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Megatrouble: FBI Shuts Down Megaupload File Sharing Site, Claiming Piracy
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 19, 2012
Modified Jan 20, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 19, 2012
Modified Jan 20, 2012
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Just a day after anti-piracy bills SOPA/PIPA were protested across the country and on the Internet, the FBI has shut down a popular file-sharing site, Megaupload.com. The NY Times reports, "According to a grand jury indictment, Megaupload — one of the most popular 'locker' services on the Internet, which lets users anonymously transfer large files — generated $175 million in income for its operators through subscription fees and advertising, while causing $500 million in damages to copyright holders."
Wired explains, "Megaupload, which often charges its 150 million registered members for its file-sharing service, was on the recording and movie industries’ most-hated lists, often being accusing of facilitating wanton infringement of their members’ copyrights. The indictment claims it induced users to upload copyrighted works for others to download, and that it often failed to comply with removal notices from rights holders under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. But the site routinely removed uploaded child pornography, according to the indictment."
While the site's CEO is, for some reason (publicity?), music producer and NYU professor Swizz Beatz, the feds only indicted the site's founder, Kim Dotcom, aka Kim Schmitz and Kim Tim Jim Vestor, in New Zealand, along with six others. The site said in a statement posted on the website (before it was taken down), "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." Also, after the feds seized Megaupload, Anonymous claims that it hacked the DOJ site.
Beatz got some of his famous friends—like Kanye West—to promote the site, but apparently Universal Music Group wasn't happy. But the song is so catchy!
MEGA UPLOAD SONG!!!! HTTP://OKFOC.US from OKFocus on Vimeo.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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