A Leading File-Sharing Site Gets Shut Down, Staff are Indicted.

[Ryo Hazuki]

A Leading File-Sharing Site Gets Shut Down, Staff are Indicted. (Others WILL follow if SOPA, PIPA pass)

Swizz Beatz, CEO of megaupload, and others involved are accused of copyright infringement.

The Associated Press reports



McLEAN, Va. — One of the world’s largest file-sharing sites was shut down Thursday, and its founder and several company executives were charged with violating piracy laws, federal prosecutors said.

An indictment accuses Megaupload.com of costing copyright holders more than $500 million in lost revenue from pirated films and other content. The indictment was unsealed one day after websites including Wikipedia and Craigslist shut down in protest of two congressional proposals intended to thwart online piracy.

The Justice Department said in a statement said that Kim Dotcom, formerly known as Kim Schmitz, and three others were arrested Thursday in New Zealand at the request of U.S. officials. Two other defendants are at large.

Megaupload was unique not only because of its massive size and the volume of downloaded content, but also because it had high-profile support from celebrities, musicians and other content producers who are most often the victims of copyright infringement and piracy. Before the website was taken down, it contained endorsements from Kim Kardashian, Alicia Keys and Kanye West, among others.

The Hong Kong-based company listed Swizz Beatz, a musician who married Keys in 2010, as its CEO.

Before the site was taken down, it posted a statement saying allegations that it facilitated massive breaches of copyright laws were “grotesquely overblown.”

“The fact is that the vast majority of Mega’s Internet traffic is legitimate, and we are here to stay. If the content industry would like to take advantage of our popularity, we are happy to enter into a dialogue. We have some good ideas. Please get in touch,” the statement said.

A lawyer who represented the company in a lawsuit last year declined comment Thursday.

Megaupload is considered a “cyberlocker,” in which users can upload and transfer files that are too large to send by email. Such sites can have perfectly legitimate uses. But the Motion Picture Association of America, which has campaigned for a crackdown on piracy, estimated that the vast majority of content being shared on Megaupload was in violation of copyright laws.

The website allowed users to download films, TV shows, games, music and other content for free, but made money by charging subscriptions to people who wanted access to faster download speeds or extra content. The website also sold advertising.

The indictment was returned in the Eastern District of Virginia, which claimed jurisdiction in part because some of the alleged pirated materials were hosted on leased servers in Ashburn, Va.

Dotcom, a resident of both Hong Kong and New Zealand, and a dual citizen of Finland and Germany, made more than $42 million from the conspiracy in 2010 alone, according to the indictment.

Dotcom is founder, former CEO and current chief innovation officer of Megaupload.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/apnewsbreak-workers-indicted-at-one-of-worlds-largest-file-sharing-sites-megauploadcom/2012/01/19/gIQAJPIRBQ_story.html?tid=sm_btn_tw

So, it appears the war on the internet is in full swing. For those who use Megaupload for legitimate purposes are now screwed. I can just imagine what other sites, even completely innocent ones would go through if a certain two bills pass. LPA could become just another victim of copyright abuse. News articles would be just general statements, posting lyrics could land one in jail. This is all just a mess.

Those are my thoughts, what are your thoughts on this issue?

(also, this post could be illegal too!)

[Arun1910]

This is all a bunch of crap! Its not like Megaupload promote illegal sharing but its gonna happen either way. What are they gonna do next? Stop file sharing on facebook or msn? If this is the first file share site for this to happen to, then god knows what will happen to others like mediafire or filesonic!

[Super Sonic]

How long ago did this happen??

[Arun1910]

Earlier today!

[El Muerto]

Swizz Beatz.. I had to go and check if that was the guy's real name or what :lol:

[Hybrid]

People need to leave the internet alone. I think people in power are afraid of the internet and are looking to find a way to show that they can piss farther.

[Mark]

Anonymous has sure been quiet lately, but today's federal bust of Megaupload (http://gizmodo.com/5877612/feds-kill-megaupload) riled 'em up good: a retaliatory strike against DoJ.gov has left it completely dead.
DownForEveryoneOrJustMe.com is reporting the department's site as universally nuked, and an Anonymous-affiliated Twitter account is boasting (https://twitter.com/anondaily/status/160120306265100289) success. This is almost certainly the result of a quickly-assembled DDoS attack (http://gizmodo.com/5709630/what-is-loic)—and easily the widest in scope we've seen in some time. If you had any doubts Anonymous is still a hacker wrecking ball, doubt no more.
Update: Anonymous says they've also knocked off the RIAA's site—looks down for us at the moment as well.
Update 2: Universal Music Group has also fallen off an e-cliff.
Update 3: Goodbye for now, MPAA.org.
Update 4: Affected sites are bouncing in and out of life, and are at the very least super slow to load. Anon agents are currently trying to coordinate their DDoS attacks in the same direction via IRC.

http://gizmodo.com/5877679/anonymous-kills-department-of-justice-site-in-megaupload-revenge-strike

[Ryo Hazuki]

e-causalities (I spoke of these in the shoutbox but thanks Mark for posting the link!)

