This been posted? 72 page indictment.
Linky
This been posted? 72 page indictment.
Linky
Cyberlocker Ecosystem Shocked As Big Players Take Drastic Action
http://torrentfreak.com/cyberlocker-...action-120123/In the wake of last week’s Megaupload shutdown, some of the biggest names in the market are taking drastic action. During the last 48 hours many sites have completely withdrawn their systems for paying uploaders when their files are shared with others, but one of the most dramatic moves came first from Filesonic and today Fileserve. Both services now forbid people from downloading any files they didn’t upload themselves.
While the shutdown last week of Megaupload and the arrest of its founder and management team was certainly dramatic, a situation of perhaps even greater gravity is beginning to emerge.
Over the past 48 to 72 hours, the operators of many prominent cyberlocker services have been taking unprecedented actions that can not simply be explained away by mere coincidence. The details in the Megaupload indictment clearly have some players in the file-hosting world spooked.
One of the key allegations is that between 2005 and mid 2011, Megaupload ran a program that rewarded users for uploading infringing material. A cited internal email allegedly shows staff members discussing cash payments going to people uploading “full popular DVD rips” and “software with keygenerators (Warez)”.
Although Megaupload stopped paying out rewards in July 2011, that didn’t stop the site from getting raided. Other cyberlocker services are clearly hoping they will be more lucky.
Last evening Filesonic, a top 10 player in the file-sharing world with a billion pageviews a month, not only withdrew its affiliate rewards program, but also banned any third parties downloading files. Simply put, users can now only download files from the service that they uploaded themselves.
But according to reports, there’s no guarantee of that. Account owners report that their files are being mass deleted, that’s if their entire account has been banned already.
Fileserve, another leading player, also ended its affiliate program this weekend. Additionally, this morning TorrentFreak received news that Fileserve has now joined Filesonic in banning all 3rd party downloads.
“I just paid for a premium account and can now only download my own fucking files an unlimited number of times,” said one angry user. “What use is that?”
Other users of Fileserve are experiencing an even further degraded level of service. Reports describe mass deletion of their uploads and the banning of accounts on apparent ‘Terms of Service’ violations.
But the changes at these two services appears to be just the tip of a very big and very complex iceberg. Developments at other file-hosting services are widespread.
As previously reported, Uploaded.to banned all US IP addresses in what appears to be an effort to distance itself from US jurisdiction. Its affiliate program is still listed as operational but the same cannot be said about those run by some of its competitors.
VideoBB and VideoZer have both reportedly closed their rewards program and according to reports have also been mass deleting accounts and huge numbers of files.
Other sites closing their affiliate programs and/or deleting accounts/files include FileJungle, UploadStation and FilePost.
Another interesting development involves so-called ‘release blogs’, sites that report on leaked material but either provide links to the material on cyberlockers or allow their users to do the same. The number of overall releases hasn’t changed much but the links currently being posted on some of these sites show less variety and volume than they did this time last week.
Do you know of other file-hosts/cyberlockers taking similar action? Send us your stories and screenshots to the usual address.
Update: Smaller host UploadBox calls it quits. “All files will be deleted on January 30th. Feel free to download the files you store with UploadBox until this date.”
Update2: Another host, x7.to, shuts down.
Update 3: TorrentFreak has seen evidence that on request PayPal is refunding cash paid to Filesonic over the weekend.
Update 4: FileJungle and UploadStation have disabled all 3rd party downloads.
Update 5: 4shared cancels affiilate program.
Looks like most file hosts are gone.
Last edited by awdrifter; January 23rd, 2012 at 6:29 PM.____________________________
We got same thing. It's a tradeoff for copying to family (and even to friends) being legal. As long as it doesn't have "strong" copy protection. Like DVD's (lol).Originally Posted by neutron
People think it's there because of piracy, but actually it's not. Or at least they say it's not. Anyway, I order the few CD's/DVD's I need from Nierle.de.
That's the only thing why I would like to see EU wide copyright laws, maybe we could see something like Netflix when they don't have to negotiate with 30+ national organizations.And don't get me started on how they are responsible for not getting Spotify, Netflix and other services here.
Last edited by h-p; January 24th, 2012 at 12:08 AM.
If I ran a service like this I'd first of all naturally not host anything in north america. Banning US IP's, sure why not altough it's not vital. Secondly do not use a US-based payment service. And don't go to New Zeeland, because it's filled with sheep in puppet governments.
Bail, denied.
Interesting Interview with dotcom:
He seems convinced himself he is innocent. Personally I think they didn't get to an important issue and that is the motive of users to upload infringing content in the first place which is often due to the fact that filehosts offer payments, commissions, for either number of downloads or numbers of premium accounts sold linked to the uploaded file of the user.
Video not avaliable in New Zealand?!?! WTF. It was produced and broadcast in NZ and is on 3newsNZs channel. Me confused.
I was waiting for that to come up as well. Legally speaking though there is no proof that they were paying commission for illegal files because they can hide behind the privacy policy saying that they don't track what users upload and are only looking at number of downloads or premium accounts opened or something along those lines.
I personally want him to win, I'm sure he knew EXACTLY what was going to happen but I don't a precedent to be set because that would open the doors to a lot more lawsuits.
Kim did exactly the same thing in the nineties, when he still went by the name "Kimble": He paid people to upload or even crack Warez to then sell subscriptions to his Warez BBS.
EDIT: Ooops, re-post.
Last edited by Dr_Grip; March 8th, 2012 at 8:10 AM.____________________________
Based on quotes from emails in the indictment they discussed about who was uploading what, and who to give payouts to depending on content.
Astra
Octavia
Fabia Kim uploads new video featuring Kim and Kimi
Kim Dotcom is launching a new file sharing website called Mega exactly a year after the FBI shut down his old site Megaupload and charged him with online piracy.
Dotcom, who is currently on bail and faces jail if found guilty, said the new site was not revenge on U.S. authorities who planned a raid on his £16million New Zealand Mansion.
Dotcom said his new offering, Mega.co.nz, which will launch on Sunday, complied with the law and warned that attempts to take it down would be futile.
'This is not some kind of finger to the U.S. government or to Hollywood' Dotcom told Reuters at his sprawling estate in the bucolic hills of Coatesville, just outside Auckland, New Zealand, a country known more for sheep, rugby and the Hobbit than flamboyant tech tycoons.
'Legally, there's just nothing there that could be used to shut us down. This site is just as legitimate and has the right to exist as Dropbox, Boxnet and other competitors,' he said, referring to other popular cloud storage services.
Dotcom and three colleagues are currently awaiting the result of an appeal over an extradition order from New Zealand to the United States.
Linky
I don't see many uploaders using Mega yet, hopefully it'll be as good as the old MegaUpload.
Well, you have to admire his persistence.
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