Today has become a banner day for activism on the web, thanks to Anonymous, after Megaupload was taken down and seven employees were indicted on multiple charges, all stemming from allegations of copyright infringement.
The indictment suggests that Megaupload hid its agenda behind allowing users to upload files of any type or size and profiting off of copyrighted materials:
Though the public-facing Megaupload.com website itself does not allow searches,it does list its “Top 100 files”, which includes motion picture trailers and software trials that are freely available on the Internet. The Top 100 list, however, does not actually portray the most popular downloads on Megaupload.com, which makes the website appear more legitimate and hides the popular copyright-infringing content that drives its revenue.
Here is the full 72 page indictment in all of its glory:
The Department of Justice says that from 2006-2011, the PayPal account for Megaupload received over $110M.
From on or about November 25, 2006, through on or about July 2011, the PayPal, Inc. account for the Mega Conspiracy has received in excess of $110,000,000 from subscribers and other persons associated with Mega Conspiracy.
The charges include money laundering and racketeering as well, as the DOJ suggests that Megaupload incentivized its users monetarily to unlawfully upload copyrighted content to its sites:
It was further part of the Conspiracy, from at least September 2005 until July 2011, that the Conspiracy provided financial incentives for users to upload infringing copies of popular copyrighted works. The Conspiracy made payments to uploaders who were known to have uploaded infringing copies of copyrighted works.
While only seven employees of Megaupload, including its founder, have been charged, the report says that the company “employs more than 30 people residing in approximately nine countries”.
We’ve reached out to the DOJ for comment on why Megaupload’s CEO Kasseem Dean aka Swizz Beatz wasn’t on the original list of those indicted, and if he will be added at a later date. We’ll let you know when and if we hear back.
[...] charges and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out. You can view the 72 page indictment here. Tagged with: alicia keys • fire • indictment • megaupload • social turbine [...]
[...] 72 pages, so I'll wait for one of you go-getters to back with interesting tid bits. Have at it, Full 72 Page Megaupload Indictment __________________ Find out what really is going on in the world today Jack Burton: Well, ya [...]
[...] very few people understanding what actually went on with the Megaupload case, which was two years in the making, Anonymous was able to take advantage of those who wanted to [...]
[...] a sovereign government, armed with a 72-page indictment, changed final month to shut down a file-sharing site Megaupload.com, a reverberations were felt [...]
[...] current methods of IP enforcement have left their Internet imprint. Following the shutdown and indictment of Megaupload, other online file storage sites have curbed their services in fear of similar retribution. As a [...]