Megaupload who recently got shut down due to claims of piracy, copyright infringement, and money laundering, had the chance of all its user’s data deleted this week . Fortunately, they’ve received an extension, but not for long.
Why the deletion of data? The simple fact is, since the file hosting service was shut down, the US government also froze all of the company’s assets which keeps them from making any payments. They rely off of a couple hosting companies and have contracts with them to host data.
Users are saved, for now at least.
Via Informationweek:
“In the United States, Megaupload leases servers from two hosting providers: Carpathia Hosting and Cogent Communications. Since the Justice Department froze Megaupload’s assets, however, the file-sharing site could no longer pay its leasing bills.”
“But Ira Rothken, Megaupload’s U.S. attorney, said the two hosting providers have since agreed that they won’t delete the Megaupload data they’re storing, for at least two more weeks. “The hosting companies have been gracious enough to provide additional time so we can work out some kind of arrangement with the government,” Rothken said, according to news reports. The negotiations are meant to free up funds to pay the hosting providers to recover some data, which he said may also aid Megaupload’s defense.”
While this is great, users still can’t access their data due to the site being shut down, however, there’s the hope that the site can eventually be restored after all the legalities and lawsuit is figured out.
Do you think they should save Megaupload user data?