Megauploads closed down

[Camera]

Originally Posted by Kenny Gioia

Here comes the slipper slope lobbyists.

If you can't see the difference between legitimate file sharing sites and megaupload then there's not much to debate.

I also would not like to see innocent people go to jail, but I'm not for dismantling ALL prisons "just in case".

I can't see the difference, because it's the users.

The difference comes when the users set up their own transfer protocols and their actions come down on them.

I could be all about that.

One thing I can say for myself, and having full respect for what I do, I have never given away something that is not mine. And I still have unclaimed, unreleased masters that are worth a lot.

[Kenny Gioia]

Originally Posted by Camera

I can't see the difference, because it's the users.

Yes. It is the users. But the appeal of the service they provide is the ability to perform illegal filesharing.

That's undeniable. I don't care if some of you use this for your clients. You're outnumbered.

You can't sell ad space to people who upload files to just their clients. The numbers don't make sense.

In fact, the only reason these sites are free is because the illegal stuff has enough appeal to make it worth it in ad revenue.

The legitimate sites need to charge their customers to make money.

Look at it this way. If I ran a hotel that was used primarily for hookers to have sex with their clients, I may not be doing anything wrong. I'm just running a hotel. But I will be closed down.

[Camera]

Originally Posted by Kenny Gioia

Yes. It is the users. But the appeal of the service they provide is the ability to perform illegal filesharing.

That's undeniable. I don't care if some of you use this for your clients. You're outnumbered.

You can't sell ad space to people who upload files to just their clients. The numbers don't make sense.

In fact, the only reason these sites are free is because the illegal stuff has enough appeal to make it worth it in ad revenue.

The legitimate sites need to charge their customers to make money.

Look at it this way. If I ran a hotel that was used primarily for hookers to have sex with their clients, I may not be doing anything wrong. I'm just running a hotel. But I will be closed down.

Maybe since I've just been a service facility, I've been too naive.

You're absolutely right.

But there are plenty of hotels just up the street from me that do just that.

Problem is, the users have more power than people who give a crap about music.

[Kenny Gioia]

Originally Posted by Camera

But there are plenty of hotels just up the street from me that do just that.

Absolutely.

But if anyone with power and influence wanted to close those places down, they would.

Because who would complain?

They're allowed to exist in the areas where no one with power cares.

[Camera]

Originally Posted by Kenny Gioia

Absolutely.

But if anyone with power and influence wanted to close those places down, they would.

Because who would complain?

They're allowed to exist in the areas where no one with power cares.

And here in lies my biggest issue.

Music and movie industries are large for sure, and have much too lose from pirates, but there are industries that are much bigger that pirate, and the powers that be line their pockets with the idea that they can get control of these transfer sites.

There is something much bigger than our file sharing concerns going on.

Wait a second, someone just knocked on the door.....

[shponglefan]

Originally Posted by Kenny Gioia

Look at it this way. If I ran a hotel that was used primarily for hookers to have sex with their clients, I may not be doing anything wrong. I'm just running a hotel. But I will be closed down.

And some would argue that shouldn't be a crime and you shouldn't be closed down.

[Kenny Gioia]

Originally Posted by shponglefan

And some would argue that shouldn't be a crime and you shouldn't be closed down.

Yes. But who?

Someone running for mayor?

For Congress?

Who's gonna fight for the rights of hookers and sleazy hotel owners?

There's something I noticed years ago when they would pass a law to take away the ability for strippers to go bottomless.

And I would think. How is that coming back?

Who is going to run on the platform "And I'll bring back bottomless strippers to our strip clubs"?

[Camera]

Originally Posted by Kenny Gioia

Yes. But who?

Someone running for mayor?

For Congress?

Who's gonna fight for the rights of hookers and sleazy hotel owners?

There's something I noticed years ago when they would pass a law to take away the ability for strippers to go bottomless.

And I would think. How is that coming back?

Who is going to run on the platform "And I'll bring back bottomless strippers to our strip clubs"?

Have you been to Atlanta? The buckle of the Bible belt?

[Kenny Gioia]

Originally Posted by Camera

Have you been to Atlanta? The buckle of the Bible belt?

Nah.

[shponglefan]

Dunno about the U.S., but up here there is currently a legal fight going on in the Supreme Court for sex-workers' rights.

