US Government Shuts Down Megaupload w/ Piracy Indictments
The US government has closed down one of the world’s largest filesharing websites, accusing its founders of racketeering, money laundering and presiding over “massive” online piracy. According to prosecutors, Megaupload illegally cheated copyright holders out of $500m in revenue as part of a criminal enterprise spanning five years. A lawyer for Megaupload told the Guardian it would “vigorously” defend itself against the charges, dismissing the criminal action as “a civil case in disguise”. The site is advertised as having more than 50 million daily visitors, according to federal authorities. Four of MegaUpload’s operators have been arrested in New Zealand, while three more remain at large. The seven each face a maximum of 55 years in prison.
News of the indictment being framed as one of the biggest copyright cases in US history came a day after major internet firms held a 24-hour protest over proposed anti-piracy laws. According to a Department of Justice release, seven people associated with Megaupload were indicted by a federal grand jury earlier this month over the charges. They included Kim Dotcom, founder of the online firm.
The 37-year-old, who also goes by Kim Tim Jim Vestor and whose real name is Kim Schmitz, is accused of heading up a criminal venture that earn Dotcom and his associates upwards of $175m.
Comments are closed.