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Megaupload down, FBI Charges Seven With Online Piracy

online.wsj.com

281–290 of 357 posts

Re: Megaupload down, FBI Charges Seven With Online Piracy

#281

At the risk of megadownvoting here... Megaupload never complied with DMCA requests - I made several as part of some research and never received any response. The site charged for access to, and provided advertising around, pirated content. The site paid people (users/staff - it's a fine line) to provide popular content. It went to extraordinary lengths to hide the identity of its operators. Now if people believe that…

How is this different from people sharing a paid Dropbox account and uploading DVDs?

Scale.

Re: Megaupload down, FBI Charges Seven With Online Piracy

#282
post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure that the Feds didn't get copies of emails from Eric Schmidt saying that they need to fix the audio/video synchronization on the Sopranos... or that they need to rate-limit DMCA takedowns so they don't interfere with growth... or that they should ensure that when they do takedowns that they don't take EVERY copy down. It's a specious comparison, made possible only because almost nobody on HN bothered t…

Thanks for letting us know; you are correct- I didn't see the indictment. I read the article quickly and came here to see what people were saying. I saw a lot of debate about "% of piracy," so I commented. Wow the executives were deep in blatant piracy. It's fair that the site was shut down. Amazing, not surprising though.

Thank you. It's nice that at least ONE person recognized that maybe their uninformed reaction to a short article might not be 100% correct, and was willing to go read the indictment and learn a bit more.

Re: Megaupload down, FBI Charges Seven With Online Piracy

#283
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It is, pure and simple, a piracy site full of pirated material. Yes, but it was also full of absolutely legal content uploaded by law-abiding users. Many people don't have the expertise needed to set up a file server and not everything is small enough to be attached to an e-mail. > I am also astounded that people on HN are calling this a legitimate business. As I understand, they had problems of DMCA compliance. If…

Unless they were paying their employees to knowingly submit pirated content, however I unaware evidence in support of this.

> however I unaware evidence in support of this

Read the indictment. It contains evidence of this (amongst other issues).

Re: Megaupload down, FBI Charges Seven With Online Piracy

#284
I have posted the full Indictment as a news story here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3487808

It's an interesting and sometimes amusing read. However, in case people are curious, but don't want to read the ENTIRE document here are my extended highlights:

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KIM DOTCOM, MEGAUPLOAD LIMITED, VESTOR LIMITED, FINN BATATO, JULIUS BENCKO, SVEN ECHTERNACH, MATHIAS ORTMANN, ANDRUS NOMM, and BRAM VAN DER KOLK, the defendants, and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, were members of the “Mega Conspiracy,” a worldwide criminal organization whose members engaged in criminal copyright infringement and money laundering on a massive scale with estimated harm to copyright holders well in excess of $500,000,000 and reported income in excess of $175,000,000.

-----

Megaupload.com was at one point in its history estimated to be the 13th most frequently visited website on the entire Internet. The site claims to have had more than one billion visitors in its history, more than 180,000,000 registered users to date, an average of 3 50 million daily visits, and to account for approximately four percent of the total traffic on the Internet.

-----

Subscription fees collected during the existence of the Mega Conspiracy from premium users are estimated to be more than $150 million. Online advertising on Megaupload.com and its associated websites, which is heavily dependent on the popularity of copyright infringing content to attract website visits, has further obtained more than $25 million for the Mega Conspiracy.

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KIM DOTCOM, who has also been known as KIM SCHMITZ and KIM TIM JIM VESTOR, is a resident of both Hong Kong and New Zealand, and a dual citizen of Finland and Germany. DOTCOM is the founder of MEGAUPLOAD LIMITED (“MUL”) and Megamedia Limited (“MMG”). ... In calendar year 2010 alone, DOTCOM received more than $42 million from the Mega Conspiracy.

---

VAN DER KOLK had stated, “we have a funny business . . . modern days pirates :)” ORTMANN responded, “we’re not pirates, we’re just providing shipping services to pirates :)”.

---

On or about April 8, 2011, VESTOR LIMITED transferred approximately $616,000 to NBS for yacht rental;

b. On or about April 18, 2011, VESTOR LIMITED transferred approximately $3,606,000 to ECL for yacht rental;

c. On or about May 27, 2011, MEGAUPLOAD LIMITED transferred approximately $212,000 to ECL for yacht rental;

d. On or about June 22, 2011, VESTOR LIMITED transferred approximately $1,127,000 to NBS for yacht rental; and

e. On or about June 24, 2011, VESTOR LIMITED transferred approximately $2,394,000 to SYM for yacht rental.

