BTJunkie shuts down as Megaupload arrests put pressure on filesharing

PLAYB3YOND · Feb 8, 2012

BTJunkie, a popular filesharing website, has shut down 'voluntarily' after last month's arrest of the operators of Megaupload.com on criminal copyright infringement charges.

The development is being viewed as a further victory for the entertainment industry in its battle against internet piracy. The website, which offered links to BitTorrent downloads, has been replaced by a farewell message (above).

"This is the end of the line my friends," it says. "The decision has not come easy, but we've decided to voluntarily shut down.

"We've been fighting for years for your right to communicate, but it's time to move on. It's been an experience of a lifetime, we wish you all the best!"

Unlike Megaupload.com, BTJunkie did not itself host files for download, but helped users download them directly from other users via the BitTorrent protocol. It was founded in 2005 and was one of the most popular filesharing websites, offering links to thousands of copyright films, music and television programmes for free download.

Its anonymous operator reported to the filesharing news website TorrentFreak that action by US authorities against Megaupload.com had prompted the decision to shut down. He however claimed "the war is far from over" for filesharing websites.

he closure of Megaupload.com last month and arrest of its operators, including its flamboyant founder Kim Dotcom, was a success for the entertainment industry. According to the indictment against Mr Dotcom and his colleagues, the website made $175m in "illegal profits" from user subscriptions and advertising.

BTJunkie was not known to be the target of a similar investigation, although it was listed as a rogue website by entertainment industry bodies and banned from appearing in Google search results.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolo...load-arrests-put-pressure-on-filesharing.html

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BTJunkie shuts down as Megaupload arrests put pressure on filesharing

Oh noes!

PLAYB3YOND Retired Staff Member