MPAA.org, RIAA.org DOJ.org, UMG, and the The US Copyright Office, so who/what next?

[Dusty]

Well, the shit has hit the fan.

[Ryo Hazuki]

HADOPI, and BMI, down for the count.

[Jordan]

Crazy that Swizz Beatz is the CEO of megaupload. I'll actually cry if Mediafire goes down.

[Snail]

War on ze internetz.

[sotrix]

I had nearly 60GB uploaded on my MU account. So there goes that ...

[Arun1910]

I had like a week left of premium! This sucks so bad but at least Anon are doing something good again!

You guys should read this too, its a statement from anon. It also has the address of what I believe to be someone in government? I didnt read it all cause I got bored but: *removed*

[Snail]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tD1yaE0GfQ&feature=share

^ This. Is. Fucked. Up.

[Arun1910]

That better not be true.

[travz21]

It is, unfortunately. Lots of ins and outs to being this corrupt. Take the next week to do some major research and you'll be sick.

[Todd]

I believe some random guy on YouTube.

[Blackee Dammet]

I had like a week left of premium! This sucks so bad but at least Anon are doing something good again!

You guys should read this too, its a statement from anon. It also has the address of what I believe to be someone in government? I didnt read it all cause I got bored but: *removed*


Hahahahahahaha.

[Mark]

I believe some random guy on YouTube.

The guy doesn't even know the name of the site! "Megauploads". *facepalm*

[Todd]

Hahahahahahaha.

Not hahahahaha, we're not using this site to let anyone participate in Anon's DDoS attacks. Even if they are warranted, they're not legal and we're not putting our site or members in legal jeopardy.

[19nacho19]

so if they closed megaupload for sharing all kind of piracy, what will they do with all the youtube's videos with songs or movies or whatever with copyrights? they will delete youtube or they just hate megaupload ?
and if that happens...
do you guys have AK-47's? if not call me ;)

[Ryo Hazuki]

http://torrentfreak.com/uploaded-to-blocks-us-visitors-120121/

A major file-sharing service blocks U.S in response to the FBI shut down of MegaUpload.

[Blackee Dammet]

Not hahahahaha, we're not using this site to let anyone participate in Anon's DDoS attacks. Even if they are warranted, they're not legal and we're not putting our site or members in legal jeopardy.

No, it's funny because not only does he think they are a legitimate and dangerous group of internet vigilantes, but that they'll do anything of substance.

Also I like how everyone's first instinct is "INTERNET REVOLUTIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOn!!!11!!!1!!1!" in response to all of this, and not the dozens of alternate methods of restarting downed sites, alternately accessing blocked ones, etc. Why if I didn't know any better, i'd wager many of these hardcore net warriors... haven't a fucking clue about how to work the internet.

[Dr. Octogonapus]

Apparently the Megaupload raid has all the other "cyberlocker" sites running scared now, the majority of them are deleting massive numbers of files, banning users left and right, disabling features, blocking IP addresses, or even closing up completely:

http://vr-zone.com/articles/megaupload-arrests-prompt-mass-file-sharing-host-closures/14608.html
http://www.examiner.com/video-game-in-honolulu/file-sharing-sites-without-the-sharing-megaupload-alternatives-might-not-be

Ugh. My 4shared account is full of hundreds of legitimate files that I've undergone YEARS of hard work in creating, but since I'm a guitar tab author, many of my files have titles that are identical to the names of copyrighted songs. I swear, if I end up getting screwed over in all the fallout from this, I may just pack up all my music shit and take it to the pawn shop, then use whatever money I have to buy a one-way plane ticket to DC.

[Ryo Hazuki]

Apparently the Megaupload raid has all the other "cyberlocker" sites running scared now, the majority of them are deleting massive numbers of files, banning users left and right, disabling features, blocking IP addresses, or even closing up completely:

http://vr-zone.com/articles/megaupload-arrests-prompt-mass-file-sharing-host-closures/14608.html
http://www.examiner.com/video-game-in-honolulu/file-sharing-sites-without-the-sharing-megaupload-alternatives-might-not-be

Ugh. My 4shared account is full of hundreds of legitimate files that I've undergone YEARS of hard work in creating, but since I'm a guitar tab author, many of my files have titles that are identical to the names of copyrighted songs. I swear, if I end up getting screwed over in all the fallout from this, I may just pack up all my music shit and take it to the pawn shop, then use whatever money I have to buy a one-way plane ticket to DC.

More info on that Here (http://torrentfreak.com/cyberlocker-ecosystem-shocked-as-big-players-take-drastic-action-120123/) and this is from Here (http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/osq2r/fileserve_pulls_a_filesonic_only_allows_you_to/)


Megaupload – Closed

Fileserve – Stopped filesharing. You can only download your own files. Deleting multiple files. Banning Premium accounts. Closed Affiliate Program.

