UK Police Dismantle Prominent ‘COLLECTiVE’ Piracy Operation and Arrest High-Profile Uploader

• A popular pirated content uploader associated with COLLECTiVE torrents was arrested in the U.K. 
• Will1869 specialized in distributing recent films on sites such as 1337x and Laidbackmanor.
• The latter, which was managed by the COLLECTiVE piracy group, was also seized by the police.

The U.K.’s ongoing campaign against digital piracy achieved a significant milestone with the recent dismantling of the COLLECTiVE piracy group and the arrest of its primary operator, known online as Will1869. 

The individual, operating under the COLLECTiVE alias, gained notoriety for sharing a large volume of high-profile films across major torrent sites such as 1337x and, until its recent closure, TorrentGalaxy. 

The piracy group also managed a smaller portal, Laidbackmanor, which frequently debuted COLLECTiVE releases before wider distribution.

Unlike most traditional release groups responsible for initial content leaks, COLLECTiVE specialized in acquiring and improving existing releases, most notably by sourcing cam rips from the open web and removing embedded ads before republishing.

After a period of consistent uploads, activities attributed to COLLECTiVE ceased abruptly at the end of April. Simultaneously, Laidbackmanor was taken offline, replaced by a nondescript GoDaddy landing page, fueling speculation about law enforcement intervention. 

These rumors were confirmed after industry sources reported Will1869’s arrest by U.K. police, which reportedly occurred at the end of April. While the arrested individual has since been released on bail, the investigation remains ongoing.

COLLECTiVE had become a high-priority target following its involvement in the distribution of widely downloaded films and several high-profile leaks, including Oscar-nominated screeners. However, investigators noted that Will1869 was not typically the origin of leaks but rather a prominent distributor. 

The methodology of identifying and apprehending the operator remains undisclosed. The case remains open, with further details expected pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.