On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice shut down MegaUpload, one of the world’s largest file-sharing websites amid allegations that the site violated piracy and copyright laws.
The Hong Kong-based company, which was initially reported to be headed by Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean (view details below), came under fire last month following news that Universal Music Group had ordered a video showcasing its artists, Diddy, Kanye West and Will.i.Am, in the video above which promotes MegaUpload alongside other celebrities. The site fired back with a lawsuit to stop Universal from trying to block the video, but that was the least of its concerns Thursday morning when the site was accused of costing copyright holders more than $500 million in lost revenue from pirated content.
Seven individuals, including MegaUpload founder Kim Schmitz also known as Kim Dotcom, were charged with five counts of criminal acts, including conspiracy to commit racketeering and criminal copyright infringement, while generating over $175 million.
In response to the charges, the hacktivist group Anonymous launched its “largest attack ever, crippling government and music industry sites” such as the Department of Justice, Universal Music Group, RIAA and Motion Picture Association of America in its #OpMegaUpload. Following yesterday’s strike against SOPA and PIPA, the group Twittered: Let’s just say, for #SOPA supporters their #SOPAblackout is today. #Anonymous.. In addition, the group mentioned “the raid on Megaupload Thursday proved that the feds don’t need SOPA or its sister legislation, PIPA, in order to pose a blow to the Web”.
UPDATE
According to a report by VentureBeat, Swizz Beatz is not the CEO of Megaupload as many sites reported this week. The lawyer for the now defunct site said:
“To my knowledge, Swizz Beatz was never involved in any meaningful way,” [ READ MORE ]
Mayra Panache said awhile back that the government is going to try and regulate the internet. Looks like she was right.
Try to? lol People still think we live in a free country. They have EVERYTHING on lock.
People have been saying that for years, what’s your point.
I don’t know, it seems liek it was only a matter of time, I hate this but we went from normal consumerism, well as normal as it could be i.e. inflating prices at the discretion of these companys, 15 dollars a cd, to people getting any and everything they want and would nromally ahve to pay for, for free. The music industry has never been the same since. I bet music would be different too. Especially with the certain artist dominating their genres becuase the’re the only ones able to sell a million copys and therefore wind up becoming the standard to which other artists are pressured to conform to.
. but the itnernet as we know it will cease, that’s kind of like killing the patient to save his arm.
They knew this was going to be a problem when these record labels/Film studios parent companies decided to make CD/DVD burners accesible to the public. You reap what you sow… And believe I’m sure people wouldn’t have a problem purchasing music if it was actually as valuable as it cost. Music has went to hell since the 90s with no type of listenability after two weeks.
The internet apocalypses has begun…. Run! Run for you LIIIFFFEE!!
megaupload is where i got all my free stuff the gov has gone to far next thing you know they will shut down adultcitysearch.com then i won’t be able to get no chicks
WELL I THINK THAT’S THE PROBLEM YOU WERE GETTING IT FOR ‘FREE’ AND THE RECORD LABELS WEREN’T MAKING IT FOR FREE. WOW THEY SHOULD REALLY BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR ACTUALLY WANTING TO RE-COOP MONEY ON THEIR INVESTMENT. SMH!!!……JENNY JONES!!!
AND THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS ‘IF YOU START A ILLEGAL FILE SHARING WEBSITE THAT HAS BECOME #3 OR 7 IN THE WORLD AND YOU HAVE BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH STEALING THE PRODUCT, NOT PAYING ANY FEES THEN YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO RUB IT IN THE FACES OF THE PEOPLE/OWNERS WHOSE $$$ YOU HAVE BEEN ‘F’ing UP WITH A CELEB FILLED VIDEO TELLING EVERYONE ELSE TO COME STEAL FROM THOSE SAME FOLKS. NOT A GOOD IDEA. THE VIDEO BROKE THE CAMEL’S BACK. COCKY IDIOTS!!!……JENNY JONES!!!
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