Filesonic – Stopped filesharing. You can only download your own files. Closed Affiliate Program. Changed server location Jan 22, 2012. Taken down it's Facebook page Now using Digital fingerprinting. Files are being deleted as soon as uploaded (as Hotfile did).

VideoBB – Closed Affiliate Program.

Filepost – Started suspending accounts with infringing material (as Hotfile did)

Uploaded.t... – Blocked U.S. access.

Videozer – Closed Affiliate Program.

Filejungle – Owned by Fileserve (same as above). Testing USA IP addresses blocking.

Uploadstation – Owned by Fileserve (same as above). Testing USA IP addresses blocking.

4Shared – Deleting multiple files

EnterUpload - Down (Redirect)

And finally and most relevant to the original post- Top Lawyer Abandons MegaUpload Under Pressure. (http://torrentfreak.com/megauploads-top-lawyer-outside-pressure-120123/)



A few days after top lawyer Robert Bennett announced he would defend MegaUpload vigorously in their upcoming trial, he has been forced to withdraw from the case. A source says that this drastic decision was made because the case conflicts with the interests of another client of Bennett’s law firm Hogan Lovells. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude that the pressure most likely came from the entertainment industry.

Links (c) 2011-2012 Torrentfreak.com

[Derek The Infamous]

Ladies and gentleman, the MPAA/RIAA have succeeded in taking away our rights. Welcome to Orwell's 1984.

[Timothy]

THE TERRORISTS HAVE WON!

[Blackee Dammet]

I wouldn't sweat it. it's obnoxious, but in the end all this is doing is pushing these same networks further underground and making them that much harder to hit again. It's not like people are just going to magically stop pirating shit, and if China's government is as complicit in bootlegging/piracy as many people suggest, it's really a matter of finding that and getting a stable enough proxy to access it.

[travz21]

Why was MegaUpload really shut down?

https://plus.google.com/111314089359991626869/posts/HQJxDRiwAWq

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2011/111221airvinyl

Read that then look at who's supporting SOPA, then do the math.

[Ryo Hazuki]

It's no secret that the entertainment industry is afraid of evolving via change/reform and will do anything in their power to stop it. That includes bribing politicians and giving them ultimatums.

And it's no secret that some politicians are corrupt and allow lobbyist of the entertainment industry to bribe them in exchange for money/votes and want it to remain that way because between those two groups, both win.

And it's ALSO no secret that it's all futile, as the entertainment industry will someday realize (but never admit) that some piracy = free advertisement = more sells and that it has not ever been proven to hurt sales, and has been repeatedly proven to positively affect profits and outcome.

And that just because they come up with draconian measures to prevent the made up "danger to their jobs" and the "loss of money" it doesn't meant that consumers are going to actually pay for what they've been downloading unless it is either A. cheaper, B. easier to consume and C. is a quality product. and finally, D. All of the above.

They are painting themselves into a corner, and with their greed they're taking revenue from the artists/producers/fans that have gotten them to where they are at, along with taking our first amendment rights with them.

[Blackee Dammet]

God bless their stubborn, change fearing hearts.

[Blackee Dammet]

God bless their stubborn, change fearing hearts.

Although this did make me laugh;

Gabriele Catalano - aehhhm a similar thing already exists... that's called SPOTIFY. it's perfectly legal and it lets you stream music in GOOD QUALITY, which is something we couldn't say about megavideo...

To be fair, the more you read into it, the shadier MegaUpload sounds. Not to say there isn't a corporate stranglehold on Congresses collective sack, I just wish people would get a less black and white, "corporations V us!" perspective on this kind of shit.

[travz21]

It's more like corporations + government versus us. They work together to make money off of us.

[Blackee Dammet]

Ok, but MegaUpload blatantly profited from illegal activity too. They profited very well, but why are those cheating criminals our friends?

[+ / –]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about this shit at all. Why?

The last time the industry brought down a major file-sharing service, the interwebs responded in kind by creating a faster, more convenient, more secure service. The leap from Napster to KaZaA was ridiculous. The jump from 'traditional' P2P software to bittorrent was huge. Imagine the phoenix that rises from the ashes of Megaupload and rest easy, for the days of pirating are far from over.

[F-ck Casey]

Megaupload was pretty awesome, though. But I agree with Minus (wtf), another website will just pop up and be ten times better.

The real question that I need answering is, DID THE PORN VERSION OF MEGAUPLOAD GET SHUT DOWN?!?!?!

[travz21]

Surprise, surprise. Worldwide internet censorship, people. There is nothing government won't try to control.

http://rt.com/news/acta-poland-internet-government-745/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement


Edit: Here's a tweet and pic from the great Rob Sheridan


Hey @MPAA, you kill movie piracy with innovation, not legislation.

http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/robsheridan/16802205570/1/tumblr_lyn9j7H6DI1qa0uc2