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    How MegaUpload's Copyright Problem Affects You

    By Adam Clark Estes | The Atlantic Wire – Thu, Feb 2, 2012
    How MegaUpload's Copyright Problem Affects You

    The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) issued a worrisome warning in the form of a press release on Thursday: MegaUpload used to own all of its users' data, but now the government does. Whether those users shared a family photo album through the site or pirated thousands of Hollywood movies, all of their data exists somewhere on MegaUpload's servers -- some of which are not located in the United States -- and based on the tone of EFF's formal request, it sounds like the government is considering wiping them clean.

    RELATED: Being Big and Tall Doesn't Keep Megaupload Founder Out of Police Custody


    "The government knows that Megaupload had many customers who followed the law. Yet it gave those users no notice that their data was at risk and no information about how they might be able to eventually get that data back," EFF Staff Attorney Julie Samuels wrote in a press release. "Our client, and the many other innocent Megaupload users, are entitled to a clear process for obtaining access to their own property, and the first step is to make sure that property is not deleted or damaged until the court can sort this out."

    RELATED: Kim Dotcom Will Be in Jail for the Next Four Weeks


    So far, the government's been stalling on making a final decision on whether or not to erase the data, though it did issue a warning a few days ago that it could erase the servers. Regardless of your file-sharing habits, this latest wrinkle in the great saga of MegaUpload and its founder Kim Dotcom throws more fuel on the smoldering controversy over who controls all of your Internet data and why. Obviously everyone on the Internet has been paying close attention to the state of how copyright law is enforced thanks to the overwhelming protest against SOPA, PIPA and related legislation. But as Dotcom's arrest and MegaUpload's shutdown have made very clear, the Feds don't need SOPA to go after a website. It would appear that they also don't need your permission to erase all of your files. There's probably some fine print in the terms and conditions statement somewhere, but who reads those things, anyway?

     

    32 comments

    • dude
      dude  •  3 mths ago
      What happened to charging the person with a crime, going to trial, then doling out punishment if he's guilty? It's like they've already convicted him. They've shut down his business, confiscated his property, frozen his assets, thrown him in jail, and now they want to delete all the data from the servers? Data that could be used to proven his innocence or guilt??

