Feds say 7 from Megaupload.com ran massive worldwide piracy website

Megaupload.com has been shut down by federal prosecutors on charges of violating piracy laws. “This action is among the largest criminal copyright cases ever brought by the United States,” the Justice department said in a statement about the indictment.

The indictment accuses the corporations Megaupload Limited and Vestor Limited of costing copyright holders more than $500 million in lost revenue from pirated films and other content.

It contained endorsements from Kim Kardashian, Alicia Keys and Kanye West. Australian Kim Dotcom lead the ring in the criminal enterprise.

Each person involved faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on racketeering charges, five years for conspiracy to commit copyright infringement, 20 years on money laundering charges and five years on related charges.

According to a 2008 statement by Patrick Leahy, D-Vt, online piracy from China and elsewhere is a massive problem for the media industry.

(아주경제 송지영 기자)

AJP