Just an update to a story I covered recently about Megaupload…
(Reuters) – Content-sharing Internet service Megaupload.com has lost the help of one of the best-known U.S. defense lawyers as it begins to fight charges of copyright infringement, a person familiar with the matter said.
Robert Bennett was required to withdraw from the case because of a conflict involving at least one other client of his law firm, Hogan Lovells, this person told Reuters. The other client or clients were not identified.
Bennett initially advised Megaupload.com. The company and seven of its executives were charged in a 5-count, 72-page indictment unsealed on Thursday accusing them of engaging in a wide-ranging and lucrative scheme to offer material online without compensating the copyright holders.
Bennett’s long career includes past representation of President Bill Clinton. He was Clinton’s personal attorney in a sexual-harassment case brought by Paula Jones. He has represented a wide array of other prominent Washington officials and U.S. corporations, including former energy giant Enron Corp.
Under the ethics rules for U.S. lawyers, a firm generally does not represent two clients whose interests are at odds. Conflicts are especially likely to arise at law firms as large as Hogan Lovells, one of the biggest in the world, because of the number and variety of clients they represent.
Word is the porn crowd is still mourning in sackcloth and ashes. I mean, all that porn….gone! 😥 Anyhow, I am sure they will get themselves another lawyer, and if my suspicion is correct, they will end up either getting the charges dismissed or reduced to fines. Either way, it should be interesting to watch! 😀
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