http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...ged-four-arrested.ars?comments=1#comments-bar http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16642369 I'm suprised it took them this long to target megaupload and sites like it...
Explain why you are suprised please. This is a simple "upload and share site". How can they (Megaupload) police what people put in their account space? Do they BAN movie names? (people will simply use codes) Will they BAN file types? (people will simply rename the file extention) Its impossible, its like renting a container at a storage yard but having to have every item VETTED and PASSED before you can put it in your lock up. Its unworkable. Unless you have a solution?
I'm surprised it's taken this long because the MPAA/RIAA have been after sites like this for years. Reading some of the more technical sites, the reason they've had a problem going after MU is because it's mainly based in Hong Kong (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01/19/kim_dotcom_arrested/) MU and it's competitors all have to adhere to DMCA restrictions where they will take down any file that they are informed of that infringes copyright. As you've rightly pointed out, it won't stop people changing the names/file extensions (or hiding their stuff in RAR files). That still doesn't seem to have been enough to keep the US authorities happy. What's more worrying is the the number of people with legitimate uses (backup, storing files for work use etc) for the service who paid for accounts with it - they're now shafted. MU was shifting more legitimate data than some of it's office-targeted rivals like Dropbox: http://gizmodo.com/5877750/megauplo...ll-corporate-trafficmore-popular-than-dropbox
