Megaupload users get data reprieve

Users of Megaupload.com concerned about losing their personal data on the company's servers have been given a reprieve, U.S. officials say. After federal investigators finished reviewing data on the servers of the site accused of online piracy, officials said the server companies hosting the site could begin deleting data as soon as Wednesday, InformationWeek reported. However, Megaupload's U.S. attorney said the two hosting providers have agreed not to delete Megaupload data they're storing for at least two more weeks. "The hosting companies have been gracious enough to provide additional time so we can work out some kind of arrangement with the government," attorney Ira Rothken said. The Justice Department's seizure of the Megaupload servers has been criticized for not distinguishing between material stored there that may have infringed U.S. copyright laws and non-copyrighted material legitimately stored on the servers by users, InformationWeek reported. The servers have been offline since being taken down earlier this month after a Justice Department indictment accused seven Megaupload executives of racketeering, money laundering and copyright violations. The reprieve means Megaupload users who used the service to store legitimate personal files may one day regain access to them, officials said.