File sharing site MegaUpload has recently been in the sights of both the RIAA and MPAA for hosting copyrighted content. In an ironic (and immensely satisfying) twist, a new video surfaced today from artists whom the RIAA claim to represent that sings the praises of MegaUpload.

The video was commissioned by MegaUpload founder Kim Dotcom and features the likes of P. Diddy, Kanye West, Will.i.am, Snoop Dogg, Alicia Keys, Jamie Foxx, Lil John, and more.

The video went viral very quickly, making it to Twitter’s trending topics within a short amount of time – and then Universal Music stepped in.

The original video, published on Kim Dotcom’s own YouTube account, was taken down due to a copyright claim by UMG, despite having absolutely no “stolen” content whatsoever.

“UMG did something illegal and unfair by reporting Mega’s content to be infringing. They had no right to do that. We reserve our rights to take legal action. But we’d like to give them the opportunity to apologize,” Dotcom told TorrentFreak.

After filing a copyright claim dispute the video was temporarily brought back, only to be taken down again.

“We filed a dispute, the video came back online and now it’s blocked again by UMG and the automated YouTube system has threatened to block our account for repeat infringement,” Kim explained.

Casey Rae-Hunter, Deputy Director at Future of Music Coalition, chimed in the incident, pointing out a blatant violation of the artists’ speech rights.

“The fact that this expression could be silenced by a major label — without any apparent infringement — should be seriously troubling to anyone who cares about artists’ speech rights,” says Casey Rae-Hunter, Deputy Director, Future of Music Coalition. “If this can happen to Snoop Dogg and others, it can happen to anyone.”

To see what the fuss is all about for yourself, check out the “Mega Song” directly below.

MegaUpload Song hits big on the web, UMG tries to take it down is a post from: The Inquisitr

The sad death of Steve Jobs, Apple’s visionary co-founder, has triggered a wave of tributes from those who knew him in the tech world.

Celebrities and those in the world of entertainment have also been busy tweeting and Facebooking their condolences in the last 24 hours, and CNN rounded up some of their words (and for good measure, I added some more recent tributes in):

TV host and comedienne Ellen DeGeneres: I just finished my show and I heard the news about Steve Jobs. He was an amazing man with an incredible vision. He changed the world.

Musician will.i.am: “we lost a great innovator… steve jobs designed a whole new world…he will be missed …”

TV news personality Katie Couric: “Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. You’ve changed forever the world you leave behind.”

Musician Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: RIP to one of my HEROS Steve Jobs!!! You’s a Bad Mother f[--]ka! 4real. Changed the game. Thanks for dreaming So BIG!!!

Socialite and TV personality Kim Kardashian: Wow Steve Jobs died! He was a brilliant man!

Model and actress Tyra Banks: “As I type on my iPhone, tears spring2 my eyes4an amazingMan I never met. His genius has touched us all. Steve Jobs, you will b/with us 4ever.”

NBA basketball star LeBron James: “R.I.P Steve Jobs. Someone who definitely left his mark on this world! Innovations that will live and last forever!!”

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: “Steve lived the California Dream every day of his life and he changed the world and inspired all of us.”

Actor Alec Baldwin: “Sad about Steve Jobs. On par with Henry Ford, Carnegie and Edison.”

Actress Jane Lynch: “We will miss you, Steve Jobs. Sent lovingly from my iPhone.”

Socialite and TV personality Paris Hilton: So sad to hear about Steve Jobs. He was a genius and one of the most innovative people on earth. He changed the world in so many ways. RIP

Maria Shriver: I’m going to turn off my Apple computer, iPhone and iPad tonight at 8pm and honor Steve with a moment of digital silence. Will you join me?

Actress Martha Plimpton: “Rest in Peace, Steve Jobs. Kinda can’t believe he’s gone. Carrying a little part of him in my pocket every day.”

Actor Neil Patrick Harris: “Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. Your genius will live on for generations to come…”

Singer Josh Groban: “Such a sad day, I can trace my apple memories to the IIC when i was a kid. RIP.”

Radio personality Howard Stern: “Steve Jobs was a true original. So Sad. A tremendous loss.”

Director Spike Lee: “I only met Steve Jobs once, briefly at The Apple Store on 5th Avenue in NY. People VISIONARIES are always called CRAZY in the beginning… A VISIONARY sees things that everybody else says is IMPOSSIBLE, sees a World that People can’t invision-MAC,IPOD,IPAD,IPHONE,ITUNES…And PIXAR. I have nothing but Love for Mr. Jobs and Apple,they have always given me and my Films L-O-V-E. Peace and Blessings to his Family.

Steve Jobs Remembered by Entertainment World is a post from: The Inquisitr

Blacked Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am nearly had to stop singing “Stop the Party” when the singer forgot the words to the song and had to look them up on his cell phone during a performance.

Will.i.am was appearing on the French television show Taratata and was performing the Stromae hit Alors on Danse and when it was his turn to sing his own lyrics “don’t, don’t, don’t stop the party” he was spotted quite clearly staring down at his phone as he read his own song’s lyrics while singing.

