TorrentSpy Ordered to Hand Over User Data

It looks like TorrentSpy's decision to ban US users from its site may have been done in response to a court order anyway.

Although it ceased operating in the US officially on Sunday, a court order was issued the next day which required it to hand over information on the activities of its US users.

TorrentSpy had appealed a June decision ruling that it had to hand over user information found in the RAM of its servers. It argued that RAM was temporary storage and that it would be difficult to glean any information pertinent to the case.

U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper denied the claim on Monday, saying that even if it is temporary, the company will still be required to hand over any stored information found there.

Representatives for TorrentSpy are using its Sunday decision as cover to say that they won't have anything to surrender to the court. It also said it will re-appeal the decision in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

TorrentSpy had claimed that the original move to end US operations "was not compelled by any Court," but with the timing of its action and Monday's court rulings, that response could be considered questionable. The MPAA, which has been leading the charge against the site had no public comment as of press time.