In a case that dates back to 2011, Hotfile, a Panama-based cyberlocker, has been found "liable on charges of copyright infringement," according to a Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) statement sent to Ars on Wednesday.

The official written judgment from the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida remains under seal. Most likely, Hotfile was found liable on secondary infringement, as its direct copyright infringement allegations were tossed aside in July 2011 by the federal judge in the case.

When asked to clarify, the MPAA’s spokesperson, Kate Bedingfield, told Ars that “the court won’t make the decision public for 14 days and we can’t say anything else until it does.”

“This decision sends a clear signal that businesses like Hotfile that are built on a foundation of stolen works will be held accountable for the damage they do both to the hardworking people in the creative industries and to a secure, legitimate Internet,” said former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), chairman and CEO of the MPAA, in the MPAA's e-mailed statement.

“We applaud the court for recognizing that Hotfile was not simply a storage locker but an entire business model built on mass distribution of stolen content. Today’s decision is a victory for all of the men and women who work hard to create our favorite movies and TV shows, and it’s a victory for audiences who deserve to feel confident that the content they’re watching online is high-quality, legitimate, and secure.”

In previous court filings, Hotfile’s attorneys characterized (PDF) the site as an “online file-hosting service” and noted that simply because the company operates in various international jurisdictions does not make it “unscrupulous.”

There is nothing illegal about being a Russian living in Bulgaria or incorporating in Panama. Plaintiffs' argument rings especially hollow given that Plaintiffs themselves operate a confusing Web of offshore entities and at least half a dozen holding companies (e.g., Walt Disney Holdings (Hong Kong) Ltd). See Ex. B. There is nothing sinister let alone illegal with Hotfile‘s corporate structure.

Neither Hotfile nor its attorneys responded immediately to Ars’ request for comment.