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Feds shut down file-sharing website Megaupload.com (now fileserve and filesonic too)

901 January 19, 2012 at 12:33 PM in Chat (2)
Federal prosecutors in Virginia have shut down one of the world's largest file-sharing sites, Megaupload.com, and charged its founder and others with violating piracy laws.

The indictment accuses the company of costing copyright holders more than $500 million in lost revenue from pirated films and other content. The indictment was unsealed Thursday, one day after websites shut down in protest of two congressional proposals intended to thwart the online piracy of copyrighted movies and TV programs.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/20...z1jwEqE8IO

Whee

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Joined Dec 2003
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The Raddish
01-19-2012 at 05:23 PM.
01-19-2012 at 05:23 PM.
Quote from Clivefrog :
I'm not too upset about this. It is arguable that the vast majority of content on Megaupload composed of copyright infringement. It is arguable that the main use of that website was to illegally spread IP. If anything, this should prove that we don't need SOPA/PIPA!
I have a problem with shutting down a website without a court proceeding. Innocent until proven guilty, unless the government just 'deems' you guilty without a trial.

If jurisdiction is claimed because offending servers are located in the US, then the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Amendments should apply.

Unless, of course, the imperial federal government thinks those pesky amendments just get in the way. Mad
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Hawk2007
01-19-2012 at 05:30 PM.
01-19-2012 at 05:30 PM.
Oh, but Obama and the feds are going to get healthcare right folks..... Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)

http://gizmodo.com/5877679/anonym...nge-strike

Update: Anonymous says they've also knocked off the RIAA's site—looks down for us at the moment as well.

Update 2: Universal Music Group has also fallen off an e-cliff.

Update 3: Goodbye for now, MPAA.org.

Update 4: Affected sites are bouncing in and out of life, and are at the very least super slow to load. Anon agents are currently trying to coordinate their DDoS attacks in the same direction via IRC.

Update 5: The US Copyright Office joins the list.

Update 6: This Anon sums up the mood in their "official" chat room at the moment:

Danzu: STOP EVERYTHING, who are we DoSing right now?

Update 7: Russian news service RT claims this is the largest coordinated attack in Anonymous' history—over 5,600 DDoS zealots blasting at once.

Update 8: the Anonymous DDoS planning committee is chittering so quickly, it's making my laptop fan spin.

Update 9: Major record label EMI is down for the count.

Update 10: La résistance est international—French copyright authority HADOPI bites the dust under Anon pressure.

Update 11: The Federal Bureau of Investigation has fallen and can't get up.

Quote from The Raddish :
Unless, of course, the imperial federal government thinks those pesky amendments just get in the way. Mad

The Constitution doesn't apply to Congress or the President or the DOJ.
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Last edited by Hawk2007 January 19, 2012 at 05:31 PM.
Joined Dec 2003
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The Raddish
01-19-2012 at 05:39 PM.
01-19-2012 at 05:39 PM.
Quote from Hawk2007 :
The Constitution doesn't apply to Congress or the President or the DOJ.
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Joined Aug 2005
Baldilocks
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emelvee
01-19-2012 at 05:40 PM.
01-19-2012 at 05:40 PM.
laugh out loud
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Joined Jun 2008
And I Love Asian Girls :)
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tennisplayer888
01-19-2012 at 05:42 PM.
01-19-2012 at 05:42 PM.
I don't understand why the Gov't does this, if we are a free country, then shouldn't the internet be free to roam as well? Also, the more they hinder us, the more we will find other ways around it. This is like the Prohibition, but with downloading off the internet.
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Mad Scientist
01-19-2012 at 05:45 PM.
01-19-2012 at 05:45 PM.
Quote from tennisplayer123 :
I don't understand why the Gov't does this, if we are a free country, then shouldn't the internet be free to roam as well? Also, the more they hinder us, the more we will find other ways around it. This is like the Prohibition, but with downloading off the internet.

