The Feds are continuing there shut down of illegal file sharing websites, this time there focus was on the one of the largest such site, megaupload.com owned by producer Swizz Beatz.
On Wednesday thousands of sites including Wikipedia went ‘black’ in protest of two new bills, SOPA and PIPA, targeting file sharing sites.
Swizz Beatz, who is listed as the sites CEO, is in the middle of a serious legal battle with Universal Music Group, the FBI and the Justice Department. Megaupload.com is accused of costing the film, music and television industry more than $500 million in revenue.
The US Justice Department claims that the website has made “more than $175 million in criminal proceeds and causing more than $500 million in harm to copyright owners.”
In addition to shutting down the world’s 13th largest site, FBI has indicted seven and arrested four people on charges that include “conspiracy to commit racketeering and criminal copyright infringement.” Beatz has not yet been charged.
Swizz will also face lawsuit from UMG after recruiting artistes such as Kanye West, Diddy and Will.i.am to appear in the ‘Megaupload Mega Song’ promo video marketing the site. Universal said they didn’t give any of their artists approval to endorse the company that they claim has a reputation of hijacking albums illegally.
Snoop Dogg, Jamie Foxx, Serena Williams, Macy Gray Lil Jon, Floyd Mayweather, The Game, Kim Kardashian, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown and Swizz’s wife Alicia Keys are among celebrities who endorse the site.
and it has begun what next…