Megaupload.com dealt a mega downer

The file-sharing site Megaupload is no more. The US Department of Justice smacked an indictment on it because of what they say is $500 million in lost revenue to copyright holders.

In addition to taking the site down they also had New Zealand arrest its founder, Kim Schmitz, and three other officials - just to really stick the boot in.

But, it looks like the Megaupload boys thought themselves to be a little bit 'gangsta'. When they were being arrested, New Zealand police seized guns, art, over £5 million in cash and £3 million worth of cars in Auckland.

Megaupload was one of the most popular file-sharing websites but, as we all know, it's legal status was more than a bit iffy. That's why their servers were mainly based in Hong Kong. Stupidly, though, the Megaupload lads also had some pirated content hosted on servers they leased in Ashburn, Virginia.

The Department of Justice's timing was most likely on purpose - the day after major US sites went offline for 24 hours to protest the proposed SOPA legislation.

But, just when the Attorney General, Eric Holder, thought he had the upper hand, down goes his website. Hacktivist collective Anonymous had struck again. In what can only be described as the internet wars, Anonymous took down the department's website and those of Universal Music, Recording Industry Association of America and Motion Picture Association of America.

A good day's work for the hackers. But, looking at the overall picture, it certainly seems as if the prospect of a proper internet war is becoming a real possibility. Once it doesn't affect us too much and it's a little cooler than the Cold War then we'll be happy.