April 29, 2024

Apple Shuts Down TheMonkeysBalls

Posted November 14, 2008 at 5:19pm by iClarified · 16998 views
Apple has had its legal team shut down TheMonkeysBalls, a website which provided cracked IPA files for the iPhone.

The information below was posted on their webpage:

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Well, Apple, it took you long enough to find us. We're sure Mr. Haklab will take credit for this and all we have to say to that is that it took you long enough. We had a good run and honestly we are surprised we lasted this long. We don't want to move servers again to another country to avoid DMCA as we've lost interest since the site first launched.

Also, want to just throw out some thanks for people who helped us along the way. Wyze (me), all the coding behind the website. Scuzzy19, where would we be without you? You were the main uploader. Thank you so much for sticking with it even though I was anal on the content of the files, but I only wanted the best from this site. PhYzIcX, you were the #2 uploader and we lost you for a while but came back at the end. sadam, for help with coding tips along the way and all the referrals and support from your forums over at www.xsellize.com. Kyek, for all the tips and help with coding and debugging as well and I want to wish you good luck to you and your site, Appulo.us. You can contact me at any time if you need any help! Doosje, gave me a bit of code that I tested and was working but never implemented.

You can visit our good friends at Appulo.us for all of your download needs!

Also, I would be willing to sell the domain name as I have no use for it anymore. If anyone is interested, just email me wyze@themonkeysball.com.

Just want to say it's been a fun ride and I'll miss it and just want to part with some stats for all the curious kitties out there. Alexa ranking was 34,091 with over 20,000 unique visitors a day. And here are some screenshots for you. ..Almost forgot the screenshot of the bandwidth.
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Also you can find the messages sent by Apple's legal team below:

-------- Message original --------
Sujet : RE: [URGENT] Illegal Distribution of Copyrighted Software -- Immediate Action Requested
Date : Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:41:06 -0800
De : Ramage, Ian
Pour : ,
Références :

Sirs:

Please explain why the website referenced below, www.themonkeysball.com,
is operational again. The site is engaged in mass copyright
infringement.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ramage, Ian Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 9:14 AM
To: abuse@ovh.net; oles@ovh.net
Subject: [URGENT] Illegal Distribution of Copyrighted Software --
Immediate Action Requested
Importance: High

To Whom It May Concern:

We represent Apple Inc. ("Apple"). It has come to our attention that a website hosted by Kimsufi.com, www.themonkeysball.com, is facilitating the distribution of cracked versions of iPhone games (the "Files") sold on Apple's website.

The Files are unauthorized reproductions of copyrighted material distributed by Apple, and has been published without the permission of Apple. Apple protects the applications sold on its website with digital rights management technology that effectively controls access to and copying of the applications. The publishers of this Files have "cracked" that protection in violation of the anti-circumvention measures of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 1201(a)(1)(A).

Apple therefore requests that you take steps to immediately disable this website. Please notify me by reply e-mail once you have done so, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

/s/ Ian Ramage
Ian Ramage
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Embarcadero Center, 28th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415.984.8783
Fax: 415.984.8701
iramage@omm.com

DMCA Certification: I hereby state, under penalty of perjury, that I have a good faith belief that the activities identified above are not authorized by Apple, that the information in this notification is accurate, and that I am authorized to act on behalf of Apple in this regard.

This message and any attached documents contain information from the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers LLP that may be confidential and/or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not read, copy, distribute, or use this information. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and then delete this message.