I've been looking into the whole MegaUpload thing, just out of curiosity really and I've come across some strange coincidence with the whole thing...
The US government says that Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom masterminded a vast file sharing conspiracy that swindled the entertainment industry out of millions by letting users illegally download movies and songs.
By putting Dotcom behind bars, the feds didn?t just end Megaupload though, once one of the most visited sites on the Web. By ending the operation, authorities have also pulled the plug on an endeavor that was scheduled to launch later this year that could have legitimately disrupted Hollywood by letting users download songs ? and rewarding the artists with compensation unheard of in the industry.
It was called Megabox. Basically, what it was going to do was allow users to legally download songs, some for free, while still allowing the artists to collect compensation. It was going to be a partnership between Megaupload execs and others in the online industry, including Amazon, to allow users to legally download songs, some for free, while still allowing the artists to collect compensation. It was going to be a partnership between Megaupload execs and others in the online industry, including Amazon... but it was also going to be a big thorn on the side of record labels.
In short, artists would only have to pay studios for recording, then they could upload their songs to Megabox and they would get about 90 percent of the profits from the sales. They would even get money if the gave away their songs for free. It essentially cuts the record labels completely out of the process.
Did Kim Dotcom break the law by operating Megaupload? Maybe yes and maybe no. But when those laws are made and enforced by people in the pockets of Hollywood, you can imagine that Washington isn?t exactly interested in hearing what Megaupload has to say in their defense. Even less likely, however, would be letting Dotcom finally put some money in the pockets of musicians.
The US government says that Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom masterminded a vast file sharing conspiracy that swindled the entertainment industry out of millions by letting users illegally download movies and songs.
By putting Dotcom behind bars, the feds didn?t just end Megaupload though, once one of the most visited sites on the Web. By ending the operation, authorities have also pulled the plug on an endeavor that was scheduled to launch later this year that could have legitimately disrupted Hollywood by letting users download songs ? and rewarding the artists with compensation unheard of in the industry.
It was called Megabox. Basically, what it was going to do was allow users to legally download songs, some for free, while still allowing the artists to collect compensation. It was going to be a partnership between Megaupload execs and others in the online industry, including Amazon, to allow users to legally download songs, some for free, while still allowing the artists to collect compensation. It was going to be a partnership between Megaupload execs and others in the online industry, including Amazon... but it was also going to be a big thorn on the side of record labels.
In short, artists would only have to pay studios for recording, then they could upload their songs to Megabox and they would get about 90 percent of the profits from the sales. They would even get money if the gave away their songs for free. It essentially cuts the record labels completely out of the process.
Did Kim Dotcom break the law by operating Megaupload? Maybe yes and maybe no. But when those laws are made and enforced by people in the pockets of Hollywood, you can imagine that Washington isn?t exactly interested in hearing what Megaupload has to say in their defense. Even less likely, however, would be letting Dotcom finally put some money in the pockets of musicians.
