What happened to Megaupload's files?


Now that Megaupload is not working, what is going to happen to all those files that were stored there?

Megaupload.com was one of the largest file storage spaces online and, despite what the news might have you believing by now, was not used purely for bootlegging copyrighted content. Many PC video games allow, even encourage, custom content created by the players. The Sims series is well-known for this and Bioware games also got onboard, releasing a Toolset to do just that. Megaupload.com provided a convenient and easy way to share these files with the rest of the world without having to own your own website and use up your own bandwidth.

It was as easy as making an account, uploading the files and sharing a link with other gamers who might be interested.

So what exactly is happening to these files now that Megaupload is not working?

Right now you can feel secure that your files are safe on the Megaupload servers. The FBI is going to keep the files intact so that they can go over them with a fine-toothed comb looking for illegal content - if you had anything copyrighted or otherwise illegal up you should cross your fingers they don’t issue a warrant against the IP address that file was uploaded from. Those who had large stashes of copyrighted movies and music are the most at risk, but it’s not a guarantee, just something you should be aware of.

For the rest of us with legitimate content, for now our content is safe and if Megaupload beats the charges against it the servers will go right back into place exactly as they were before, restoring all of our hard work.

Until then, I hope you saved copies and can upload them to alternative sites like Putlocker.com, Filebox.com or Depositfiles.com or one of the many other cyberlockers available so that people can continue to enjoy them while Megaupload is not working.

And if Megaupload loses the case?

According to a Hawaiin FBI electronics technician, who wishes to remain anonymous, there are a few ways it can go. The servers could be totally wiped and destroyed without giving anyone a chance to get their content back or, due to the large number of legitimate and large companies using Megupload for file sharing, the illegal files found may be deleted and the servers put back online for a temporary time so that people can retrieve their own work. It all comes down to what the lawyers and judge determine in the event of a lost copyright infringement case, but with some fairly large companies using the site, including Public Knowledge - a not-for-profit public interest group based out of Washington, DC - and even Android cellphone software writers - some very popular and well-known, it’s likely something will be hashed out to give a grace period for legitimate file retrieval.

We’ll have to wait for the dust to settle to really know what the future holds for the files we stored there. But one thing’s for sure, Megaupload not working is putting a kink in many people’s file-sharing plans.

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