Sometimes I want LFGSS to be part of a Shadownet

It seems like this thread has derailed from Velocio's original point of why he is considering a dark net to the side effect of having less new people of having a dark net. None of the suggestions also deal with the issue of funding a dark net should it happen.

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/11/leaked-acta-internet-provisions-three-strikes-and-

It's just shocking.

I cannot as a provider of this site possible take steps to police the forum in such a way that I can have any confidence that there isn't some copyright infringing material on here.

Hell, a photo of a bike is copyright to someone, somewhere.

So I'm tempted, always am... enticed you might say... by the idea of making LFGSS an invite only site, and to make it https:// only. Basically... if you're one of us, cool... you're in. Otherwise, tough you're out.

The problem with doing this isn't so much the technical side, but it's the cost side. The site is big, it would've been easier to do that when it was small... but now we have 3 servers and costs each month and no sponsor will pay to lose a significant chunk of passer-by audience. Though, sponsors might consider paying to access a private audience, but the audience is so much smaller (a tenth) of the public audience.

There might actually be some benefit. No more n00bs and the dumb questions.

Gah, I hate politics, I hate the leaders of men. I do love the idea of the darknet, it's really attractive... but the forum has actually done a lot of good being public, and it seems a shame to consider that stuff slowing down.

Quite a crazy article, I can't say I understand it all but I think I get the jist. So even though you have placed yourself not as a publisher you may still be potentially liable and the ISPs may be forced to shut you down if multiple copy right violations complaint are made correct.?

But this has not happened yet. There also seem to be problems with European law, however it may well come about and it seems only wise to at least have a plan to get round this problem.

Could a possible solution be to have the general current site under https (and only viewable when logged in, and still with adverts as they are now) but all archives (and all post sinstantly become this stripped down archives) without any photo or video content under http which are trawled by google with adverts. For example Bikeforums.net has this come up on old pages. No photos no linked photos no video but still with adverts e.t.c.

This way advertisers could get passing traffic and regular user traffic so income should be constant plus net bots could not trawl for any linked material that my be in breach of copyright. I know it creates a two tier system for people who have signed up and those who have not but it's an idea which should maintain high google ranking with advertisements for passing trade.

I have not explained myself very clearly but I hope you get roughly what I am saying.