Your MegaUpload Stash Is Safe for the Moment

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John Hudson 2,454 Views Jan 31, 2012

Breath easy: Your 14 episodes of Battlestar Galactica will remain in the cloud for at least two more weeks. The two companies that host data for file-sharing site MegaUplaod, Carpathia Hosting and Cogen Communications, have agreed to maintain the massive collection of legitimate and pirated material for a minimum of 14 days, according to Ira Rothken, MegaUpload's U.S. attorney. "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 in a tweet. Yesterday, many feared the feds would start deleting the site's data starting Thursday, after a letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia noted plans to permanently remove MegaUpload. For the long term, it's too early to say what will happen with MegaUpload's data and its owner Kim DotCom, who was arrested this month on piracy, money laundering and racketeering charges. CNET's Greg Sandoval lays out the site's uncertain legal prospects:

Rothken said that information crucial to MegaUpload's defense may be part of the files at risk of deletion. He said to preserve evidence as well as protect users' information, a solution must be worked out.

To do that will cost money. The U.S. government seized most of MegaUpload's assets, including cash, art, and automobiles and other property. In the indictment, U.S authorities said they sought $175 million in criminal proceeds.

 

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