Sensational, yes, but it is possible that being more than just a pr0n collector made Hollywood pay more attention to them as there is some strategic advantage to shut them down. They may have assisted with the investigation to speed things along for whatever reason. I would bet they were more than enough reasons to arrest mr Dotcom but the complexity and the cost might have made it a tough target vs other 'low hanging fruit' law breakers (FBI has limited resources too).
Was Megaupload Targeted Because Of Its Upcoming Megabox Digital Jukebox Service?
11–20 of 66 posts
Re: Was Megaupload Targeted Because Of Its Upcoming Megabox Digital Jukebox Service?
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
>Grooveshark are of questionable legality and use this model, yet they have not been shut down Except they're being sued by every single major label - and some internal emails from them are pretty damning. Same case as it is with Megaupload.
Yes but Megaupload was taken down completely with FBI involvement, grooveshark are only being sued. If "the labels" could have Megaupload taken down like that because "the labels" were scared of this new "industry disrupting" feature why wouldn't they do the same with Grooveshark, why would they do it the "proper" way? If you have a power drill you don't use a screwdriver, although maybe it can be argued that they di…
Perhaps they can only call in so many favors so often? The first one was getting DMCA passed, this one is just a show of power.
Ha ha, only serious.
Then again, this investigation has been going on for at least two years.
Re: Was Megaupload Targeted Because Of Its Upcoming Megabox Digital Jukebox Service?
#13The insinuation is that someone from the media giants signaled FBI that it is time to take these people down. Not saying it is impossible but how would that work? Would they go through a Congressman by paying them? Is there a number you call and can set a bounty for a particular investigation like "investigate this and if you prosecute successfully you get $100k bonus"
I have no idea about anything having to do with the Megaupload case, but private business influences the actions of government agencies all the time. It isn't as simple as a number you can call, or paying a bribe (which I think is rare in the US). It has more to do with relationships and influence, and yes, influence with a Congressman does play an important part in that mix. It isn't that easy to spot when legitimate influence (which all large lobby and business interests have) steps over the line and becomes corruption.
Re: Was Megaupload Targeted Because Of Its Upcoming Megabox Digital Jukebox Service?
#14Re: Was Megaupload Targeted Because Of Its Upcoming Megabox Digital Jukebox Service?
#15No, MegaUpload was shut down after years of investigation, not because big music companies got wind of their recent plans and bribed the FBI or something. I'm a bit concerned as to how things went down, but honestly, MegaUpload had it coming. I'm sure there's lots of people who used it legitimately, but I've personally never seen one person or link to a MegaUpload file online that wasn't meant for piracy.
I understand how it could seem that way, but consider the math. If they caused $500M in lost sales, and EVERY illegal download is a lost sale, then with 50M users a day, if everyone was downloading $1 songs, they only had about ten days of piracy. If ever user was pirating one item.
If higher priced materials were pirated, or users pirated more than one item, then we're talking less time. Maybe a week, maybe less, of rampant, constant piracy.
And this site, roughly, was open since when, 2006?
Re: Was Megaupload Targeted Because Of Its Upcoming Megabox Digital Jukebox Service?
#16The insinuation is that someone from the media giants signaled FBI that it is time to take these people down. Not saying it is impossible but how would that work? Would they go through a Congressman by paying them? Is there a number you call and can set a bounty for a particular investigation like "investigate this and if you prosecute successfully you get $100k bonus"
I have no idea about anything having to do with the Megaupload case, but private business influences the actions of government agencies all the time. It isn't as simple as a number you can call, or paying a bribe (which I think is rare in the US). It has more to do with relationships and influence, and yes, influence with a Congressman does play an important part in that mix. It isn't that easy to spot when legitimat…
That is why I was wondering what would have been the signaling channel in this case. Obviously for FBI to put all this effort into it, they'd have to have some payoff (maybe publicity about how well they did the job was the payoff?). So at some point someone had to suggest this course of action and hint on the expected reward.
One way I can think is through Congress. There are revolving doors around many govt regulatory agencies and industries they regulate but I think a revolving door between FBI and Hollywood is a little harder to imagine.
EDIT: Just thought about it. Can someone donate to FBI? I found:
* FBIAA ( http://www.fbiaa.org/donations/ ) * http://www.fbicaindiana.com/donate
Wonder what kind of tricks FBI would do if someone drops $10M in there?
Re: Was Megaupload Targeted Because Of Its Upcoming Megabox Digital Jukebox Service?
#17The (Hacker News) headline is a bit sensational, over simplified, and speculative. The article simply says MegaUpload was going to release a new site targeting music distribution. If they are guilty of the charges against them, it's very possible that their new venture wouldn't be "legit" at all. Edit: The HN headline, not the Techcrunch headline.
> The article simply says MegaUpload was going to release a new site targeting music distribution.
Not just music distribution, but also movie distribution, if I am reading the article correctly.
Seems like a prime target for RIAA and MPAA, though in my mind, this is just plausible, and not the real deal.
Re: Was Megaupload Targeted Because Of Its Upcoming Megabox Digital Jukebox Service?
#18Bullshit. To go legit with currently signed artists they'd have to do deals with the big 4 labels and none of them were likely to license their catalog to mega.
They were much more likely to go the grooveshark route an try to hide behind the DMCA safe harbor provisions.
Re: Was Megaupload Targeted Because Of Its Upcoming Megabox Digital Jukebox Service?
#19While my inner revolutionist is bouncing with excitement. Is there actually any evidence. My worry is that it's all speculation.
Re: Was Megaupload Targeted Because Of Its Upcoming Megabox Digital Jukebox Service?
#20The (Hacker News) headline is a bit sensational, over simplified, and speculative. The article simply says MegaUpload was going to release a new site targeting music distribution. If they are guilty of the charges against them, it's very possible that their new venture wouldn't be "legit" at all. Edit: The HN headline, not the Techcrunch headline.
> If they are guilty of the charges against them And what is that? > If they are guilty of the charges against them, it's very possible that their new venture wouldn't be "legit" at all. Sounds... speculative.
You got me--I speculated. However, there is a difference between writing a speculative comment and writing a speculative headline. Everything has its place.
I could have said "Since they behaved like criminals in the past, they will continue to be criminals" but that would a) assume their guilt and b) rule out the ability for people to change their ways.