Apple Shuts Down TheMonkeysBalls

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Posted November 14, 2008 at 5:19pm by iClarified

Apple has had its legal team shut down TheMonkeysBalls, a website which provided cracked IPA files for the iPhone.

The information below was posted on their webpage:

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Well, Apple, it took you long enough to find us. We're sure Mr. Haklab will take credit for this and all we have to say to that is that it took you long enough. We had a good run and honestly we are surprised we lasted this long. We don't want to move servers again to another country to avoid DMCA as we've lost interest since the site first launched.

Also, want to just throw out some thanks for people who helped us along the way. Wyze (me), all the coding behind the website. Scuzzy19, where would we be without you? You were the main uploader. Thank you so much for sticking with it even though I was anal on the content of the files, but I only wanted the best from this site. PhYzIcX, you were the #2 uploader and we lost you for a while but came back at the end. sadam, for help with coding tips along the way and all the referrals and support from your forums over at www.xsellize.com. Kyek, for all the tips and help with coding and debugging as well and I want to wish you good luck to you and your site, Appulo.us. You can contact me at any time if you need any help! Doosje, gave me a bit of code that I tested and was working but never implemented.

You can visit our good friends at Appulo.us for all of your download needs!

Also, I would be willing to sell the domain name as I have no use for it anymore. If anyone is interested, just email me wyze@themonkeysball.com.

Just want to say it's been a fun ride and I'll miss it and just want to part with some stats for all the curious kitties out there. Alexa ranking was 34,091 with over 20,000 unique visitors a day. And here are some screenshots for you. ..Almost forgot the screenshot of the bandwidth.
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Also you can find the messages sent by Apple's legal team below:

-------- Message original --------
Sujet : RE: [URGENT] Illegal Distribution of Copyrighted Software -- Immediate Action Requested
Date : Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:41:06 -0800
De : Ramage, Ian
Pour : ,
Références :

Sirs:

Please explain why the website referenced below, www.themonkeysball.com,
is operational again. The site is engaged in mass copyright
infringement.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ramage, Ian Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 9:14 AM
To: abuse@ovh.net; oles@ovh.net
Subject: [URGENT] Illegal Distribution of Copyrighted Software --
Immediate Action Requested
Importance: High

To Whom It May Concern:

We represent Apple Inc. ("Apple"). It has come to our attention that a website hosted by Kimsufi.com, www.themonkeysball.com, is facilitating the distribution of cracked versions of iPhone games (the "Files") sold on Apple's website.

The Files are unauthorized reproductions of copyrighted material distributed by Apple, and has been published without the permission of Apple. Apple protects the applications sold on its website with digital rights management technology that effectively controls access to and copying of the applications. The publishers of this Files have "cracked" that protection in violation of the anti-circumvention measures of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 1201(a)(1)(A).

Apple therefore requests that you take steps to immediately disable this website. Please notify me by reply e-mail once you have done so, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

/s/ Ian Ramage
Ian Ramage
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Embarcadero Center, 28th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415.984.8783
Fax: 415.984.8701
iramage@omm.com

DMCA Certification: I hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that I have a good faith belief that the activities identified above are not authorized by Apple, that the information in this notification is accurate, and that I am authorized to act on behalf of Apple in this regard.

This message and any attached documents contain information from the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers LLP that may be confidential and/or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not read, copy, distribute, or use this information. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and then delete this message.

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Aliandro Operator - November 17, 2008 at 5:26am

Perhaps because of lack of: 1- Proof. 2- A valid argument. 3- A valid point. And its ALWAYS up to the company whether or not to sell a product to any one person. Unless its based on ANY sort of discrimination, and unless its that, you do not have a valid case against the company. And if they are so 'evil' why are you buying their products and support their company, eh? And how about you define a 'free market'. Its the same name that ALLOWS the company to make its own discussions in regards to selling their products or not. Besides, the reason you dont want to continue this discussion is because you lost and wont admit defeat in a case you had no business messing with in the first place. And just to clarify, I am sorry if I miss interpreted your words, that was not my intention. But, I'd love to understand as I am more than willing to learn more about the company if I am mistaken in any way. Thank you. :)

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Aliandro Operator - November 16, 2008 at 2:55pm

Even though I havent come across such an..'incident' nor have ever heard of it. I mean, it doesnt make any sense. Even if they do deny selling a certain piece of software to certain people, then thats up to the company. And if those people want those software that badly, they do have to find a way. But its just as the 'owners' of TheMonkeyBalls said, they are surprised that the site was still up for so long. What would anyone expect? They are bluntly distributing copy-righted material. What more can I say?

Visitor X - November 16, 2008 at 10:35am

Rather by _NOT_ selling software, for example they refuse to sell certain consumers. In other words are my dollars less valuable then yours ? I do not know details for that website but maybe that is what happened. If you do not treat your customers or actually refuse somebody to be customer then what mistreated party can do ? Some create themonkeyballs I would presume ;-)

Aliandro Operator - November 16, 2008 at 10:21am

Just for the record, I never bought any apps from Apple, and probably never will. But I do know that they are doing what they must. How is Apple playing dirty? By selling THEIR software? Please do elaborate. :)

Macopoulos - November 15, 2008 at 7:21am

But in the monkeys goodbye letter a*.us is referred, that's bad isn't it, now their gonna hunt it too!