MegaUpload Has Been Taken Offline

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1080p

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#96101 20-Jan-2012 10:05

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/6288082/US-shuts-down-file-sharing-site-Megaupload-com

I am mainly disappointed that Stuff chose not to include the full story. Compare that article with these two:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/tech-news/us-shuts-down-file-sharing-website-charges-workers-under-piracy-laws/article2308295/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16642369

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#571119 20-Jan-2012 10:08

RIP Megaupload

You were so young!

I'm sure it should hopefully be back soon. It's a Hong Kong based site, but with servers in the US? all they need to do is shift the servers to say Sweden or Denmark? or Hong Kong itself?

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

1080p

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#571121 20-Jan-2012 10:10

Did you read the articles? They arrested three executives in Auckland yesterday. It does not matter where the servers are.

gzt

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#571145 20-Jan-2012 11:15

The arrested will still have to go through the extradition process, which will include a court hearing. That might be interesting if they argue against. Probably they will comply (and/or make a deal) and argue the case in the U.S.

"The US Justice Department and the FBI today said Megaupload.com and other related sites allegedly generated more than US$175 million (NZ$217m) in criminal proceeds and caused copyright holders more than US$500m in lost revenue from pirated films and other content"

Lol ; ). So with studio agreement, and if they had charged slightly more, it would have been win-win.

Even if that is true, it would be a whole lot easier if they just provided license terms for this kind of distribution.

vinnieg

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#571147 20-Jan-2012 11:20

1080p: Did you read the articles? They arrested three executives in Auckland yesterday. It does not matter where the servers are.

Nah, I read the Engadget one, just checked teh stuff one

what a load of bollocks, the US govt can't just do that. I imagine the govt here will hopefully try to fight the expedition process as GZT has suggested

However the current govt are wrapped right around the little finger of the US Govt, so I bet they will just ship them straight out.

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

garvani

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#571148 20-Jan-2012 11:25

This is the tip of the iceberg im afraid. if the S.O.P.A law gets passed in America then all these sites are gone, youtube will almost certainly be in a load of trouble. Major problems are coming if that horrendous bill gets passed.

If you havn't heard of SOPA before it was the reason wikipedia and numerous other sites shutdown yesterday..

gzt

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#571149 20-Jan-2012 11:27

vinnieg: what a load of bollocks, the US govt can't just do that. I imagine the govt here will hopefully try to fight the expedition process as GZT has suggested

I was suggesting the arrested may choose to oppose the extradition during the extradition court hearing. The arrested can also appeal any decision after that as well.

NZ law enforcement here have been working on the case for a long time, the government will be well aware of that investigation and probably signed off already.

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wellygary

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#571150 20-Jan-2012 11:27

Hmm looks like NZ is going to get its own Richard O'Dwyer case.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/13/us-filesharing-extradition-idUSTRE80C15C20120113

I think it is safe to say that this will end up in the Supreme court, given the Kim Schmitz does (did?) have access to reasonable means to pay for decent lawyers, and it is not clear what NZ crime he is being charged with.

This will be very interesting to watch,

MikeB4

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#571152 20-Jan-2012 11:30

Do the Crime do the time. Why the heck should the NZ Government waste it's finite resources fighting extradition for non-citizens.

They should return to the US and fight on their own account in the US courts.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

mckenndk

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#571154 20-Jan-2012 11:34

what a load of bollocks, the US govt can't just do that. I imagine the govt here will hopefully try to fight the expedition process as GZT has suggested

However the current govt are wrapped right around the little finger of the US Govt, so I bet they will just ship them straight out.

Doubt National would want to piss off our north american friends as we have a small movie industry as well what they changed the rules to stop the actors going on strike etc.

It is just crazy one country has the power to do all of this, i guess if the servers, dns etc are not in the states they can't stop that.

Dion

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#571165 20-Jan-2012 11:43

wellygary: Hmm looks like NZ is going to get its own Richard O'Dwyer case.

It is a bit different because those arrested are NZ resident rather than NZ citizens. There are other differences. For instance, O'Dwyer believably argued he made no money after paying for the servers and it was essentially a hobby. [and he was not hosting the files] He served 2 years in the US after extradition.

MegaUpload is clearly a business. [and is hosting the files]

What makes it different from something like YouTube which violates copyright every day?

The US prosecution case is that MegaUpload actually knew about and conspired to reward distribution of copyright material to further benefit their business.

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#571167 20-Jan-2012 11:47

gzt: NZ law enforcement here have been working on the case for a long time, the government will be well aware of that investigation and probably signed off already.

Whoops missed that part too, guess the extradition hearing is in North Shore district court today. Wish I was up there, wouldn't have mind going to it.

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

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#571168 20-Jan-2012 11:51

KiwiNZ: Do the Crime do the time. Why the heck should the NZ Government waste it's finite resources fighting extradition for non-citizens.

They should return to the US and fight on their own account in the US courts.

Why the heck should the NZ Government waste it's finite resources investigating, tracking down and arresting them in the first place?

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

kiwitrc

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#571170 20-Jan-2012 11:54

I wonder how this is different than say TradeMe who have users selling copy and fake goods on their site.

Lias

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#571173 20-Jan-2012 11:58

vinnieg:
Why the heck should the NZ Government waste it's finite resources investigating, tracking down and arresting them in the first place?

This.

Maybe if they were murderers or something, but at the end of the day all they have done is allegedly generate profit from people allegedly copying other companies copyrihted material. A fairly minor white collar crime, if a crime at all.

He's never done anything illegal in NZ that I'm aware of, and appears to be at least some sort of philanthropist having paid for a fairly spectacular public fireworks display for Auckland the other year. Several hundred grand worth apparently.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup. Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

crackrdbycracku

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#571180 20-Jan-2012 12:13

What makes it different from something like YouTube which violates copyright every day?

YouTube being owned by Google and Google having more money than God.

It will make an interesting prologue to the coming SOPA fight as you rightly point out the arguments are basically the same.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

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