Los Angeles - TorrentSpy, a site that indexed files available for download from the BitTorrent file-sharing network, and was the target of a lawsuit from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), has permanently closed down the site for all visitors worldwide, TorrentFreak reported.

Once one of the most popular BitTorrent sites, TorrentSpy was sued by the MPAA in February 2006.

In a bid to protect the identities of its users, TorrentSpy closed off access to U.S. users after a federal judge last August ordered the company to store data on all of its users.

The MPAA was not satisfied, however, claiming the company was ignoring the court's orders.

"Ultimately the Court demanded actions that in our view were inconsistent with our privacy policy, traditional court rules, and International law; therefore, we now feel compelled to provide the ultimate method of privacy protection for our users - permanent shutdown," site founder Justin Bunnell wrote on TorrentSpy.com.

Related Links:
http://torrentfreak.com/torrentspy-shuts-down-080327/

http://www.news.com/newsblog/8301-10784_3-9904810-7.html

http://www.torrentspy.com