Chile Shuts Down DC++ 'Metal Hub'

IFPI targeting Latin American P2P servers.

IFPI Chile, with the support of Chilean police investigators, was able to identify and shut down a major DC++ hub called "Metal Hub."

One of the requirements for members to participate in the hub was that each user should have at least 1 GB of music files to share. IFPI Chile estimates the hub was operating with enough capacity from their participants to host up to 1.8 million songs.

Local internet and physical anti-piracy teams worked together to identify the hub’s location and owner. The hub owner and his ISP received “cease and desist” letters informing them of the copyright infringements that resulted from their activity.

The hub was then apparently shut down three days after the notifications were sent. The action was part of IFPI’s regional strategy to shut down all P2P servers in Latin America. There are currently other hubs under investigation in Chile.