Silk Road forums

Discussion => Legal => Topic started by: bluedev1 on August 07, 2013, 10:24 am

Title: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: bluedev1 on August 07, 2013, 10:24 am
in the USA... let's say I wanted to sell books or something completely legal.

is there anything illegal about doing business here?  please only answer if you're absolutely certain with some sort of credibility to attest to it.  thanx.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: klemmo on August 07, 2013, 10:35 am
Why would that be illegal if you declared your income for tax etc?

But I wouldn't put it past the US DoJ to charge you under RICO or something. Maybe a nebulous conspiracy charge.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: cirrus on August 07, 2013, 01:33 pm
Hmmm, I don't see how that could be illegal especially if you aren't supporting any criminal activity.  There was once a vendor early on selling cookies on the market... regular chocolate chip cookies... no special ingredients.  In that case it would be like arresting Mrs Fields for selling her cookies in a vending machine filled with crack.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: talawtam on August 07, 2013, 03:07 pm
as long as you declare your income i cant see how this would be considered illegal.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: StExo on August 07, 2013, 03:43 pm
Unfortunately selling anything on SilkRoad which will pay commission to DPR is illegal, this applies in almost every country in the world since you are knowingly supporting a criminal organisation by paying it commission, further it is a civil offence for copyright infringement if you do not own the works and it's an e-book. There was a long discussion on this a while ago and this is the conclusion everyone reached.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: MoneyPakJack on August 07, 2013, 07:07 pm
What if your listins have no cost? So Sr makes no commision.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: paxpax on August 07, 2013, 07:13 pm
Unfortunately selling anything on SilkRoad which will pay commission to DPR is illegal, this applies in almost every country in the world since you are knowingly supporting a criminal organization by paying it commission, further it is a civil offence for copyright infringement if you do not own the works and it's an e-book. There was a long discussion on this a while ago and this is the conclusion everyone reached.

+1
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: Transcend Reality on August 07, 2013, 07:36 pm
What if your listins have no cost? So Sr makes no commision.

That defeats the purpose of the original question ;P

It's almost impossible to trace a free tx.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: No Surprises on August 07, 2013, 08:09 pm
What if your listins have no cost? So Sr makes no commision.

The initial fee to become a seller ;)
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: QuickSilverHawk on August 07, 2013, 11:02 pm
What if your listins have no cost? So Sr makes no commision.

The initial fee to become a seller ;)

Aha. ;)

Good thread, very interesting.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: k1llin on August 09, 2013, 12:59 am
what if you accept donations and not payments? can you be non profit organazation on silkroad? :P
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: Stonedstupor on August 13, 2013, 08:10 am
i heard somewhere that we are all technically illegal no matter what because we are an illegal drug organization. If your a member of the community, your breaking some law, if i understand it correctly.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: Boobonicchronic on August 13, 2013, 01:04 pm
Unfortunately selling anything on SilkRoad which will pay commission to DPR is illegal, this applies in almost every country in the world since you are knowingly supporting a criminal organization by paying it commission, further it is a civil offence for copyright infringement if you do not own the works and it's an e-book. There was a long discussion on this a while ago and this is the conclusion everyone reached.

+1

See above +2
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: sclerogal on August 14, 2013, 04:42 am
I don't think that's correct.  There is nothing illegal about installing, browsing, and discussing SR.  Once you make an illegal purchase, now its illegal. There several new commentators with screen shots of SR on the clear net forums, they had to get them somehow?  One went as far as buying bitcoins, and wanting to buy a book (I don't know if book was legal or not), no longer in print?, but the book was sold before the news commentators could buy it.  So, she searched the net to see what see could buy for her $30 in bitcoins and found some restaurant in Mexico that took bitcoins (I thinks it was Mexico).  But that's a true story, you may find the video on you-tube.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: Stonedstupor on August 14, 2013, 05:27 am
well im sure if the law were real it would constitute being an "active" member of the community, which she would not be considered.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: Railgun on August 14, 2013, 06:48 am
well im sure if the law were real it would constitute being an "active" member of the community, which she would not be considered.

Either way, the second the legal vendor was paid, they have both paid DPR (a criminal) and funded other illicit transactions. SR tumbles the coins, so the coins that one receives may be in part from an illicit transaction.

