Author Topic: Megaupload.com has been shut down this is the start (Read 23855 times)

whitetop · « **on:** January 19, 2012, 01:42:41 PM »

WASHINGTON—The Federal Bureau of Investigation shut down Thursday one of the world's most popular file-sharing websites, MegaUpload.com, and announced the arrest of four of the people behind it in a global crackdown against the suspected online pirates.

The move pushed the raging piracy debate to new territory: the role of online 'lockers' where users around the world store and share material, often times pirated movies and music. The raid came a day after Washington lawmakers were besieged by complaints about legislation designed to crack down on offshore file-sharing services. Internet sites like Wikipedia and Google Inc. protested the legislation as censorship.

MegaUpload, which is based in Hong Kong and was knocked offline Thursday, claimed it had 50 million daily users. The site lets individuals upload files—anything from a document to a digital movie—and provide Internet links that other individuals can use to download a copy. It charges for memberships that give users faster and unlimited amounts of transfers.

Lawyers for MegaUpload couldn't immediately be reached.

Seven people have been charged with online piracy crimes in an indictment unsealed in northern Virginia. Four of those suspects are already in custody, authorities said. The MegaUpload.com website, which was available earlier Thursday, appeared to no longer be online later in the day.

The four were arrested in New Zealand. Federal agents and other law enforcement agencies simultaneously moved to search bank records and server farms in multiple locations around the globe, authorities said. The charges include conspiracy to commit racketeering and criminal copyright infringement.

MegaUpload.com is already engaged in a legal fight with Vivendi SA's Universal Music Group over a promotional video featuring some UMG artists, including Kayne West, Mary J. Blige, Kim Kardashian and others.

The site's chief executive has been reported to be music producer Swizz Beatz, whose real name is Kaseem Dean and who is the spouse of Alicia Keys. Mr. Dean wasn't named in the indictment. A spokeswoman for Everest Entertainment, which is distributing an upcoming album by Swizz Beatz, had no immediate comment.

On a "frequently asked questions'' section of the website, MegaUpload acknowledges that some have criticized its practices, but insists it is an above-board business. "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,'' the website reads in part.

The Justice Department paints a different picture.

According to the indictment, MegaUpload is responsible for at least $500 million in losses for the owners of the copyrights in question. The indictment calls the company "a worldwide criminal organization whose members engaged in criminal copyright infringement and money laundering on a massive scale.''

Investigators estimate that MegaUpload's piracy business has earned them more than $175 million, according to the indictment.

thx to snowcolt17 as i would have not known due to not caring on news.

snowcolt17 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2012, 01:52:17 PM »

thanks for the front page. thought people should know

Cookie Monster · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2012, 02:08:37 PM »

god dammit, i don't know where people stand on this but its a sad day for me

rafaliyo86 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2012, 02:09:02 PM »

OMFG!!

Frosty · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2012, 02:17:44 PM »

I hope everybody knows what this is going to lead to and is for sure going to end bad.I do believe hackers are going to get revenge.This was a bad mistake.And is just what the hackers were waiting for.Be prepared for the biggest hacking war on the world.

Rodent · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2012, 02:30:01 PM »

Yea i am sure file share and Rapid share and any other share site or music download site that you dont pay for is going to pay dearly and have shut down alot of other sites also to come

GhoSt · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2012, 03:00:16 PM »

Here we go, this is going to be world war three. Since when does America run the internet anyway?

Modded Matt · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2012, 03:15:04 PM »

Quote from: GhoSt on January 19, 2012, 03:00:16 PM

Here we go, this is going to be world war three. Since when does America run the internet anyway?

internet? you haven't realized the us gov thinks they run the world

GhoSt · « **Reply #8 on:** January 19, 2012, 03:18:29 PM »

Meh America is lost, lets just cut them off from the rest of the world now, quarantine that messed up democracy of yours.

robin1989 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2012, 03:45:33 PM »

lol at least there shouldn't be anymore shutdowns for the next 12+ months. as the DOJ will be using this case to test the waters and try to create precedence in law which they can then use to go after the other fileshareing websites. only problem is at the minute there is at least some self policing on the internet on what content is put up on these sites unfortunately moves like this will force people underground eventually to areas of the internet where they can be totally anonymous and free to put what they want where they want.

Rythion · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2012, 04:00:51 PM »

I don't know what to say.... I'm scared.

