Megaupload’s do-si-do around the DMCA

If you read the 70 page federal indictment against notorious pirate cyberlocker website Megaupload, you will find this charge on page 10, section 22:

When a file is being uploaded to Megaupload.com, the Conspiracy’s automated system calculates a unique identifier for the file (called a “MD5 hash”) that is generated using a mathematical algorithm. If, after the MD5 hash calculation, the system determines that the uploading file already exists on a server controlled by the Mega Conspiracy, Megaupload.com does not reproduce a second copy of the file on that server. Instead, the system provides a newand unique URL link to the new user that is pointed to the original file already present on the server. If there is more than one URL link to a file, then any attempt by the copyright holder to terminate access to the file using the Abuse Tool or other DMCA takedown request will fail because the additional access links will continue to be available.

During my dealings with Megaupload over this past year and a half I’d long suspected as much.  Time after time, I’d remove links using Megaupload’s content management tool only to see a duplicate file reappear (with a new  link) minutes later.  Of course, unlike federal authorities, I did not have access to the actual content residing on Megaupload’s servers, so I couldn’t really prove it.

This past fall while I was researching a pirate blog that offered illegal downloads to LGBT films, I saw that the film “Kyss Mig” was being pirated.  Since it’s a film distributed by the same company (Wolfe Video) that distributes our film I notified them of the infringing link.  A DMCA notice was sent and, as expected, the link was disabled.  However, when I went back to the website the following day I noticed that the disabled link had been replaced by a new one.  That led me to again notify Wolfe and the exercise in futility was repeated.  A few days later I noticed that the link was alive yet again, but the blog owner had changed things up (to protect her download) and the link now took me to an intermediate site “undeadlink.com.”

Essentially the site offered a convenient way to regenerate links to supposedly “dead” files on Megaupload (and apparently Fileserve).  If Megaupload had actually removed the infringing file when it was originally reported, this wouldn’t have been an option.  However, because Megaupload apparently did exactly what is spelled out in the indictment, it was very possible (and efficient).  When I discovered what was going on last fall, and that it verified my suspicions, I decided to record the process.  This video documents what I found.

Megaupload Unmasked from fastgirlfilms on Vimeo.

For more on this issue, check out Terry Hart’s excellent post on his blog Copyhype.com: Megaupload and the DMCA

The Demise of Megaupload–ding dong the witch is dead!

After a week of frenzied rhetoric spinning across the web demonizing efforts by Congress to crack down on online piracy, it was gratifying to see the indictment of those who operate the criminal enterprise known as Megaupload.  I’ve much to say on the subject, and documentation that mirrors the criminal activity outlined in the indictment, but it will take a few days for me to write an in-depth piece on the subject.  However, in the meantime, I’m glad I won’t be seeing this any more.

Illegal download link to our film on Megaupload.com

Vimeo, please STOP Censoring my Video!

Sorry, but this is just too much.  This morning I logged on to the VIMEO premium account I PAY FOR to check my own video “Follow the Money-Who Profits from Piracy” and get this!

Vimeo puts this pop-up on an account I PAY for!

Sorry, but what gives VIMEO the right to plaster their politics on my paid account?  What about my “free speech?”  For the record, here’s what you’ll find after you click past their obnoxious pop-up protest advertisement.  Go here to watch.  I apologize for the popup ad.

My video explaining piracy's link to profits.

The Road to Google DMCA Hell is Paved with Good Intentions….

A year ago, in December of 2010, Kent Walker, General Counsel for Google, promised to make “copyright work better online.”  According to his post on Google’s Public Policy website Walker assured copyright holders:

We’ll act on reliable copyright takedown requests within 24 hours. We will build tools to improve the submission process to make it easier for rightsholders to submitDMCA takedown requests for Google products (starting with Blogger and web Search). And for copyright owners who use the tools responsibly, we’ll reduce our average response time to 24 hours or less.

Well, as well all know,  the road to hell is paved with good intentions.  This afternoon in my email I received responses to 3 DMCA notices I’d sent to Google regarding ads which appeared on pirate websites aside download links to my film.  It’s nice to get a response, but there’s only one problem.  Today’s emails were in  response to DMCA notices I sent to Google last March–March 31st to be exact.  Today is December 7th, 2011,by my count that’s more than 8 months (or approximately 5,928 hours) later– just a tad longer than Mr. Walker’s promise of 24.  Oh well, better luck next time, eh?

Click to see full size image.

 

 


Ironic Much? Google Sends Copyright Violators to “School?”

Perhaps Google should send members of “The Google Team” to “copyright school” while they’re at it. Seems the folks at AdSense prefer to look the other way when it comes to copyright infringement.

Google released a set of tougher copyright policies for YouTube online video users on Thursday, requiring violators to watch a copyright tutorial and pass a test before allowing them to continue using the service.

The search giant has faced mounting criticism from lawmakers and the entertainment industry for not doing enough to combat online copyright infringement.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53178.html#ixzz1JW6l1q6c

MPAA Takes Action Against Hotfile

One of the major “Cyber-lockers” that actively offers anonymous hosting of pirated films, music, and e-books is being sued by the MPAA.  Hopefully this is the first of many lawsuits that will be directed toward these cloud-based storage sites where file-sharing has morphed into an illicit economy for stolen content.

After successfully suing peer-to-peer companies like Napster, Grokster and IsoHunt, the entertainment industry is turning its attention to digital storage sites. The Motion Picture Association of America filed a copyright infringement complaint against Hotfile and its operator, Anton Titov, for allegedly encouraging people to distribute pirated videos.

“Defendants are responsible — every single day — for the infringement of thousands of plaintiffs’ copyrighted works, including movies still playing in theaters,” the MPAA says in its complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Miami.   To READ story on Media Post go here.