Court shuts down file-sharing Web site

NEW YORK, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- File-sharing U.S. Web site LimeWire posted an online notice Wednesday telling visitors it had been court-ordered to stop any illegal content distribution.

The notice appears like a sign nailed to the door of a building, advising its visitors that a court had shut the Web site down.

U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood issued the order after four years of court battles with the Recording Industry Association of America, which negotiated settlements on distribution of copyrighted material with other file-sharing Web sites but could not agree on terms with LimeWire, BetaNews reported.

In a statement, LimeWire Chief Executive Officer George Searle said, "Naturally, we're disappointed with this turn of events. We are extremely proud of our pioneering history and have, for years, worked hard to bridge the gap between technology and content rights holders."

This week's injunction was the follow-up to a court ruling in May, InformationWeek reported. On Tuesday, Wood ordered the firm to discontinue all "searching, downloading, uploading, file trading and/or file distribution functionality."

Searle said LimeWire would find a new direction with "a completely new music service" but did not reveal details on any new ventures.

In a statement, RIAA, which represents 13 record companies, said closing down LimeWire "will start to unwind the massive piracy machine that LimeWire and (founder and Chairman Mark) Gorton used to enrich themselves immensely."