This sadly is still not as bad as his Superbowl disaster.

In case your curious here is the video of the Will.I.Am cellphone performance:

Will.i.am Forgets Words To Own Song, Uses Phone To Look Them Up [Fail] is a post from: The Inquisitr

In a statement on his website, Perez Hilton formally apologized to the gay community for using the word “faggot” in an argument with Black Eyed Peas will.i.am, the same argument that resulted in him getting punched in the face by the Peas manager, Polo Molina.

In that same apology, Perez wrote that he was sueing Molina for $25,000 in damages because of the incident, and that he’d donate the proceeds of the suit to the Matthew Shepard Foundation, an organization that strives to replace hate with understanding and acceptance in the face of diversity.

Well, since Hilton’s recent fight was (in part) brought on by his choice of hateful and discriminatory language in Toronto, the Matthew Shepard Foundation does not want his money. In a statement posted to the Matthewshepard.org site:

The Matthew Shepard Foundation was surprised to learn this morning via media reports that blogger Perez Hilton (Mario Lavandeira) has announced he plans to donate, to our organization, the proceeds of a lawsuit he is contesting over an altercation which has been widely reported in recent days.

We had no advance notice or contact from Mr. Hilton or his representatives regarding this proposal, nor any communication since he posted this plan to his website.

We do not know the details of the lawsuit, whether it has been filed, the nature of his claims or the likely outcome. But because the lawsuit presumably involves the physical attack prompted by Mr. Hilton’s admitted use of an anti-gay slur, the Foundation will be unable to accept any funds obtained in such a manner.

We very much appreciate the generosity of the offer to support our continuing work to memorialize Matthew through activism in defense of sexual minorities and in favor of understanding, compassion, and acceptance. But because so much of our work involves education to reduce the use of hateful language against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, or those so perceived, it would be inappropriate for us to benefit financially from circumstances in which such a verbal attack was involved.

While we applaud Mr. Hilton’s apology to the LGBT community and their loved ones for his use of such a slur, we also feel compelled to point out that use of epithets can often lead to physical violence, as it appears it may have in this case, and that the Matthew Shepard Foundation has worked for more than 10 years to bring to people’s attention the consequences of hateful or intolerant language.

Judy Shepard
Chair, MSF Governing Board

Matthew Shepard Foundation doesn’t want Perez Hilton’s Lawsuit Money is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kelly Clarkson has weighed in (no pun intended) on the Will.i.am/ Perez Hilton drama by saying that she is surprised Perez hadn’t been hit before.

Clarkson said in an interview (video below) that as much as she doesn’t condone violence, Perez had it coming. Clarkson went on to note that given Perez is mean to kids like Miley Cyrus, no one will be upset by him being hit.

“You’re mean to children! No one’s going to pity you” said Clarkson. “I do not think violence is the answer, but what do you expect? I’m surprised it hasn’t happened already…I’m thinking how much did will.i.am pay his manager to do that?”

Here’s the interview:

(via PopCrunch)

Kelly Clarkson on Perez being hit: I’m surprised it hadn’t happened before is a post from: The Inquisitr

Following a panicked tweet at 3am, Perez Hilton has posted a statement regarding the “attack” he described, allegedly at the hands of Will.I.Am’s bodyguards.

Calling Will.I.Am a “coward” and a “disgusting human being,” Perez does his best Chris Crocker impression and unleashes his righteous outrage. Speaking under his real name, Mario Lavandeira, Perez describes the incident that came to everyone’s attention via Twitter around 3AM EST. Perez originally tweeted:

I was assaulted by Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas and his security guards. I am bleeding. Please, I need to file a police report. No joke.

Still waiting for the police. The bleeding has stopped. I need to document this. Please, can the police come to the SoHo Met Hotel.

The drama started at the MuchMusic Awards, with some minor confrontations between Fergie and Perez over, not surprisingly, comments Perez made on his blog. The brouhaha spilled out to an after party and lead to the alleged assault at the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel in Toronto.

Perez’s angry statement, branding Will.I.Am a “thug,” reminds us all that he will not be silent! Then Perez Mario tells of calling the rapper “a f*ggot,” leading up to the eye-punching and the blood and the tweeting. He wraps up with some real tears and a sobby thank you to everyone who undoubtedly clogged up Toronto emergency response lines, reminding Will.I.Am that God is shaming him! Shaming him! And he reiterates that Fergie is “fugly.”

Not to be outdone, Will.I.Am hastily put up a Twitter account and video response. The shaming goes both ways, as Will.I.Am shames Perez, too:

“Shame on you, shame on your behavior, and that’s just messed up.”

He charmingly concludes with “how you stop that?”

UPDATE: There’s now a video of Perez Hilton being assaulted. Watch the Perez Hilton Assault Video Here!

Perez Hilton attacked! is a post from: The Inquisitr

Will.i.am is back with a new Obama song, this one celebrating the election victory.

It’s a New Day celebrates the change just as the title suggests. Video clip as follows:

Will.i.am is back with It’s A New Day is a post from: The Inquisitr