KickAss Torrents (Photo : Facebook)
Nearly three weeks have passed and KickassTorrents is still down with the hope of resuming operation soon quite low. Reports indicate that domains used by the file-sharing site have been seized by the U.S. government but a number apparently were overlooked, chief of them the well-known addresses KAT.cr and Kickass.cr. Is there a faint chance that KAT can stage a comeback?
According to TorrentFreak, the U.S. has so far taken possession of three KAT domains registered in the United States namely KickassTorrents.com, Kastatic.com and Thekat.tv. A fourth domain, Kickass.to, was also seized as the report noted that it was based in Tonga or within the easy reach the U.S law enforcement agencies.
Surprisingly though, another three domains connected to the KickassTorrents operations seemed to have escaped the scrutiny of the U.S. federal authorities. Philippine-based KAT.ph remains untouched and both KAT.cr and Kickass.cr are just out there ready for the taking.
And TorrentFreak said that the two domains, regarded as the most identified with KickassTorrents, were in fact put up for sale. The asking price is incredibly low at $230. Why this is the case, the report was unclear, adding that Costa Rican authorities, who have jurisdiction on the matter, refused to give any statement.
In addition to the three KAT domains that are merely parked but active, the same report pointed to dozens more of intact KickassTorrents backup domains that seem to indicate the site, if given the chance, is ready to resume its interrupted operation.
While remote the scenario could happen. The latest update on the criminal charges that alleged KickassTorrents owner Artem Vaulin faces is that California-based lawyer Ira Rothken will defend him. Rothken also represents MegaUpload founder Kim Dotcom and the latter, based in New Zealand, has so far won back his freedom and avoided extradition attempts by U.S. authorities.
Rothken has indicated that Vaulin and Dotcom are in a similar situation and the former will likely get out of jail soon. Should that happen, will Vaulin, thought to still hold the original KickassTorrents code, retake control of the KAT domains and rebuild the site?
Again, it is a remote possibility. And while waiting, another major torrent player, Torrentz.eu, went dark last week but torrenting is far from dead. KickassTorrents alternatives The Pirate Bay and ExtraTorrent, including KAT mirrors/clones KAT.am, Kickass.cd and Kickass.mx, appear to be doing just fine serving the millions of torrent fans.
