Arnold Buzdygan

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Arnold Buzdygan during Wikimedia Polska Meeting, April 2006

Arnold Buzdygan was born September 9, 1968. He is a Polish entrepreneur, computer graphics designer, and a well-known, controversial figure of the Polish Usenet. In the years 1997-2003 he was the CEO of ASTEC SA in Wrocław, a small ISP. Currently he's the CEO of Elita.pl, a 3D production house.

In 2002, he founded STI, an Internet-based authors' association that requested tantiems on various copyrighted materials, including Usenet posts, to be paid to the association by various Polish ISPs ^[1]. In 2005, Buzdygan tried to start in the presidential elections, but failed to meet the registration requirements.

He was arrested in August 2006, on the accusation of money laundering and connections with organised crime^[2].

[edit] Controversies

Arnold Buzdygan is a well-known and highly active personae of the Polish Internet. He vehemently takes part in the Usenet discussions on numerous topics, including but not limited to sexuology, psychology, and politics. He is recognized for his controversial and inflammatory style, eventually becoming somewhat of a local phenomenon (see Internet troll) ^[3].

Buzdygan was repeatedly reported to threaten his online opponents with litigation and bodily assaults^[3]. He denied many of these allegations, claiming that he was a victim of bullying and forgery^[4].