      It's absolutely shameful what Obama has done to our civil liberties.
      • Murphy
        Murphy 3 mths ago
        It's just another step in the USA's master plan to control the world. Don't blame it on Obama. The plans were drawn up many decades ago.
      • old_flatbush
        old_flatbush 3 mths ago
        Holder has no scruples and greatly lacks in integrity. So, working for the government suits him well. (Check out his history.)
      • Stinky
        Stinky 3 mths ago
        Trial? Are you kidding? Look at Sandusky. They wouldn't have arrested him if he wasn't guilty! Don't you know anything? As for destroying evidence, that just makes it easier to convict. Pal, you need to go to law school before talking s#@t.
    • nick name
      nick name  •  3 mths ago
      This sure makes me want to store my data in the "cloud" where it'll be "safe."'
      • Gizzyman2001
        Gizzyman2001 3 mths ago
        megaupload was not a "cloud" it was a file sharing site for pirates
      • Red
        Red 3 mths ago
        "megaupload was not a "cloud" it was a file sharing site for pirates" and apparently one or more honest individuals' legit files that are now being treated like acceptable collateral damage in the mad govt law and order rush to see that rich folks don't miss out on a nickel's worth of THEIR profit. To he# with any and all little people trampled in the grand exercise of "justice".
    • Jason B
      Jason B  •  Beaverton, Oregon  •  3 mths ago
      What people don't realize is that this is the beginning to stop a "wikileaks" type situation happening in the US. Seriously, they have time to arrest these people but all the bankers and people on wall street who spent HUNDRED OF BILLIONS of dollars of US Citizen tax payer $ on bailout they will NEVER pay back will NEVER get arrested EVER. Its a joke, I don't give a #$%$ someone is stealing StarWars from George Lucas, he's rich as the devil, I DO care that our government gave away $190 Billion to people who never will pay it back......those people are who need arrested.....
    • The Wiz
      The Wiz  •  Winter Park, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      Better get you class action lawsuits against the government started soon so you can file an injunction to prevent them from destroying your data!
    • old_flatbush
      old_flatbush  •  3 mths ago
      Our Government is acting more like the Mafia every day. Gestapo tactics and KGB mentality.
    • Tim
      Tim  •  3 mths ago
      so the music artist's files and the hollywood files etc. are precious, but screw u and i - the normal guy's files are nothing--- govt hypocrites
    • BillT
      BillT  •  3 mths ago
      Just more of our rogue government that is not by the people for the people and of the people, who gave those clowns the right to do anything? Copyright laws? Hey the rogue government should just stick to it's failing drug war. They have no right holding people's personal property, but hey since when did they have to follow the rules on anything the American public wants, they keep pushing their socialists ideals, if we continue to sleep, they will get away with it.
      • Red
        Red 3 mths ago
        Strange, Bill, I agree with almost everything you wrote, but I see the govt sins and excesses as fascist inspired, not socialist. Think about it theoretically. As govt takes over more and more industry and enterprise, gradually the government IS the economy and means of production. Private intellectual property would NEVER exist in that situation. But, in fascism, the govt encourages or takes advantage of of oligopoly and monopoly, but doesn't sack the ownership class. The very few folks who own everything and the fascist pols go to extremes to conspire together, cooperate and rip off the vast majority of the citizens. There is still private ownership, but only a few folks own very much of anything--in fact, the elites and the state own and jealously guard their property which is composed of nearly all the wealth of the state--which is where we in the US are fast headed. Say, like with this Magaupload mess where Uncle is acting like only 2 interests matter--the govt's idea of law and order AND the property rights of those who allegedly had their "intellectual property" copied illegally/stolen.
    • Bill
      Bill  •  Spokane, Washington  •  3 mths ago
      F... the government
      • Murphy
        Murphy 3 mths ago
        With a chainsaw. Sideways. Twice.
    • Brad R
      Brad R  •  3 mths ago
      I'm really confused as to how they can simply destroy what is clearly evidence to be considered in any criminal trial. It seems like its an open invitation for a judge to throw out all the charges.
    • Guest
      Guest  •  3 mths ago
      And the cloud cnocept with one swoop.
    • Murphy
      Murphy  •  3 mths ago
      Most governments, the USA included, have restrictions on the use of eminent domain - the seizing of personal property without the owner's consent. In the USA, eminent domain is rarely invoked. When it is invoked, the seized property, whether real or intangible, is supposed to be for public use and the owners are supposed to be compensated for their loss. Many MegaUpload customers used the service to store their personal files, pictures, and documents. The seizing of this data, without just compensation, violates the law in most countries, USA included. I see some seriously major lawsuits coming.
    • chuck f
      chuck f  •  Dearborn, Michigan  •  3 mths ago
      Mega upload is just an early version of the cloud, and was used legally by millions of people, just becuase it was easy for pirate to use, does not mean it should have been shut down and everyone that was legally using it takes a loss. Its just like renting out a storage unit to keep your personal stuff in, and just because someone eles rents one at the same place and stores illegal stuff in it, does not mean they need to close it down and take and burn everything in all units.
    • David W
      David W  •  St Louis, Missouri  •  3 mths ago
      gotta love the land of the free. or they kill you. :)
    • Nicholas
      Nicholas  •  3 mths ago
      so... that fast it was decided he was guilty... upon arrest? If he wasn't convicted why are they destroying the evidence that could be used in court? So the music artist's files and the hollywood files etc. are precious, but screw u and i - the normal guy's files are nothing it seems.
    • Radical Liberal Genius
      Radical Liberal Genius  •  3 mths ago
      ICE agents can shut down servers in one fell swoop in NZ, but couldn't catch an illegal alien while Eric Holder helped him fill out college loan applications using identity theft SSNs and fake IDs.
    • Radical Liberal Genius
      Radical Liberal Genius  •  3 mths ago
      Welcome to the "cloud" where all your data are belong to us. Keep uploading sheep.
    • old_flatbush
      old_flatbush  •  3 mths ago
      Is it just me or has Yahoo be out of sorts these last few hours?
    • JR
      JR  •  3 mths ago
      Intellectual property doesn't exist...it is my hope, that soon the world will understand this, and gain a deeper appreciation for where we are as a species.
    • JR
      JR  •  3 mths ago
      These stupid asshats don't understand what the "Information Age" even is, or what it implies about information and concepts of ownership. Boycott American cinema until they are penniless. All that counts for these fools is their bottom dollar. Let#$%$ them where it hurts!
    • MaoBama truth team
      MaoBama truth team  •  3 mths ago
      How MegaUpload's Copyright Problem Affects You ...They dont but people like the gun smuggler and drug dealer Eric Holder and the nazi blockhead Napolitano do..
     Post a comment
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