and exam prep materials under the banner of "eliminating educational inequality." TorrentFreak reports:

> An official statement confirming the operator's arrest was published locally on August 12. The timeline suggests the arrest probably took place on or around August 9. The following notice appeared on Yubin Archive on August 11. "The Ministry of Culture and Sports' Copyright Crime Science Investigation Team used digital science investigation (forensics) and various investigation methods to identify the core operator, conduct simultaneous search and seizure at their homes, and fully secure the Telegram criminal activities," the Ministry's statement reads. "Investigations into accomplices who participated in the operation are also underway."

>

> While copyright infringement at scale is almost always a crime, regardless of content type or claimed good intention, having a Robin Hood character in the mix risks dilution of key anti-piracy messaging. No surprise then that much is being made of the existence of a 'minority room' within Yubin Archive, access to which was only permitted upon payment of a fee. "The core operator of the 'Yubin Archive', who was arrested, was found to have created a separate paid sharing channel (also known as a minority channel) while promoting the illegal sharing of learning materials as a noble act to eliminate educational inequality," the Ministry [2]notes . "In addition, the illegal sharing channel was a criminal act that could instill incorrect copyright awareness in most users, including teenagers. The Ministry of Culture and Sports is committed to continuing its efforts to track and strictly respond to illegal activities that abuse anonymous channels such as Telegram, to protect the rights of creators."



[1] https://torrentfreak.com/pirate-library-operator-arrested-study-canceled-for-330k-members-250814/

[2] https://www.mcst.go.kr/kor/s_notice/press/pressView.jsp?pSeq=21941



lesson for the future (Score:2)

by martin-boundary ( 547041 )

When making a pirate library, add more AI "users".

God forbid people learn for free (Score:3, Insightful)

by uem-Tux ( 682053 )

Textbooks are a huge gouge. We need a system to put them into the public domain fast enough that they can be useful to people that can't afford them, or legislation to keep them affordable. ACAB

Re: (Score:2)

by PPH ( 736903 )

> We need a system to put them into the public domain fast enough

Teach out of the public library system.

Will Hunting: "You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for $1.50 in late fees at the public library."

This reminds me of an episode of Max Headroom (Score:2)

by magusxxx ( 751600 )

Police barge in and arrest everyone because the kids aren't paying to see the show's version of Sesame Street.

Re: (Score:2)

by Uldis Segliņš ( 4468089 )

Yeah, right. Who and how will pay for the VPN, for internet connection, for RPIs themselves? As soon as you introduce more physical world, you make it easier to get catched.

Jesus fucking Christ (Score:3)

by rsilvergun ( 571051 )

But the phrase illegal study materials is dystopian as fuck. Thanks world, I almost thought I might go a whole day without losing a little more faith in humanity.

Just go with the flow control, roll with the crunches, and, when you get
a prompt, type like hell.