MPAA Wants MegaUpload User Data Retained For Potential Lawsuits

The Motion Picture Association of America has reportedly asked MegaUpload host company Carpathia to retain all user data from the file uploading service, ensuring that such data can be used in civil lawsuits.

The request comes only a short period of time after the US government gave Carpathia permission to remove the 25 petabytes of data that currently resides on its servers while costing the company upwards of $9,000 per day to preserve.

If correct the move could fuel speculation that the MPAA is attempting to build cases against individuals users who used MegaUpload to upload and download illegal copies of movies. Given the size of the user database the MPAA’s lawyers would like go after the sites worst offenders. MPAA officials have already told Wired that it is only looking to bring litigation against Megaupload as an organization “or various intermediaries involved in Megaupload’s operation.”

The blanket request from the MPAA wants information saved that shows which files were uploaded to MegaUpload servers, who uploaded those files and who downloaded the same files. Essentially everyone involved in the uploading and downloading of files.

In the meantime MegaUpload wants all data to be retained for its own criminal defense against charges of copyright infringement and racketeering although the company admits that paying Carpathia is impossible because the company’s assets have been frozen.

In yet another request the Electronic Frontier Foundation has asked that data be made accessible so legitimate users can once again gain access to their private, non-copyrighted files.

A hearing will decide in May if the data must remain with Carpathia or if the company can remove the massive amount of storage it has been forced to watch over.

Do you think Carpathia should be able to delete the information to avoid further costs?