US Feds Shut Down Megaupload.com File-Sharing Website

[SoylentGreen]

US Feds Shut Down Megaupload.com File-Sharing Website

http://techland.time.com/2012/01/19/feds-shut-down-megaupload-com-file-sharing-website/

They did it without SOPA. 

The Justice Department said in a statement said that Kim Dotcom, formerly known as Kim Schmitz, and three others were arrested Thursday in New Zealand at the request of U.S. officials.

S.G.

[SoylentGreen]

In a further development, hacker group "anonymous" retaliates by knocking the US Department of Justice (www.justice.gov) offline in a distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS):

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/19/technology/megaupload_shutdown/

S.G.

[SoylentGreen]

The following sites are down intermittently due to distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS) attacks:

www.copyright.gov   - US Copyright Office
www.riaa.com          - Recording Industry Association of America
www.mpaa.org/        - Motion Picture Associaton

S.G.

[Bekka]

Here is the indictment.  Click on "read in full here."  It lists their assets.


 http://techfleece.com/2012/01/20/megaupload-shut-down-by-the-feds/

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

And to think that the folks that find us really think they are in really big trouble over 1 or 2 images!

[Bekka]

In my opinion, I think sites like these are here to stay one way or another since the onset of the internet.  So the entertainment industry should look for ways to embrace these sites and use them to their advantage.  For instance, look at the business model of Hulu!  Except for CBS, the other major networks invest and participate in this venture.  It is a viable option for people who can't afford cable and can't get satellite based on location.  Hulu has the free version and the paid version for premium content. 

I also believe that the entertaiment industry as it cries foul and yells "revenue loss," they are not taking into consideration the folks who have watched an episode of a series on Megavideo, fell in love with the show and purchased the series.  Same with music!  Yes, you have those that don't as well, but I believe these sites could be a win win for all involved with a little innovative thinking.  People are too quick to sue for an easy buck and not look for steady reliable income for the long haul.

Personally, I will admit that I have watched an episode or two on Megavideo if I missed one on TV.  However, many times the show was not available because Megavideo had removed it for "infringement violations."  It seems to me they just couldn't keep up with the massive uploads by individuals over time.

One thing we can all bank on is "change."  You can choose to hold on to past and fade away, or you can embrace it and move forward.   

[SoylentGreen]

I agree with Bekka.

Also, I think those in the music/film/stock image business feel that when their content is no longer available as "free" that they'll rake in the money on sales.
However, I don't feel that this is an effective method of "demand generation".
There's a huge "customer base" for free stuff.  But, getting people to buy it is a different story.

I hope that we have the opportunity to use avatars on our ELI profiles again in the near future.
Because I found a great one.  It also resembles Buddhapi a little bit:

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3944/itsonnowchaps1327075467.jpg

S.G.

[SoylentGreen]

Check out the DOJ/ FBI/ IPR notice "seized" banner on the Megaupload site.
It's pretty impressive.  How come something like that was never done with Righthavens' site?

http://www.megaupload.com/

Also, check out the list of charges on the bottom half.

S.G.

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

Kinda makes Gibson look like an angel....albeit a dirty little angel..

[SoylentGreen]

Yes, I figure that there's a lot going on with MegaUpload. (ahem...)

Well, if Righthaven proved anything, it's that the business concept of "it's cheaper to pay us than to fight us (even if we're in the wrong)" doesn't work.
Eventually, people fight back.  So, I hope that business and law schools aren't teaching this concept.

S.G.