So the UK-based International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) recently forgot to renew their domain name ifpi.com as early as March. This is the result.

Basically, a domain squatter and admirer of The Pirate Bay (TPB), one of the popular BitTorrent indices that arose out of the ashes of the late Suprnova, snatched the domain soon after it expired under the IFPI and donated it to TPB. They’re now proceeding to create, with the domain, their own site promoting an “International Federation of Pirates Interests.” It’s pretty ironic that one of IFPI’s most infamous enemies now has control of one of their domain names (well, it’s not theirs anymore!).

An Ars Technica article reports that the IFPI is now trying to claim the domain back through the World Intellectual Property Organization and ICANN. It looks like TPB might not win this one, but they’re trying to, in any case, using the argument that it has no commercial interests and that it means not to confuse people actually looking for the “real” IFPI site.

Funny! But seriously, best of luck to those in support of free culture!

Happy New Year, originally uploaded by scribeoflight.

Here’s to a happy new lunar year! Gong xi fa cai! Gong hay fat choi! I think the picture above (taken in Xi'an) captures this “new year spirit” pretty well. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m having as much fun today as the kid in the picture, but that’s okay.

On a side note, luckily for me, we don’t have school tomorrow— because of Presidents Day, not because of the new year, and so I have at least a little time to breathe.

Happy Chinese new year, xin nian kuai le, sun nin fai lok, gong xi fa cai, and gong hay fat choi to everyone! Hope everyone has some great food and happy-happy feelings.

Notes: I took the photo above at the imperial summer palace when I was in Beijing in the summer of 2004.