London police unit closes down file-sharing website FileCrop

The UK Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) has shut down file-hosting search site FileCrop.

When searching for the FileCrop domain, visitors are now told the site has been closed down by the City of London Police's PIPCU unit, on the grounds of alleged copyright infringement. A notice on the site says that it is currently "under criminal investigation".

FileCrop allowed users to access content on a number of file-share sites, such as RapidShare and Mega. Last year, FileCrop was on a list of takedown target domains prepared by music industry organisation the BPI. The BPI wanted ISPs to block visits to the FileCrop domain.

The FileCrop domain name owner is believed to be located in strife-torn Ukraine.

Last month, PIPCU closed down the The Sports Torrent Network (TSTN). And shortly after that, the police unit closed down 2,500 websites for allegedly selling counterfeit goods.