RyanF · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2012, 04:19:16 PM »

somebody should design and create a new internet, one that the gov. can't touch without concequence. I don't mean rewriting the servers for the web, I mean replacing them completely with near hack-proof designs that can't regulate websites, just pass the data through without filtering. I see that as one of the only ways to get rid of the gov's control over the web.

robin1989 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2012, 04:57:28 PM »

And So it Begins - http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/19/2719527/anonymous-claims-doj-and-record-label-site-takedowns-in-response-to

i can see this arrest and seizure blowing up in the doj faces

Frosty · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2012, 05:17:03 PM »

us gov is a bunch of dumbasses i hope they get what is coming. The hole damn country is crap.
They should just leave the internet alone.There are to many people that are capable of destroying this country viva internet/computers.This is one war the gov will not win.
I feel like "die hard 4"is going to become a reallity but a little differently played out

robin1989 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2012, 05:43:05 PM »

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

lol more sites are being added to the kill list it seems. there on there knees and struggling to get back up

Luke · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2012, 05:54:01 PM »

Quote from: Mactastic Mendez on January 19, 2012, 05:43:05 PM

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

lol more sites are being added to the kill list it seems. there on there knees and struggling to get back up

i lol'd

Modded Matt · « **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2012, 06:26:40 PM »

http://pastebin.com/WEydcBVV

Sammy · « **Reply #17 on:** January 19, 2012, 06:44:20 PM »

Let the games begin!!! Lol

COREGAMER · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2012, 07:01:34 PM »

Bad move FBI.The world is now gonna be

Megaupload was one of my fav sites so Go Hackers!!

Monk3y · « **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2012, 07:15:53 PM »

World War 3 will be fought with lines of code and intelligent individuals behind smokey screens.

Bonz · « **Reply #20 on:** January 19, 2012, 07:32:29 PM »

this is going to change the internet... for the better i think... remember back in the day when only the geeks and nerds were online? think back before napster how did you get your media online? simple IRC/FTP and Usenet. this is just going to push the Smart underground and the Dumb and gonna go legit and the net is going to suck again

VIVA LA MIRC

l0rdnic0 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 19, 2012, 10:45:40 PM »

Can you say private FTP and BBS sites.?!?!.

Bonz · « **Reply #22 on:** January 20, 2012, 06:06:01 AM »

Quote from: l0rdnic0 on January 19, 2012, 10:45:40 PM

Can you say private FTP and BBS sites.?!?!.

can you say i miss the good old days.... before Napster screwed it all up

whitetop · « **Reply #23 on:** January 20, 2012, 06:19:00 AM »

most download sites are closing there doors and moving servers while we speak a few of the private irc i got to have

down and only trusted people are in there.

since the web became almost free due to stupid pack deals ect all we have had are stupid people and kids :censored:ing it up for every one now its going to a big mess than a thing called internet soon as nothing good would even be around

snowcolt17 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 20, 2012, 06:24:45 AM »

im still on a few public sites. probably not too much longer until they shut down.. i know one of them the server is in tthe nietherlands i believe moved a few months back

Nevbox · « **Reply #25 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:34:43 AM »

Oh FFS I had a premium account!! and now all my AM images are gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! USA YOU DONT CONTROL THE *** WORLD!!!!!!

whitetop · « **Reply #26 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:40:25 AM »

im glad i only had a few files on there but backups on filesonic so good thing they did not take them all down.

but what will happen to the peoples files that are from business stuff this is going course problems as not every file on megaupload was illegal

whitetop · « **Reply #27 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:52:48 AM »

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/us-net-piracy-bill-vote-postponed-151547543.html

Modded Matt · « **Reply #28 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:54:31 AM »

ok, so yes I am American, and no I dont support these bills or alot of the us actions. However these statements " USA YOU DONT CONTROL THE *** WORLD!!!!!!" make me laugh so hard.....is it not obvious they can do what ever they like.

1TONpete · « **Reply #29 on:** January 20, 2012, 10:01:54 AM »

Quote from: Modded Matt on January 20, 2012, 09:54:31 AM

ok, so yes I am American, and no I dont support these bills or alot of the us actions. However these statements " USA YOU DONT CONTROL THE *** WORLD!!!!!!" make me laugh so hard.....is it not obvious they can do what ever they like.

They are certainly trying. I wont get into the whole who controls the world thing again, but they certainly do not need them to be putting their claws into the internet. I think if they do they will be sorry.

News:

Author Topic: Megaupload.com has been shut down this is the start (Read 23855 times)