mega

DOJ tries to block return of data to MegaUpload user

Returning videos to Kyle Goodwin, a former MegaUpload user, would set a bad precedent, the U.S. said in documents, copies of which were obtained by CNET.

The fate of legitimate user data that was locked up following the shut down of MegaUpload, one of the world's most popular cloud-storage services, continues to vex the court overseeing the case. Negotiations between the stakeholders involved, including MegaUpload, the Motion Picture Association of America, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (the advocacy group representing Goodwin) and the U.S. Attorney's office, can't agree on what should be done with the information … Read more

MegaUpload: Pffft! MPAA's user-data stance is 'posturing'

The major Hollywood film studios earlier this week said in court documents that they won't object if data is returned to MegaUpload users as long as the files were "legitimately acquired."

MegaUpload's representatives were unimpressed. They say the Motion Picture Association of America, the studios' trade group, knows that it's nearly impossible to determine for sure if a movie was legally purchased or not.

"Accept this as posturing," said Ira Rothken, the attorney leading MegaUpload's worldwide defense. Rothken said the MPAA's "illusory request for 100 percent certainty" on which … Read more

MegaUpload asks U.S. court to dismiss piracy charges

MegaUpload's attorneys have asked a federal court to toss out the criminal copyright charges brought against the company, arguing that the United States simply has no jurisdiction over the Hong Kong-based cloud-storage service.

"Megaupload does not have an office in the United States, nor has it had one previously," MegaUpload's lawyers wrote in their motion to dismiss. "Service of a criminal summons on Megaupload is therefore impossible."

MegaUpload filed its motion today with the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the court overseeing the U.S. government's case against the company, … Read more

New Zealand court tells U.S. to reveal MegaUpload evidence

A New Zealand judge wants to see the evidence against MegaUpload's managers.

Judge David Harvey has given New Zealand law enforcement officials three weeks to provide documentary evidence against managers of the cloud-storage service accused of encouraging massive copyright infringement.

Harvey was responding to a request made by MegaUpload's lawyers to require New Zealand, which is pressing the case on behalf of the United States, to fully disclose the evidence against company managers. The U.S. government in January indicted MegaUpload's founder Kim DotCom and five others connected to the company on criminal copyright charges.

As part … Read more

EFF to federal court: Return MegaUpload data now

The patience of Kyle Goodwin, a former MegaUpload user, has apparently run out.

The videographer, who stored clips of high school sports action at MegaUpload, filed a three-page motion today that asks a federal court in Virginia to figure out a way to return his clips to him.

Goodwin has waited for the company, the U.S. government, Hollywood film studios, and other interested parties to determine what to do with the data on MegaUpload's servers, which were seized by the United States in January. The district court overseeing the case told everyone with a stake in MegaUpload's … Read more

Kim DotCom case sees tears, claims of betrayal

Kim DotCom isn't too big to cry.

In court yesterday, the MegaUpload founder choked up when he recalled how New Zealand police in January raided the Auckland mansion where he lived and when, as his lawyer said, he was "ripped him away from his family." The U.S. Attorney's office accuses MegaUpload of being a front for a massive piracy operation and lawyers there are trying to extradite him to this country to face criminal copyright, money laundering and wire fraud charges.

MegaUpload was one of the Web's most popular cyberlocker services before U.S. … Read more

Freeware Friday: Retro remixed

There once existed a land where DLC (downloadable content) didn't exist and games came on cartridges. The Freeware Crew frequently reminisces about those golden days and we've dug up three titles to bring them back to life on your PC. Check out these 16-bit tributes and kiss your weekend goodbye. … Read more

MegaUpload to court: Put civil cases against us on hold

MegaUpload wants to defend itself against all its accusers.

But one at a time, please.

MegaUpload, the cyberlocker service that the U.S. government alleges was a front for a huge criminal copyright scheme, has asked a federal court to stay civil suits filed in March against the company. MegaUpload has also asked for more time to respond to the complaint.

"The government's seizure of assets has rendered the alleged conspirators unable to pay the fees for the servers through which this allegedly illegal activity was conducted," wrote MegaUpload's legal team, which is led Ira Rothken, … Read more

Relive video game history with epic 'Go right'

YouTube user RockeyPlanetesimal's "Go right" video might send you dashing down memory lane with its array of clips of beloved game characters running for their lives.

The beautiful montage of video game history, infused with dramatic music, shows off many popular games from past and present. As an enhancement to the experience, the footage appears self-shot, giving it a much livelier feel. … Read more

RapidShare, MediaFire distance themselves from MegaUpload

Which cyberlocker service is next to get busted?

That's one of the questions that have lingered since the January 19 raid on the home of Kim DotCom, the founder of MegaUpload. Two of that company's rivals, RapidShare and MediaFire, appear to be trying to make sure that it's not them. They are speaking out publicly now in an effort to show the differences between their services and rivals, especially MegaUpload. Cyberlock services enable people to store their digital media on a third-party's servers.

Danny Raimer, RapidShare's general counsel, told U.S. News & World ReportRead more