[UPDATE] Feds Take Down Megaupload

[IamLEAM1983]

Or maybe this just the pro-SOPA side of the argument going "See? SEE?! THIS IS WHY YOU NEED US! WE ARE YOUR SAVIORS!"

Or other such drivel. That's suspiciously good timing, considering how SOPA's House support is in the ropes. I could see a couple representatives being scared into upholding SOPA and PIPA again, thanks to this.

As for Swizz Beats... This is just too good. The overall issue is still scary as all fuck - but still. Worst business decision ever. I'm sure there's plenty of people who used Megaupload legally, but the examples I found weren't exactly legion.

 

[teqrevisited]

Pfft. I had a whole piece typed out about downloading free patches and whatnot but it just ended up with a string of head-desks.

2012 being a year of great change? I'm starting to think those madmen were right.

 

[franconbean]

Just to clarify, the mega upload employees live in New Zealand?
Just another example of The American Government's Cultural imperialism; they have to impose their national laws on the rest of the world.

 

[Ariyura]

Just to clarify, the mega upload employees live in New Zealand?
Just another example of The American Government's Cultural imperialism; they have to impose their national laws on the rest of the world.

They're using that some of the servers were based in Virginia as a means to capture them.

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

You mean there was content on megaupload OTHER than porn? At least there is still filesonic, depositfiles, oron, rapidshare, and like 50 other sites that operate out of multiple countries that do the same thing.

Thats not even counting the ones that are SPECIFICALLY there for piracy that would actually make a quasi legal takedown much more justified.

Personally, if you didn't want people to be able to copy your work and give it away, you might wan to fix it so that they can't do that anymore instead of taking blind stabs in the dark trying to look like you can actually effect anything by pulling crap like this.

 

[Irridium]

Haha! Yes! Finally some god damn consequences against those who actually deserve it in this whole piracy thing. Stop going after freaking google and youtube and go after sites like this!

What about the millions that used these sites for perfectly legal means? The type of people that far outweighed the pirates?

They should probably find a different site then. One that wasn't so friendly to illegal copyrighted content.

If it's so heavy with copyright infringement, why is it operated by a huge music star? And why would other huge music stars sing praise of the site if it was so friendly to copyright infringement?

I don't think those people would be singing praise about it if it was mostly used to pirate stuff.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Well this isn't going to calm anyone's fears about SOPA and PIPA now is it?

I don't see why not. It proves that they don't need SOPA or PIPA to pass in order to do this.

 

[_tinned_magpie_]

Oh boy, here we go... Anonymous was on the warpath within fifteen minutes. They're systematically shutting down government and record company websites in revenge. The RIAA and the MPAA sites are already down.

I see this ending well.

 

[Awexsome]

Haha! Yes! Finally some god damn consequences against those who actually deserve it in this whole piracy thing. Stop going after freaking google and youtube and go after sites like this!

What about the millions that used these sites for perfectly legal means? The type of people that far outweighed the pirates?

They should probably find a different site then. One that wasn't so friendly to illegal copyrighted content.

If it's so heavy with copyright infringement, why is it operated by a huge music star? And why would other huge music stars sing praise of the site if it was so friendly to copyright infringement?

I don't think those people would be singing praise about it if it was mostly used to pirate stuff.

Because they received direct monetary compensation from it.

Seriously, that's like Bond villain levels. Megaupload host all of those illegal pirate copies of music that hurt the music industry and the person who runs it is... from the music industry?! I don't doubt those laundring and conspiracy charges at all. After the music industry, the one the CEO is from, is harmed from the pirating practices he'd have the last laugh getting all the profits from the illegal trade.

The seven suspects have been charged with participating in a racketeering conspiracy, conspiring to commit copyright infringement, conspiring to commit money laundering and two substantive counts of criminal copyright infringement. source: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/justice-fbi-crack-megaupload/story?id=15396526#.TxidwPnNlGU

Makes a lot of sense to promote the very thing you're the CEO of.

