That wouldn't work because ThinkPenguin does not run an exit node. However we
have no problem doing so and our reputation would only be enhanced by a
competitor taking such actions. It would bring out the fact we are supporting
the Tor project. Something that almost nobody knows right now. They would
unintentionally be drawing good PR to ThinkPenguin.
ThinkPenguin does not currently run an exit node though (we have in the
past). ThinkPenguin runs a relay. There is a big difference here in that
nothing will ever be tied back to ThinkPenguin. It'll get tied to the exit
node and the exit node operator will have to deal with (respond to take down
notices for copyright, etc). There is no liability for exit node operators in
most countries. There is only minimal risk and beyond a small handful of
places being raided there have has never been significant harm to a exit node
operator.
That said ThinkPenguin has run an exit node and the only reason we stopped
was because of the take down requests. The ISP which connects a server that
we ran the exit node from didn't like the continued stream of take-down
requests and told us to 'fix it' so that they didn't have to pass on the
notices. We could have reduced or eliminated the notices by taking certain
actions. However it was easier to just turn the node back into a relay than
continue. While privacy and such is at the foundation of the company it is
not the primary purpose of the company. The goal is to support free software
users by providing easy access to free software compatible hardware and
promote/support such hardware. I nobody has designed or released chipsets for
a particular type of hardware, etc we go and work on fixing that.
Here is a listing of the services our server offers the Tor network:
http://torstatus.blutmagie.de/router_detail.php?FP=079af6c8558c5eea6b81b3da4f23498178a73adc
Notice it says it is NOT an exit node.
