Category: Tater News

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

X Sues Music Publishers Over “Weaponized” DMCA Takedown Conspiracy

https://torrentfreak.com/x-sues-music-publishers-over-weaponized-dmca-takedown-conspiracy/

X didn’t just get sued by the music industry—it fought back with a courtroom grenade.

What started as a copyright spat has exploded into an antitrust bomb. X Corp. is now suing the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) and giants like Sony, Universal, and Warner Chappell, accusing them of running a coordinated takedown mafia—not to protect artists, but to strong-arm the platform into paying sky-high licensing fees.

The evidence? Over 200,000 DMCA notices in one year. Takedowns targeting high school award videos with 3 seconds of background music. And more than 50,000 users suspended—all while NMPA execs were happily reposting the same fan remixes they claimed were illegal. One lawyer even shared a Nelly cover… then demanded it be taken down from everyone else.

This isn’t copyright enforcement. It’s extortion dressed in legal jargon.

X says the NMPA colluded to block individual deals, then weaponized DMCA as a blunt instrument to cripple its platform. The goal? Monopolize licensing power by making X choose: pay up or drown in takedowns.

And the kicker? The same labels that cried “piracy!” are now accused of hypocrisy, selective enforcement, and treating fan content like digital litter.

This isn’t just about music—it’s about who controls the internet. If X wins, DMCA could never be used as a corporate weapon again.

If they lose? Welcome to the new era of copyright terrorism.

The case is in Texas. The stakes? Everything.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Italy Fines Cloudflare €14 Million for Refusing to Filter Pirate Sites on Public 1.1.1.1 DNS

https://torrentfreak.com/italy-fines-cloudflare-e14-million-for-refusing-to-filter-pirate-sites-on-public-1-1-1-1-dns/

Italy just slapped Cloudflare with a €14 million fine—not for leaking data, not for shady ads, but because it refused to block pirate sites on its public DNS service, 1.1.1.1.

Here’s the twist: Cloudflare wasn’t hiding behind “we’re just a tech company.” It argued that filtering millions of daily DNS requests to comply with Italy’s “Piracy Shield” would slow down the internet for everyone—like forcing a highway to stop every car to check if they’re carrying pirated UFC fights. AGCOM didn’t blink. “You have the tech,” they said. “Do your job.”

The kicker? Cloudflare’s infrastructure is used by roughly 70% of the pirate sites Italy’s trying to shut down. So when Cloudflare says “no,” it’s not just a company defying rules—it’s the backbone of the problem.

This isn’t just about Italy. It’s a global wake-up call: if your DNS provider doesn’t play nice with copyright enforcers, they might just get fined into oblivion. Google and OpenDNS are probably checking their compliance checklists right now.

Cloudflare’s already calling it unfair—and they’ll appeal. But this fine? It’s not just a penalty. It’s a message: even the giants aren’t too big to block.

(And yes, your favorite sports stream is still down. Sorry.)

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

MiniLoong Pocket 1 Is Competing For Best Handheld Of 2023

https://retrohandhelds.gg/miniloong-pocket-1-is-competing-for-best-handheld-of-2023/

Let’s be real—2023 was the year everyone dropped a Rockchip RK3566 handheld. Yet somehow, MiniLoong’s Pocket 1 still manages to stand out… mostly because it looks like a retro sci-fi toy someone carved from a ’90s Game Boy and painted in neon.

With just 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, and one analog stick, it’s not winning any performance contests—N64 and Dreamcast gamers will groan. But hey, it’s got charm: a removable faceplate begging for custom art, a quirky design that screams “I’m not your dad’s Anbernic,” and open-source firmware that might play nice with the 3566 modding scene.

For fans who want their handheld to look like it came from a cyberpunk anime instead of a factory in Shenzhen? This might be your jam. But if you’re here for raw power or dual sticks? Keep scrolling.

It’s not the best handheld of 2023—it’s probably not even top 5. But it might be the most stylish. And in a sea of black plastic rectangles? That counts for something.

MiniLoong’s first move isn’t revolutionary. But it’s got personality. And sometimes, that’s the best upgrade of all.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Mr Cart Pre-Order Batch #3: Virtual Boy ROM Cart

https://retrorgb.com/mr-cart-pre-order-batch-3-virtual-boy-rom-cart.html

Let’s be real: the Virtual Boy was a glorious disaster. But thanks to folks like Kevin Mellott (aka Mr. Flower), it’s getting the cool, retro-revival treatment it deserves.