Obama needs more money from his Hollywood mogul friends, to finance his re-election campaign. Mad
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Joined Jun 2004
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Pig
01-19-2012 at 05:46 PM.
01-19-2012 at 05:46 PM.
What is wrong in taking down sites like these?
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uniquename
01-19-2012 at 06:22 PM.
01-19-2012 at 06:22 PM.
Quote from Pig :
What is wrong in taking down sites like these?
You mean megaupload or all the media mogul and gov sites?
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Joined Jun 2004
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Pig
01-19-2012 at 06:34 PM.
01-19-2012 at 06:34 PM.
Quote from uniquename :
You mean megaupload or all the media mogul and gov sites?
megaupload....
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Joined Jun 2007
Not Banned! :)
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Clivefrog
01-19-2012 at 06:35 PM.
01-19-2012 at 06:35 PM.
Quote from The Raddish :
I have a problem with shutting down a website without a court proceeding. Innocent until proven guilty, unless the government just 'deems' you guilty without a trial.

If jurisdiction is claimed because offending servers are located in the US, then the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Amendments should apply.

Unless, of course, the imperial federal government thinks those pesky amendments just get in the way. Mad
Heh, good point. Due process is sort of important Doh
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calistyle
01-19-2012 at 06:49 PM.
01-19-2012 at 06:49 PM.
Quote from Clivefrog :
Heh, good point. Due process is sort of important Doh
laugh out loud More than "sort of".
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"Respect my AUTHORITAII!"
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LordOfChaos
01-19-2012 at 06:52 PM.
01-19-2012 at 06:52 PM.
I am not for the gov shutting down sites all willy nilly, but I sure dont like Anon attacking these sites in retaliation. Who will "police the police"
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The Raddish
01-19-2012 at 07:03 PM.
01-19-2012 at 07:03 PM.
Quote from Pig :
What is wrong in taking down sites like these?
1. Megaupload has many legitimate purposes. Have you ever tried to email a large file to someone? Too large to add as an attachment? Megaupload allows you to upload your large file, email the link to your recipient, and then they can download the file you uploaded.

2. If someone uses a VHS tape to illegally record the superbowl and play it back for an audience, is Maxell sued? If a drunk driver of a Chevy 1500 runs over a pedestrian, is Chevy responsible, or the driver? This is the same principle.

3. There was NO due process here. The government just decided to ignore the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Amendments by shutting down this website (which isn't even registered in the United States, btw) without any legal proceedings. The government made an accusation and unilaterally took action without a trial. Are you really okay with that?

Quote from LordOfChaos :
I am not for the gov shutting down sites all willy nilly, but I sure dont like Anon attacking these sites in retaliation. Who will "police the police"
Apparently Anon is policing the police right now. nod

I'm all for it, personally. Give the imperial federal government a taste of its own medicine.
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Last edited by The Raddish January 19, 2012 at 07:05 PM.
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Wnsirlord
01-19-2012 at 07:19 PM.
01-19-2012 at 07:19 PM.
Also good analogy, the government is basically banning guns. They are legal and have useful purposes, but were abused. Similarly with MU, it was used for legit purposes, yet was "abused" by users. Doesn't mean you can just take down MU, especially without a court hearing (as Raddish mentioned).
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Pig
01-19-2012 at 07:24 PM.
01-19-2012 at 07:24 PM.
Quote from The Raddish :
1. Megaupload has many legitimate purposes. Have you ever tried to email a large file to someone? Too large to add as an attachment? Megaupload allows you to upload your large file, email the link to your recipient, and then they can download the file you uploaded.

2. If someone uses a VHS tape to illegally record the superbowl and play it back for an audience, is Maxell sued? If a drunk driver of a Chevy 1500 runs over a pedestrian, is Chevy responsible, or the driver? This is the same principle.

3. There was NO due process here. The government just decided to ignore the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Amendments by shutting down this website (which isn't even registered in the United States, btw) without any legal proceedings. The government made an accusation and unilaterally took action without a trial. Are you really okay with that?

Apparently Anon is policing the police right now. nod

I'm all for it, personally. Give the imperial federal government a taste of its own medicine.
I totally agree with 3, partially agree with 1 and don't agree with the analogy in 2....
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