July 29, 2008

By By Ayala Ben-Yehuda, L.A.

Mexican authorities have shut down a file-sharing server that enabled the exchange of music and videogames online via DirectConnect, a worldwide peer-to-peer network that has been the subject of IFPI lawsuits and international police raids.

The Mexican server was a hub of DirectConnect known as "Sunnydale," and contained "more than 1.5 terabytes of illegal content, including local and international music repertoire," according to an IFPI statement.

Using information supplied by local anti-piracy trade group APCM via an Internet search, the Mexican attorney general's office asked the hub's internet service provider to shut down Sunnydale's connection. The server has shown no signs of activity since July 3.

IFPI Latin America helped shut down a DirectConnect hub in Chile in March, which was identified as having enough capacity to host up to 1.8 million songs.

Subscribe to Billboard magazine today!