It's the same story with FileServe, just open any random link:
FileServe can only be used to download and retrieve files that you have uploaded personally.
If this file belongs to you, please login to download it directly from your file manager.
Obviously, they don't want to get into the same shit as MU. Well, they've had some good years to fill their pockets but now the fun is over.
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In a way I'm not surprised or sad about this. File sharing nowadays is more about making money than actually sharing.
In all those years I never asked for or made any money on sharing stuff. That just doesn't feel right in my opinion.
I know, it was never good, at least not for free users. Low speeds and long waiting times.
Most file hosters are dropping all of their affiliate programs at the moment. No more payouts for people who participated in those. I hope this will change things for the better.
Cyberlocker Ecosystem Shocked As Big Players Take Drastic Action
In the wake of last week’s Megaupload shutdown, some of the biggest names in the market are taking drastic action. During the last 48 hours many sites have completely withdrawn their systems for paying uploaders when their files are shared with others, but one of the most dramatic moves came first from Filesonic and today Fileserve. Both services now forbid people from downloading any files they didn’t upload themselves.
@Delacroix, you can disagree with someone without being rude. You're right in that there's no need for panic...file sharing keeps going through changes over the years and will keep doing so in the future as well.
I never agree with making profits from piracy. We want to keep older games available (not 0-day releases) and encourage people who like a game to purchase it especially for online play. Those affiliate programs are stupid and greedy on the part of hosts and they thought they could get away with it and did until the Megaupload closure. File sharing will continue but it can't be as blatant as some have been about it.
Scaryfun wrote:Those affiliate programs are stupid and greedy on the part of hosts and they thought they could get away with it and did until the Megaupload closure.
Right, it went way out of hand. Hiding behind DMCA but at the same time leaving files with obvious names online: files uploaded by premium users that also want to make money.
Now there are lists floating around on forums & sites with the apparent status of hosters. Most of them are about the closing of affiliate programs; those claims can be verified easily by just checking the website. There are other claims however, such as the ones below:
4shared.com – Deleting files with copyright and waits in line at the FBI.
MediaFire.com – Called to testify in the next 90 days and it will open doors. Pro FBI.
Crocko.com – Called to testify in the next 90 days and it will open doors. Pro FBI.
Are those claims true or false? I tried to find more information via Google, but it didn't turn up anything useful. Could be a hoax.
FBI go after the biggest organizations, that's why the Megaupload owners were targeted. Did they go after individuals who upped the files...nope. Like has been said in the past, the obviously named 0-day files is what pisses them off. Most hosts will periodically delete those. So, hosts are telling them what practices they follow to do so.
Yeah, they're trying to kill all the affiliate programs, which they can procicute in a pretty cut and dried way. 'You are paying someone per hit, and making money on files, and you don't bother to check if they're legal?' When money starts changing hands they can make a case.
IMO, it's probably best to wait and see what the fallout will be and then decide how to move forward with the site.
@Shattered, I too have seen those lists and although there is no backing as of yet for those claims, we should be cautious about the methods (& services) we use moving forward.
My basic thought about this fiasco is that file-sharing had become too easy, and it was only a matter of time before something like happened. Add to it the affliliate programs that were being run by the cyber-locker companies just adding more fuel to the fire. It was a sad day, but not one that should have been unexpected.
Found some new information on torrentfreak (only the part about 4shared is quoted):
As the cyberlocker landscape stands now, 4shared.com remains by far the largest site on the Internet. With an estimated 2.5 billion page views, 4Shared is more than twice the size of MegaUpload before it was shut down.
Needless to say, 4Shared is deeply concerned about the recent developments, but the company also told TorrentFreak that they have nothing to worry about themselves.
“This case has a great negative impact on file storage services and the Internet overall,” a spokesman said, adding that “4shared has some of the most strict house rules among all other file storage services and there’s no need for any changes.”
