Megaupload Goes Down

U.S. Justice department has shut down popular sharing website Megaupload and its founder, Kim Schmitz, has been arrested by the FBI in New Zealand, where he is been living.

As a way to fight back and revenge, hacker group Anonymous has been messing around with U.S. government and major record label websites such as those of the FBI, MPAA, RIAA, EMI and many more.

 

 

Anonymous Fight Back

Anonymous, however, quickly responded to this and has been hard at work shutting down various government and record label websites. Among the victims are the FBI, EMI, Universal Music Group, MPAA, Recording Industry Association of America and the US Copyright Office. All of them have been affected by Anonymous' vigorous DDoS attacks.

Earlier today, the Department of Justice also arrested three more company executives Megaupload CMO Fin Batato and CTO Mathias Ortmannand, both from Germany and Bram van der Kolk living in New Zealand. Furthermore, New Zealand police has seized Megaupload assets worth millions of dollars including luxury cars, cash and various property around the country.

The arrested Megaupload executives, dubbed the"Mega Conspiracy group" by prosecutors, will be charged for various crimes including copyright infringement, supporting piracy and more. It is been estimated by the U.S. Justice Department that Megaupload has done more than $500 million in economic harm to various copyright holders and with the advancement of the investigation this estimate could double or even triple.

Interestingly enough, this happens just two days after the major Internet websites went black as a form of protest against the Stop Online Piracy Act, which is in U.S. Congress waiting to be voted on.

Also, Here are some photos of the luxury cars of the Megaupload CEO that were seized by the New Zealand police being taken away.

 

SOPA is DEAD

Lamar Smith, the chief sponsor of SOPA, said on Friday that he is pulling the bill "until there is wider agreement on a solution."

"I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy," Smith (R-Texas) told Reuters. "It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products."

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As the saga between Megaupload and the United States government continues, lawsuits are destined to come down strong from creators and copyright holders associated with the filesharing sites found distribution selection. The amount of cash that the group ValCom, Inc. is seeking is just part of the massive half-billion in copyright losses and $175 million in proceeds total the US government has already calculated. ValCom $42 million in suspected criminal proceeds have been seized in Megaupload.com and related entities raids thus far.

 

"Together with our friends at Microhits, Inc., we have implemented an aggressive initiative to acquire back-due royalties and compensation to assure that we receive all revenues that are due to the Company. Our suit regarding Megaupload.com is one of many situations we have identified where ValCom is due compensation." - Vallardita

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