Of course it's the MPAA's job to tell tales of the unspeakable damage that will occur if Megaupload springs back to life.
You then get in to an interesting argument over whether the content that Megaupload has that the MPAA represents is worth more than non-MPAA content on Megaupload's servers. Should efforts be made protect that data, or is the collateral damage to other people's data an acceptable loss?
If the MPAA forces all of Megaupload's data to be destroyed, can a case be made against the MPAA for destroying the valuable data of others? If a single copy of an MPAA film is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, how much value is lost by destroying the hypothetical sole copy of someone's video of their trip to Hawaii?
I'm going to to off on a limb here and say that MU would not dare relaunch until after Kimble is released. If he is convicted I have a hard time believing they would/could relaunch even if they had the data.
So what the MPAA is basically arguing is that MU should not get their data back because in the event that they are unable to secure a conviction, they still want him punished.
Despicable, as usual. Also curious, that they think this might happen.
They'll re-launch servers, returned or not. They don't need them though . All the data on those servers was uploaded by users, anyway. All the uploaded user content was put there because its replaceable and easy to re-upload.
Confiscate the servers if you want, just don't fool yourself into thinking it will stop a thing.
Even if Megaupload doesn't relaunch the MPAA wouldn't want people to get their data back. Right now they have this huge intimidation factor where they can shut down a web site and make people's data disappear forever. Without that threat, enforcement actions don't really have consequences to consumers beyond the annoyance of finding a new site.
You then get in to an interesting argument over whether the content that Megaupload has that the MPAA represents is worth more than non-MPAA content on Megaupload's servers. Should efforts be made protect that data, or is the collateral damage to other people's data an acceptable loss?
If the MPAA forces all of Megaupload's data to be destroyed, can a case be made against the MPAA for destroying the valuable data of others? If a single copy of an MPAA film is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, how much value is lost by destroying the hypothetical sole copy of someone's video of their trip to Hawaii?