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Jim, usenet sites have been around for a very long time indeed. Third party newsgroup readers have been around a very long time. However, Guba is different, and their recent changes have certain pushed them into a whole new realm.
Basically, they extract the images and dump the newsgroup postings. Then they filter them, sort them by subject, and so on. They remove certain types of images (apparently CP and other subjects) and then present the images in thumbnail format without any reference to the usenet posts they come from.
They also collect video clips and movies. They transcode these to whatever format you will like including making them available for ipod and PSPs.
They apparently also collect content from P2P networks and similar setups.
They charge by the month for access to these services.
Now, if I was to go and take stuff from the usenet and open a paysite with it, you guys would drum me out of here faster than (name not mentioned) would call me names.
The usenet is a cesspool of illegal activity. Just providing access would make them an exempt carrier (if they just provided access). However, because they filter, edit, convert, organize, and re-distribute the content in a format other than the usenet format, they are very likely far over the line.
Don't let the little "usenet" sign at the door blind you to what is in fact going on. Content theft is content theft, no matter how it is done.
Alex
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