Try ebay tbh. This place just isn't meant for the faint of heart.  I'd even wager that they'd take this person down just to show that "they got a SR user." 

You can even accept bitcoin for a transaction, using another intermediary like SR.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: QuickSilverHawk on August 15, 2013, 02:58 am
Legality aside (er, or not), if you think about it, it'd be fucked up for LE to go after a vendor who sells syringes or testing kits. That's like going after well-intentioned/unauthorized needle exchange programs.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: TreadLight on August 18, 2013, 04:35 am
Unfortunately selling anything on SilkRoad which will pay commission to DPR is illegal, this applies in almost every country in the world since you are knowingly supporting a criminal organisation by paying it commission,

In the US there are no laws, in any states I know of, against paying a criminal for a legitimate service. If your local bartender sells MJ to anyone who asks there is no law against ordering a beer from him, if you are 21. If a local strip club is used to launder money there is no law against visiting it, tipping the girls, and ordering your drinks.

Maybe in theory some sort of case could be made, but I don't think there is any kind of precedent to support it. As long as what you are selling is legal, you have the right to sell it, and you pay your taxes on it.

I could certainly be wrong as I am no expert.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: SuckDick4Weed on August 18, 2013, 11:47 am
Australian Law

Crimes Act - Part 3A - Division 5 - Criminal Groups

    S. 93GA(1B) - A person must not fire a firearm at a dwelling-house or other building with reckless disregard for the safety of any person in the course of an organised criminal activity. Maximum penalty - 16 years imprisonment.
    S.93T(1) - A person must not participate in a criminal group.. A person participates in a criminal group if that person knows or ought reasonably to know that the group is a criminal group, and knows, or ought reasonably to know, that his or her participation in that group contributes to the occurrence of any criminal activity. Maximum penalty - 5 years imprisonment.
    S. 93T(1A) - A person must not participate in a criminal group by directing any of the group's activities. The person must know the group is a criminal group, and know or be reckless as to whether his/her participation contributes to the occurrence of any criminal activity. Maximum penalty - 10 years imprisonment.
    S. 93T(4A) - A person must not participate in a criminal group whose activities are organised and on-going by directing any of the group's activities if that person knows the group is a criminal group, and knows, or is reckless as to whether, that participation contributes to the occurrence of any criminal activity. Maximum penalty - 15 years imprisonment.
    S. 93TA(1) - A person must not receive from a criminal group a material benefit derived from the group's criminal activities. The person must know the group is a criminal group, and know, or be reckless as to whether, the material benefit is derived from the group's criminal activities. Maximum penalty - 5 years imprisonment.
    S. 93TA(2) "Derived" means "derived or realised, or substantially derived or realised, directly or indirectly" from the criminal activities of a group.


"contributes to the occurrence of any criminal activity"  - selling cookies probably doesn't count

"material benefit derived from the group's criminal activities" - don't know how that could be proved. Would have to be a vendor using the money they make to buy the cookies you're selling.
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: CrazyBart on August 18, 2013, 08:17 pm
Is it illegal? Yes

Will any agency come after you? probably not
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: rynoragin on August 19, 2013, 01:20 am
There are many good answers here. I think it would be safe to assume the worst. Good luck friend!

Ryno
Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: Rocknessie on August 19, 2013, 02:30 pm
Unfortunately selling anything on SilkRoad which will pay commission to DPR is illegal, this applies in almost every country in the world since you are knowingly supporting a criminal organisation by paying it commission, further it is a civil offence for copyright infringement if you do not own the works and it's an e-book. There was a long discussion on this a while ago and this is the conclusion everyone reached.

EXCEPT... dpr could be in a country or state where selling drugs is not illegal. Perhaps he's based in SeaLand?

Title: Re: Is it illegal to vend on Silk Road if you're selling legal stuff?
Post by: galileosophia on August 26, 2013, 06:14 am
There are many good answers here. I think it would be safe to assume the worst. Good luck friend!

Ryno

Completely concur with this sentiment.  While you might be able to get away on a technicality--depending on where you live, of course--it's best not to test your reasoning skills against the force of the law.  Unless you're prepared to spend hefty legal fees, it's best not to make public your association with the SR.  However, it'd be trivial to sell legal things here and never report anything about it without much risk of getting caught.