Cyberlocker Hotfile agrees to $80 million settlement deal with the MPAA, and shuts down immediately
Another cyberlocker site has been shut down, following the site's agreement of a settlement deal which sees $80m being paid to movies studios for copyright offences.
Just a week before the trial against file hosting Hotfile was set to begin, the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) announced that website has agreed to pay damages of $80 million and will implement copyright filters on the site, or will have to cease operating.
At this time, it appears Hotfile has taken the second option and terminated operations, with a message on the website that reads "As a result of a United States federal court having found Hotfile.com to be in violation of copyright law, the site has been permanently shut down."
The message is similar to one that is shown to visitors of another recent website shutdown by the MPAA, isoHunt.
"This judgment by the court is another important step toward protecting an Internet that works for everyone," said MPAA chairman Chris Dodd. "Sites like Hotfile that illegally profit off of the creativity and hard work of others do a serious disservice to audiences, who deserve high-quality, legitimate viewing experiences online."
Hotfile has not issued any comments on the settlement, other than to confirm, via its lawyers, that a deal was in place. It is also unknown how much of the $80 million Hotfile will be able to pay.
Home
