http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/01/file-sharing-megaupload-shut-down-for-piracy-by-feds.html
The Department of Justice announced Thursday that it has conducted a major action to shut down MegaUpload, a popular file-sharing site widely used for free downloads of movies and television shows.
After receiving indictments from a grand jury in Virginia for racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and other charges on Jan. 5, federal authorities on Thursday arrested four people and executed more than 20 search warrants in the U.S. and eight foreign countries, seizing 18 domain names and an estimated $50 million in assets, including servers run in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
MegaUpload is a "digital locker" that allows users to store files that can then be streamed or downloaded by others. Its subsidiary site MegaVideo became very popular for the unauthorized downloads of movies and TV shows. Users whose uploaded content proved particularly popular were paid for their participation.
In a joint statement, the Justice Department and FBI called the action "among the largest criminal copyright cases ever brought by the United States."
Ira Rothken, an attorney for MegaUpload, said in an interview that he only learned of the actions in a press release this morning and had not yet read the entire indictment. "Our initial impression is that the allegations are without merit and MegaUpload is going to vigorously contest them," he said. "We have deep concerns over due process and assets being taken without the opportunity for a hearing."
According to the indictment, the operators of MegaUpload earned more than $175 million in illegal profits and caused an estimated $500 million in harm to copyright holders.
The site is advertised as having more than 50 million daily visitors, according to federal authorities.
Four of MegaUpload's operators have been arrested in New Zealand, while three more remain at large. Not listed on the indictment is rapper Swiss Beatz -- real name Kasseem Dean -- who, according to a report in the New York Post, is the CEO of MegaUpload. Beatz is married to pop singer Alicia Keys.
Rothken said that Beatz had not been running the site but that recently there had been "a transition period going on."
The seven each face a maximum of 55 years in prison.
The news is sure to be welcome in the entertainment industry, whose leaders have faced a recent setback in their push for the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Property Act. The proposed bills, if passed, would make it easier for U.S. courts to go after piracy sites that, unlike MegaUpload, operate entirely overseas.
Critics who believe the bills are heavy-handed and don't adequately protect civil liberties conducted a U.S. Internet "blackout." As many as 10,000 websites went black Wednesday, among them Wikipedia, Craigslist and Reddit. The protest helped to pressure lawmakers to oppose SOPA and PIPA.
The Obama administration announced its opposition to the bills in their current forms Saturday.
http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/archives/2012/01/19/feds-shut-down-megaupload-anonymous-shuts-down-doj-site
Less than a day after a massive protest against SOPA and PIPA initiatives, the Feds shut down Megaupload, accusing the company of "costing copyright holders more than $500 million in lost revenue" by uploading and downloading music and films on its file-sharing website.
Megaupload went dark (or blank) Thursday afternoon.
Within minutes of the news of Megaupload going dark, Anonymous reportedly hacked and brought down a Department of Justice website, launching another salvo in the global war over copyrights and artistic freedoms.
Seven Megaupload employees, including CEO Kasseem Dean (who also happens to be Alicia Keyes' husband), were indicted on charges ranging from conspiracy to money laundering. Four of the employees were arrested in New Zealand, at the request of U.S. officials.
Before the Megaupload.com was taken down today (the company apparently knew this could happen), owners issued a statement:
"The fact is that the vast majority of Mega's Internet traffic is legitimate, and we are here to stay."
Anonymous, the worldwide activist hackers, wrote on its Twitter account:
"The government takes down Megaupload? 15 minutes later, Anonymous takes down government & record label sites."
A Justice Department spokesman did not confirm whether the agency had suffered a cyber attack, but justice.gov was not loading as of Thursday afternoon.
So, what are your reactions to how all of this is turning out? I came here for some reactions because the forum I saw this on first is actually down because of all the people showing up to view the thread :0
Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if Labor had not first existed. Labor is superior to capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. - Lincoln
Posts
They are like if juggalos learned how to use computers.
Maybe if it wasn't run by a guy named Swizz Beatz.
you got something against my confirmation name buddy
yeah
Steam
I want to see when punks start getting arrested and crying
I want their tears in jars
so I can drink them and get erect
That explains his love for yodelling in the alps
sorry we actually got that wrong on the certificate dude
your real name is swiss bleatz
it is also terrorism
Yeah, there is no way this is going to end well for Anonymous
you throw that word around pretty liberally
Changes the immediate emotional response.
Why I fear the ocean.
It's both!
Well, kinda. I mean, terrorism is kind of a specific thing. Unless the people doing are trying to inspire fear to get their way, it's not technically Terrorism I don't think. Doesn't mean it's not illegal though.
It's all in the numbers.
Number 1? That's terror.
Why I fear the ocean.
The instant I read that they were targeting Whitehouse.gov, that was the moment I knew shit was going to go down
Steam
god damn it
did they just get frustrated or bored with that or something
I still don't know what this meme is
I dunno, church of scientology are some scary dudes. Makin people disappear. Breaking into the federal government and destroying evidence them look bad.
They're robots.
wow
just.... wow
xkcd is good for something and it is PSAs such as these,
so, basically that one right there and the one about passwords
Terrorism usually includes killing or harming people. Activism does usually not.
I mean, it was probably planned way ahead of time to occur, I just find it kinda humorous
Steam
I'll get the link.
Deus Ex: The Recut.
The rare "wacky" edit that is actually funny.
Why I fear the ocean.
I guess terrorism is a legitimate tool of activism.
What spring does with the cherry trees.
And while Megaupload is suing universal for their removing of the ad/song thing from youtube that Megaupload paid for and in no way infringing on any of universal's copyrights. It may in no way actually be related to that, but people are bound to draw a connection there.
Ghost in the Shell LIED TO ME!
want Dropbox? use my referral! | steam
Number one: that's terror
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxi7JRJrod4