Michel Jackson “Jams” Internet

Michael Jackson’s sudden death spread at a geometric viral rate, and (cfr. Akamai’s news net usage index) and caused server outages everywhere.

 For example, Google News had to temporarily block all “Michael Jackson” search requests since the systems incorrectly thought they were under a “denial of service” attack .

The problem was patched by Google through a temporary block, but other sites, including Jackson’s official website and London’s O2 concert venue, where Jackson was set to kick off his 50-date come back tour next month, weren’t so lucky.

Also, Michael Jackson’s Wikipedia page had to be locked down after users accessed it over 1 million times in less than an hour.

Twitter’s site activity almost tripled as millions of users tweeted real time information of Jackson’s arrival at the hospital, rumors of a coma and eventually confirmation of his death. As a result of all the extra traffic, Twitter’s Fail Whale error page made multiple unwanted cameos on Thursday and Friday.

Online retailers (similar to store outlets when Elvis died) profited from the madness and sales of his music on iTunes and Amazon.com skyrocketed. Currently 6 of the top 10 selling songs on iTunes are Jackson’s.

On the other side of the ocean, Swedish The Pirate Bay, was sold to Global Gaming Factory (GGF), a Stockholm-based software developer and Internet/gaming cafe franchise for  $60 million Swedish Kronor, or $7.8 million dollars.  GGF intends to respect copyright by introducing models which entail that content providers and copyright owners get paid .  Last week The Pirate Bay owners lost their appeal in Swedish court for a retrial and were hit with a $3.9 million dollar fine and sentenced to a year in jail.