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The United States of America gives notice to all defendants, that upon conviction of any defendant, a money judgment may be imposed on that defendant equal to the total value of the property subject to forfeiture, which is at least $175,000,000.

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The United States of America gives notice to all defendants, that the property to be forfeited includes, but is not limited to, the following: 1. $175,000,000 in United States dollars;

2. Bank of New Zealand, Account No. XX-XXXX-XXXX200-04, in the name of Cleaver Richards Trust Account for Megastuff Limited; 3. Kiwibank, Account No. XX-XXXX-XXXX922-00, in the name of Megastuff Limited Nominee Account No. 1; 4. Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in Auckland, New Zealand, Account No. XXXXXXXXXXXX2088, in the name of BRAM VAN DER KOLK; 5. Citibank, Account No. XXXXXX3053, in the name of Megacard, Inc.; 6. Citibank, Account No. XXXXXX3066, in the name of Megasite, Inc.; 7. Stadtsparkasse München, Account No. XXXX4734, in the name of FINN BATATO; 8. Commerzbank, Account No. XXXXXXXX4800, in the name of SVEN ECHTERNACH; 9. Deutsche Bank AG, Account No. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX6600, in the name of MATHIAS ORTMANN;

....

Rabobank Nederland, Account No. NLXXXXXXXXXXXX7300, in the name of Bramos BV; 58. Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Australia, Account No. XXXXXXXX0087, in the name of MATHIAS ORTMANN; 59. Ceskoslovenska Obchodna Banka Slovakia, Account No. XXXXXXXX9833, in the name of JULIUS BENCKO; 60. Paypal Inc., account paypal@megaupload.com; 61. Paypal Inc., account belonging to KIM DOTCOM (xxxxxx@ultimaterally.com); 62. Paypal Inc., accounts belonging to SVEN ECHTERNACH (xxxxxx@sectravel.com, xxxxxx@sectravel.com, and xxxxxx@sven.com); 63. Paypal Inc., account belonging to BRAM VAN DER KOLK (xxxxxx@bramos.nl); 64. Moneybookers Limited, account belonging to ccmerchant@megaupload.com;

....

66. 2010 Maserati GranCabrio, VIN ZAMKM45B000051328, License Plate No. “M-FB 212” or “DH-GC 470”, registered to FINN BATATO;

67. 2009 Mercedes-Benz E500 Coupe, VIN WDD20737225019582, License Plate No. “FEG690”;

68. 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM, VIN WDB2093422F165517, License Plate No. “GOOD”;

69. 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG 5.5L Kompressor, VIN WDB2093422F166073, License Plate No. “EVIL”;

70. 2010 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG L, VIN WDD2211792A324354, License Plate No. “CEO”; 70

71. 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drop Head Coupe, VIN SCA2D68096UH07049; License Plate No. “GOD”;

72. 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, VIN WDD2120772A103834, License Plate No. “STONED”;

73. 2010 Mini Cooper S Coupe, VIN WMWZG32000TZ03651, License Plate No. “V”;

74. 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, VIN WDC1641772A608055, License Plate No. “GUILTY”;

75. 2007 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG, VIN WDD2163792A025130, License Plate No. “KIMCOM”;

76. 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, VIN WDC1641772A542449, License Plate No. “MAFIA”;

77. 2010 Toyota Vellfire, VIN 7AT0H65MX11041670, License Plate Nos. “WOW” or “7”;

78. 2011 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG, VIN WDB4632702X193395, License Plate Nos. “POLICE” or “GDS672”;

79. 2011 Toyota Hilux, VIN MR0FZ29G001599926, License Plate No. “FSN455”;

80. Harley Davidson Motorcycle, VIN 1HD1HPH3XBC803936, License Plate No. “36YED”;

81. 2010 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG, VIN WDD2163742A026653, License Plate No. “HACKER”;

82. 2005 Mercedes-Benz A170, VIN WDD1690322J184595, License Plate No. “FUR252”;

83. 2005 Mercedes-Benz ML500, VIN WDC1641752A026107, License Plate No. DFF816;

84. Fiberglass sculpture, imported from the United Kingdom with Entry No. 83023712;

85. 1957 Cadillac El Dorado, VIN 5770137596; 86. 2010 Sea-Doo GTX Jet Ski, VIN YDV03103E010; 87. 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible, VIN 59F115669; 88. Von Dutch Kustom Motor Bike, VIN 1H9S14955BB451257; 89. 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM, VIN WDB2094421T067269; 90. 2010 Mini Cooper S Coupe, VIN WMWZG32000TZ03648 License Plate No. “T”; 71 91. 1989 Lamborghini LM002, VIN ZA9LU45AXKLA12158, License Plate No. “FRP358”; 92. 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML63, VIN 4JGBB7HB0BA666219; 93. Samsung 820DXN 82” LCD TV; 94. Samsung 820DXN 82” LCD TV; 95. Samsung 820DXN 82” LCD TV;

...

