# The fake filmmaker who sued six torrent trackers

> A copyright suit against PassThePopcorn collapsed after the real filmmaker said he had never heard of the guy using his name.
- Title: The fake filmmaker who sued six torrent trackers | Shortify
- Summary: A copyright suit against PassThePopcorn collapsed after the real filmmaker said he had never heard of the guy using his name. A first-of-its-kind copyright…
- Keywords: piracy, copyright, torrents, courts, cloudflare, technology, science, fake, filmmaker, sued, six, torrent
- Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/filmmaker-suing-passthepopcorn-may-be-banned-user-out-for-revenge
- Published: 2026-09-15T20:19:17+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: piracy, copyright, torrents, courts, cloudflare, technology, science
## Six trackers, one lawsuit
A man calling himself independent filmmaker Matthew Schneider sued six private torrent sites, including PassThePopcorn, BroadcasTheNet and HDBits, over films he claimed to have made.
## The real target was anonymity
For months he pushed to make Cloudflare unmask the people running the trackers, turning a copyright claim into a hunt for operator identities.
## The actual filmmaker spoke up
A sworn declaration from the real Matthew Schneider said he had nothing to do with the suit at all.

> I am not involved in, nor have I ever appeared in, this case.
## A very convenient coincidence
The plaintiff's answer was that he is simply a different Matthew Schneider who happened to make three films with the exact same titles as the other man's movies.

> I'm a different Matthew Schneider
## Dismissed, but not off the hook
With sanctions looming, he voluntarily dropped the claims. At least one defendant is seeking sanctions anyway, and the judge had already warned about a frivolous filing meant to deceive the court.
## A banned user with a grudge
Defense lawyer Erin Russell said the email on his filings traces to an account likely banned for selling invites. Sanctions still require knowing his real name, which nobody does.

> bears ill will
## Key takeaway

A first-of-its-kind copyright case against private trackers fell apart because the plaintiff could not prove he was who he said he was, and now he may be sanctioned.