Just curious if anyone reading this knows the answer: Would it be illegal to contribute man-hours on e.g. implementing features or fixing bugs on a project like this, or does that only apply to whoever actually hosts the content?
MPA tried to get the source code for Nyaa.si removed from GitHub because the "Repository hosts and offers for download the Project, which, when downloaded, provides the downloader everything necessary to launch and host a “clone” infringing website identical to Nyaa.si (and, thus, engage in massive infringement of copyrighted motion pictures and television shows)".
It was a completely retarded play on MPA's part and they only managed to get the repo down for days until GitHub restored it even without hearing from the repo owners. So really they only brought about some minor nuisance alongside a bunch of headlines to advertise Nyaa.si for the rest of the world.
A good lawyer would probably say something like "it depends".
It's entirely possible for a copyright owner to construe some kind of secondary liability based on your conduct, even if the underlying software is legal. This is how they ultimately got Grokster, for example - even if the software was legal, advertising it's use for copyright infringement makes you liable for the infringement. I could also see someone alledging contributory liability for, say, implementing features of the software that have no non-infringing uses. Even if that turned out to ultimately not be illegal, that would be at the end of a long, expensive, and fruitless legal defense that would drain your finances.