110. The following domain names: Megastuff.co; Megaworld.com; Megaclicks.co; Megastuff.info; Megaclicks.org; Megaworld.mobi; Megastuff.org; Megaclick.us; Mageclick.com; HDmegaporn.com; Megavkdeo.com; Megaupload.com; Megaupload.org; Megarotic.com; Megaclick.com; Megavideo.com; Megavideoclips.com; Megaporn.com.

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Signed by: United States Attorney, Chief of Cybercrime Unit, and Assistant Attorney General.

Re: Megaupload down, FBI Charges Seven With Online Piracy

#285

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other side of this SOPA battle is playing us like a fiddle. This WSJ article took our stance (it's not my stance but the majority here's stance) and attacked us with it by saying we're pro-piracy. That doesn't go over well outside this community. If we just got off the copyright/privacy topic for a minute and focused on the big picture we could fight more effectively. Point out that SOPA/PIPA are unnecessary beca…

'What this is really about is the government and entertainment industry trying to grab the power to do the things they've already been doing without having to go do all that annoying stuff like gathering evidence, building a case, or holding a trial.' Parts of SOPA/PIPA will make their lives easier, this is true, however it also grants new powers. Much recent fervor revolves around these new powers. You also criticiz…

amen to that! Power to the people!

Re: Megaupload down, FBI Charges Seven With Online Piracy

#287
post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's analyze the propaganda speak here: > Megaupload never complied with DMCA requests Based on not only the experience of others, but the claims of the DoJ itself, this is clearly false. > The site charged for access to, and provided advertising around, pirated content. This is true in the same way YouTube provides advertising around, and your friendly local ISP provides access to, pirated content. > The site paid…

The other side of this SOPA battle is playing us like a fiddle. This WSJ article took our stance (it's not my stance but the majority here's stance) and attacked us with it by saying we're pro-piracy. That doesn't go over well outside this community. If we just got off the copyright/privacy topic for a minute and focused on the big picture we could fight more effectively. Point out that SOPA/PIPA are unnecessary beca…

I agree here. We should make the main issue the fact that MPAA and RIAA just want to do away with due process. So we have to ask ourselves, why are they doing that? It's because when these cases actually go to Court, they don't always win. In fact in a lot of the cases they lose.

This is why they've been trying to switch their strategy from fighting the "pirate sites" in Court, and instead just try to get Congress to pass a law that helps them bypass the courts completely and give them a kill-switch for all the sites they don't like. Their strategy with these bills has been "shoot first, and hopefully you don't ask any questions later and take us to Court".

So before anything, this is what we really need to focus on and fight against - them wanting to remove full due process. But once we do kill SOPA and PIPA for good, we really need to get Congress to kill the Pro IP Act (passed in 2008), which already allows ICE to take down .com, .org, .net sites without due process. In a way Pro IP is worse than SOPA and PIPA, because they already affect "US sites" rather than "foreign sites".

Re: Megaupload down, FBI Charges Seven With Online Piracy

#289
post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for letting us know; you are correct- I didn't see the indictment. I read the article quickly and came here to see what people were saying. I saw a lot of debate about "% of piracy," so I commented. Wow the executives were deep in blatant piracy. It's fair that the site was shut down. Amazing, not surprising though.

Thank you. It's nice that at least ONE person recognized that maybe their uninformed reaction to a short article might not be 100% correct, and was willing to go read the indictment and learn a bit more.

you made your point.the indictment,the indictment. Someone was talking about how our freedoms are getting more and more restricted. The big picture. You get in and try to educate people. Well, that's probably how you see yourself.

Re: Megaupload down, FBI Charges Seven With Online Piracy

#290
I'm actually here on side of FBI / DOJ.

As far as I understand they collected a lot of evidence that the site was actually promoting piracy, and refusing to comply to DMCA requests - and handsomely profiting from it (about ~170M).

Hey - on every torrent site when you search for a movie to download you have ad for megaupload (or some of these sites).

And megaupload is not only one: there is http://www.downloadweb.org and many others.

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