Although this is getting a wee bit off topic...

[Camera]

Originally Posted by Kenny Gioia

Nah.

They just passed alcohol sales on Sunday. I'm sure those strip club owners were pretty upset about that. Who do you think kept on stopping that law from passing...?

Probably the same people that needed a reason to get out of the house on Sunday...

[rack gear]

Originally Posted by Gary Ladd

I find RapidShare's untouchable attitude interesting, given that their countrymen folded like a cheap suit on Switzerland's generations old practice of banking secrecy when the U.S. DoJ threatened them with mere lawsuits...

Me thinks the next MAJOR take-down with be RapidShare, hopefully soon

let the folding begin...
FileSonic has disabled file sharing in wake of Megaupload takedown

but these guys might need a stronger hint...
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/n...d-takedown.ars

[initialsBB]

Originally Posted by Benmrx

Megaupload gone, filesonic, fileserve, uploaded.to, uploadstation, filejungle.... all gone, or at least have blocked US IP addresses.

Nice! I was hoping that megaupload was just the tip of the iceberg.

[Benmrx]

Here's my hopeful theory:

1. The Wild Wild West days of the internet come to a close.
2. Record labels get confused when they STILL can't sell copies of the latest gawd awful synth pop act.
3. People start to actually THINK about the music they listen to...., since they're now paying for it.
4. Good, talented artists eventually make a nice, welcomed comeback to the MAINSTREAM media because people want VALUE for their money.

People that were once downloading a zillion songs for free just because they could, will now be VERY selective of who they listen to. Having a maxed out iPod full of songs you've never even listened to once will be a thing of the past..... hopefully.

Here's my slightly worried side theory:

-The Wild Wild West days of the internet are about to REALLY begin.

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by Benmrx

Here's my hopeful theory:

1. The Wild Wild West days of the internet come to a close.
2. Record labels get confused when they STILL can't sell copies of the latest gawd awful synth pop act.
3. People start to actually THINK about the music they listen to...., since they're now paying for it.
4. Good, talented artists eventually make a nice, welcomed comeback to the MAINSTREAM media because people want VALUE for their money.

Nice list.
Full marks from me.
I have a horrible feeling it isn't going to happen though.

[Dean Roddey]

It's always iffy business trying to argue that today's music is crap. They wouldn't even download it if they thought it was crap. What it is is music that people our age probably don't like, which is one of the primary criteria for each new generation's music. In a way I kind of felt bad in the 90s, because so many of us older folks liked so much of what was popular then. It was hard for kids to be musically rebellious. I noticed it a few times, when I asked some younger person what he liked, and I'd say yeh, they are great. And they'd look kind of disgusted, like keep your hands off my music you dirty old person.

[Benmrx]

Originally Posted by Dean Roddey

They wouldn't even download it if they thought it was crap.

You would think....., but it's just not the case. It has almost become like bragging rights.

[Kenny Gioia]

Originally Posted by Benmrx

You would think....., but it's just not the case. It has almost become like bragging rights.

That is true.

I've seen many an iPod full of songs knowing full well that the person who owned it didn't even realize what was on there.

But it was less from downloading and more from just dumping friend's iPod onto theirs.

Either way, the shutdown of these sites can only be a good thing.

[boon]

Originally Posted by Benmrx

You would think....., but it's just not the case. It has almost become like bragging rights.

not just for downloading but for uploads too.

[combfilter]

Originally Posted by Kenny Gioia

I don't think leaking or sharing will ever be stopped.

It's just not possible. I can always upload something and share it with someone.

Just like when I was a kid and I would record an album on a cassette for a friend. That won't stop.

But what will hopefully stop is the ability for one person to share a file with 10 million people.

Or the ability to google search a song and download it for free.

I totally agree with this and all your other posts on this topic as well. Great points.

[combfilter]

Originally Posted by Benmrx

You would think....., but it's just not the case. It has almost become like bragging rights.

Yes. I've seen lots of people with gigabytes of music sitting on their hard disks which they didn't even remember they had. Full discographies galore, never listened to.
I always found it very sad actually. Like hanging a lot of paintings in your house but barely acknowledging their presence, or not knowing their author and title, or never taking the time to understand what they are about.
It's very demeaning to art.