 

[devotedsniper]

My university backup.....my programs source code backups....gone.... I suppose it's a good thing i have 2 other back up locations but i feel sorry for any people who don't.

Anyone else think the "Justice" department are only doing this to show that even without SOPA, they can still take sites down?

 

[Awexsome]

Oh boy, here we go... Anonymous was on the warpath within fifteen minutes. They're systematically shutting down government and record company websites in revenge. The RIAA and the MPAA sites are already down.

I see this ending well.

It's hilarious! Like a kid on the playground throwing a hissy fit when the teacher gives them timeout for being caught!

 

[Louzerman102]

I needed to quote this from the original Venture Beats article...

"The government has also charged the following individuals in the indictment:
Finn Batato, 38, a citizen and resident of Germany, who is the chief marketing officer;
Julius Bencko, 35, a citizen and resident of Slovakia, who is the graphic designer;
Sven Echternach, 39, a citizen and resident of Germany, who is the head of business development;
Mathias Ortmann, 40, a citizen of Germany and resident of both Germany and Hong Kong, who is the chief technical officer, co-founder and director;
Andrus Nomm, 32, a citizen of Estonia and resident of both Turkey and Estonia, who is a software programmer and head of the development software division;
Bram van der Kolk, aka Bramos, 29, a Dutch citizen and resident of both the Netherlands and New Zealand, who oversees programming and the underlying network structure for the Mega conspiracy websites.
Dotcom, Batato, Ortmann and van der Kolk were arrested today in Auckland, New Zealand."

TO SUMMARIZE:
The United States government just took down an international website and filed criminal charges against the parties involved EXCLUDING THE AMERICAN CEO.

Why do I find this horribly funny? (rhetorical)

 

[Andaxay]

What I don't think is posted here but is really ridiculous is that if found guilty, these people will be facing a 55 year sentence.

That's right. 55 YEARS

So someone who commits murder and ends another LIFE can pay a lot less of a price than this? Awesome. The world has officially gone snooker loopy.

Part of me thinks this shutdown is a response to the SOPA and PIPA protests yesterday. A way of saying "well, we can and will do it, regardless."

EDIT:

Anyone else think the "Justice" department are only doing this to show that even without SOPA, they can still take sites down?

Damn, ninja'd. And agreed.

 

[Awexsome]

What I don't think is posted here but is really ridiculous is that if found guilty, these people will be facing a 55 year sentence.

That's right. 55 YEARS

So someone who commits murder and ends another LIFE can pay a lot less of a price than this? Awesome. The world has officially gone snooker loopy.

Part of me thinks this shutdown is a response to the SOPA and PIPA protests yesterday. A way of saying "well, we can and will do it, regardless."

Lies. Whether to put us on the criminal's side or not... probably.

The max they can get is 20.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/justice-fbi-crack-megaupload/story?id=15396526#.TxidwPnNlGU

 

[Rad Party God]

Great timing I say!

 

[gigastar]

I like how people are complaining about Megaporn being shut down. Theres many alternate, safe, free porn streaming options that moderators have advised me would be unwise to post links to here.

Either way the sites been in a bit of a downward spiral in legal terms since late 2010. Its been blocked out of most asian regions for one reason or another including Hong Kong where the company was founded.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I us that site legally! GRRRR

 

[ph0b0s123]

Time to dump .com, .net and other domains the US DOJ think they have jurisdiction over and also move web hosting outside the US to try and stop US interference your website? At least when they level a case if you are outside the US and not using .com the case will get heard in a local court.

I see the US not being the goto place to be hosted anymore. The disappointing thing is the capitulation of other countries like New Zeland arresting people just on the US's say so. We will have to see how the extradition procedures go.

 

[Tony2077]

oh well not going to get too down about this since there is nothing i can do

 

[SnowyGamester]

Next they'll be taking our rapidshares and youtubes. This doesn't bode well.

Spoiler: Megaupload, you will be missed.