TorrentSpy.com, the
BitTorrent tracking site
facing a copyright lawsuit from the motion picture industry, is shutting down
access to users in the United States, the company said in a statement late
Sunday night. The barring of U.S. residents by TorrentSpy comes as a U.S.
district judge is expected to rule any day on whether TorrentSpy must turn over
its user information to the Motion Picture Association of America. That group
filed a civil complaint against the company last year accusing TorrentSpy of
violating copyright law.
"TorrentSpy's decision to stop accepting U.S. visitors was not compelled by any
court," according to a statement from the company. "Rather, it arises out of an
uncertain legal climate in the United States regarding user privacy and the
apparent tension between U.S. and European Union Internet privacy laws." The
company also said that because its servers are located in the Netherlands the
site will remain accessible to users outside of the United States.