Enter: Mr Cart Batch #3. For $235, you can snag a sleek aluminum cartridge—red or black—that turns your VB into a modern game library. No more hunting down crumbling cartridges; just pop in a MicroSD, pick your game from an on-screen menu, and dive into Red Alarm or Teleroboxer like it’s 2024. Load times? 10 seconds to a minute. Instant reloads? Check. FAT32, 16GB max, 100 files per folder—yes, they’ve thought of everything (even if you didn’t know you needed to).

Oh, and it auto-creates save files… even for games that don’t have saves. Because why risk losing your progress in Mario’s Tennis? (We’ve all been there.)

The best part? This isn’t just nostalgia—it’s preservation. A tiny device keeping a weird, 3D-lensed relic alive. And if you’ve ever wanted to see homebrew demos or wild VB mods in action, Kevin’s livestreams are pure magic.

Pre-order now. Your inner 1995 kid is screaming.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

French Court Orders Google DNS to Block Pirate Sites, Dismisses ‘Cloudflare-First’ Defense

https://torrentfreak.com/french-court-orders-google-dns-to-block-pirate-sites-dismisses-cloudflare-first-defense/

Here’s the newsletter-ready version—snappy, sharp, and just a little sassy:

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France just told Google: “Don’t blame Cloudflare. Block the pirates.”

Let’s be real—when you’re streaming the Champions League for free, you don’t care if it’s through a dodgy DNS or a shady CDN. But France? They care a lot. In a bold new ruling, Paris courts ordered Google to block 19 pirate sites—no excuses, no hand-waving.

Google tried to dodge the bullet by saying, “Hey, Cloudflare’s got this!” Nope. The court shot that down hard: intermediaries can’t play blame-the-other-guy while piracy streams live. If your DNS helps users bypass ISP blocks? You’re part of the problem. Period.

The list? Wild. Domains like daddylive3.com and vavoo.to are now offline in France. And it’s not just static—any new domains ARCOM flags? Also blocked. The court even shrugged off Google’s “this is too expensive and global” complaints: “Prove it,” they said. (Spoiler: Google couldn’t.)

This isn’t just a win for sports rights holders—it’s a landmark shift. France is now treating DNS resolvers, CDNs, and search engines like gatekeepers with real legal teeth. And if you think this ends here? Think again.

The message is clear: If your tech helps pirates, you’re on the hook.

—

19 domains blocked. No Cloudflare loophole left.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

G-Zero Sega Genesis Tech Demo Updated

https://retrorgb.com/g-zero-sega-genesis-tech-demo-updated.html

If you’ve ever wished the Sega Genesis had a racing game that felt like it was ripped from a 1995 sci-fi arcade, your wish just got granted.

Enter G-Zero—a dazzling tech demo from developer gasega68k that’s now actually playable to completion. No longer just a flashy prototype, this update adds lap counters, real-time rankings, turbo boosts (with a cool energy bar!), and cars that don’t just look like blobs—they have shadows. Yes, shadows. On a 16-bit console. Mind blown? We’re not surprised.

You can race up to five AI opponents, watch your position glow on the map, and—most importantly—cross the finish line without the game glitching out like a VHS tape in a hurricane. The collision physics? Less “I got hit by a ghost car” and more “oh, I guess I just won.” And yes, turbo only unlocks after your first lap. No cheat codes. Just pure, gritty, pixelated determination.

Grab it free on Itch.io—whether you’ve got a real Genesis cart, MiSTer FPGA, or just an emulator. It’s not a full game… but it’s the most fun 10-minute experience you’ll have on a console that’s older than your lunchbox.

P.S. If you like it, toss Bob a Patreon coin. He’s basically building the racing game we all wished Sega had made.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

PCSX2 v2.6.1 – Open Source PlayStation 2 Emulator

https://retrorgb.com/pcsx2-v2-6-1-open-source-playstation-2-emulator.html

You’ve got a PlayStation 2 in your closet. It’s dusty. The discs are scratched. And you know that “just one more game” turns into three hours of fiddling with a finicky console.

Enter PCSX2 v2.6.1 — the open-source emulator that’s basically a time machine with a settings slider bar. No more thermal throttling, no more broken HDMI cables. Just pure, unadulterated PS2 nostalgia — now with 4K upscaling, improved texture filtering, and the ability to make Final Fantasy X look like it was made for your 4K TV (because, honestly, it should’ve been).

The best part? No install needed. Download the emulator, grab your BIOS (yes, you still need it — legality 101), and boom: instant retro upgrade. Want sharper textures? Done. Smoother frame rates? Easy. Feeling nostalgic for 2003 but with a modern UI? You’re covered.

