The Megaupload shutdown may only be the beginning.
Less than a week after the US Department of Justice took down the global file-sharing site, and with it thousands of customers’ files, its competitors are quietly bowing out. More than ten similar “cyberlocker” sites, designed to allow the online storage and sharing of files, have either banned all file-sharing features or shut down altogether to avoid Megaupload’s fate.
Much file-sharing activity is perfectly legal. But when users upload and share songs or movies in digital form, they may be violating copyright—and thereby exposing the sites they use to legal risk.
On Reddit’s r/technology forum, redditors are keeping track of shuttered file-sharing sites in a dedicated thread as they close their doors.
Two sites, Fileserve and Filesonic, have disabled file-sharing capabilities. Users may now only download files they personally have added to each site.
Hotfile, Filepost, and 4Shared are deleting files they deem to be infringing and suspending accounts where they find them.
Uploaded.to, FileJungle, and UploadStation are simply blocking access from countries they deem to be legal risks—such as the United States.
One site, EnterUpload, is down for all users. The site currently redirects to another domain.
“If ever there was a prime example of a ‘chilling effect,’ this is it. So now businesses with perfectly legitimate business models can’t even risk operating,” wrote redditor DashingLeech.
TorrentFreak is also tracking file-sharing sites as they brace themselves against a Federal takedown, adding UploadBox and x7.to to the list of sites that didn’t make it.
“Over the past 48 to 72 hours, the operators of many prominent cyberlocker services have been taking unprecedented actions that can not simply be explained away by mere coincidence,” wrote editor enigmax. “The details in the Megaupload indictment clearly have some players in the file-hosting world spooked.”
One competitor that seems to be clear of a shutdown? Dropbox. Redditors and TorrentFreak commenters alike think the site’s squeaky-clean reputation puts it out of immediate danger.
“Dropbox emphasizes legitimate uses, and doesn’t pay for uploads, so they’re probably safe,” wrote redditor despiteitall.
Some file-sharing sites—including Megaupload, until its shutdown—had programs which promised to pay users who uploaded particularly popular files. The Department of Justice’s indictment against Megaupload noted that feature in their charges.
Photo by mlrs193