Sure, tweaking settings can become a full-time job — we’ve all been there, staring at “anisotropic filtering” like it’s a riddle from the Oracle of Delphi. But once you nail your perfect look? Pure bliss.

PS2 games were already iconic. Now they’re beautiful. And all it took was a PC, a little patience, and zero cartridge replacements.

Now go play Shadow of the Colossus… in 4K. You’ve earned it.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AceMagic M1 Review: CPU Power Isn’t Everything

https://retrohandhelds.gg/acemagic-m1-review/

Let’s be real: if you’re buying a Mini PC in 2026, you’re not shopping—you’re scavenging. And the AceMagic M1? It’s like finding a Ferrari engine in a Razor scooter.

Intel’s i9-13900HK? Yeah, that’s power. 14 cores. 20 threads. Enough to run a small country’s tax system. But here’s the twist: it doesn’t feel like it. Geekbench scores are oddly low, and Intel’s Iris XE graphics? Solid for everyday stuff, decent for emulation (Wii U? Yep. PS3? Maybe if you’re patient). But ask it to run Bioshock Infinite—and it ghosts you. Meanwhile, a $200 NUC from 2021 outperforms it in Dirt 3. Weird? Yes. Tell your GPU.

The design? Plastic, noisy fan, screws buried under glued-on rubber feet—like someone built it in a garage while listening to Windows 95 startup sounds. And if you want RAM or storage? Better bring cash. Barebones starts at $329, but the real value is the fully loaded version… which, surprise, is sold out.

So who’s it for? Homelab nerds. Docker enthusiasts. People who think “I need 20 threads to check email.” Gamers? Stick with AMD. Retro fans? It’ll work—but you’ll spend more time tinkering than playing.

Bottom line: Power isn’t everything. Sometimes, it’s just… loud.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

GitHub Restores Repo of GTA Mod ‘Multi Theft Auto’ After Take-Two Fails to Sue

https://torrentfreak.com/github-restores-repo-of-gta-mod-multi-theft-auto-after-take-two-fails-to-sue/

Here’s the punchy, newsletter-ready version:

—

GitHub brought back GTA’s biggest fan mod—because Take-Two couldn’t be bothered to sue.

Multi Theft Auto (MTA), a 21-year-old mod that lets you play Grand Theft Auto with friends, got yanked from GitHub after Take-Two claimed it hosted “leaked source code.” Except… it didn’t. MTA doesn’t copy GTA’s files—it hooks into your legally bought copy of the game. Think of it like a smart plugin, not a pirated clone.

The takedown? Suspicious. No specific files named. Forks untouched. Developers suspected a bot or bluff. So they fired back with a formal DMCA counter-notice: “We wrote this from scratch.”

Under the law, GitHub had to restore it—unless Take-Two sued within 10–14 days. They didn’t. Repo’s back. MTA’s celebrating. GitHub won’t comment. Take-Two? Radio silence.

But here’s the catch: This isn’t over. In 2021, similar GTA mods got restored… then sued months later. Take-Two could still come for MTA. They just chose not to—yet.

For now, modders rejoice. But keep your legal docs handy. The cops might still show up.

—

Word count: 179

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Weekly Roundup #495

https://retrorgb.com/week495.html

Hey there, retro fanatics — your weekly dose of nostalgia just got a whole lot weirder.

This week on RetroRGB, Bob didn’t just update scanlines—he normalized them. Yes, you read that right. The RetroTink 4K now makes scanlines behave like they’re on a yoga retreat: chill, consistent, and oddly zen. Meanwhile, someone recreated the audio of Magical Puzzle Popils (yes, that obscure NES game)… and it’s actually kinda beautiful. Who knew 8-bit bloopiness could be poetic?

But wait—there’s more. Atari Jaguar owners, rejoice: bypass kits are back, and the instructions? Updated. Not just “here’s a screwdriver” level updated—think “we’ve mapped your motherboard like it’s a treasure map to glory.” And if you missed it, Vigilant Paradise, a brand-new Saturn FPS, just dropped. It’s like if Doom and Twin Peaks had a baby… with better textures.

Also: Furrtek’s store is open again (stock up before it vanishes), the C64 Ultimate got a full review (spoiler: it’s not just a “retro” toy), and Bob tested a snow tube… with a joystick. Yes, really. You’ll thank us later.

Support the channel? Do it via affiliate links—because who doesn’t love saving money while feeding their inner 1992 kid? 🎮💙