Sharehosters imposing download restrictions

[Burning]

Hello fellow modders!

I guess all have notices that megaupload has been busted/taken off the net by the US[1]. What you might not yet have noticed, is that most shared hosters have limited their users download options drastically [2],[3]. It seems many of them are currently preventing users from downloading foreign content (eg: you can no longer upload stuff for others to download). I'm not sure how hosters have already switched on these restrictions, but most will have to[4]. Ultimately, this basically kills sharehosting mods.

Imho, we need some solution for sharing our mods again fast, or it will impose a severe hindered for individual modders who do not own their own webspace/server in the future. I just wanted to bring this topic to your attention, even though I'm hosting AAR myself on a dedicated, physical server and am thus unaffected by tese events As most sharehosters will (have to) impose such restrictions, we ultimately need something like twcenter for the paradox modding community.

Meanwhile, if your mod is affected by these restrictions and need a (temporary) place to share your mod for downloading, feel free to contact me. I've still got a lot of free upload capacity, so it won't hurt my purse for now.

What's your opinion on these events, how do you plan to deal with the download locations for your mods?

cheers,
Me

[1] http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2012/01/why-did-the-feds-target-megaupload-and-why-now/
[2] http://www.digitaltrends.com/web/me...-drops-file-sharing-uploaded-to-drops-the-us/
[3] http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/23/us-internet-piracy-filesonic-idUSTRE80M09X20120123
[4] http://newspresso.gulli.com/2278-sind-die-sharehoster-am-ende-kommentar-23-01-2012

 

[novapaddy]

I was able to upload my WIF mod to gamefront with no problems?

I think you can understand the upload/download sites getting "jittery" as who knows what site is going to be hit next.

I think if these guys have broken the Law and allowed pirated software on their sites, this is wrong, as I agree the guys who make the software should be able to gain the full benefit from doing so. I totally disagree with pirating, and it should be stopped.

I do think the Police should give notice of shutting down servers, as it gives the innocent users time to remove their content. It is wrong that servers are shut down without notice, as innocent users lose out.

Yes, the modding community in Paradox should become more organised, and have something like twcenter up and running.

 

[ewphoenix123]

A first step could be the use of a service that automaticly uploads your files to multiple Sharehosters like www.embedupload.com, chances are pretty good that at least one of them will survive.

Alternatives could be the use of sites dedicated to hosting gamesmods, ModDB and gamefront come to mind. Although i don't know if everyone can upload his files there.

If nothing else works, there are always russian or asian filehosters that are not affected by US policies...

 

[gianlucad]

filesmelt is a good file hosting website.

 

[Denizz]

If a mod is really short of a place to be hosted on, I have a largely unused VPS (for now), so I will gladly host your mod untill you find a more permanent solution. Just send me a PM if you need space.

 

[LiamRiordan]

While it is good that sites are crapping themselves in order to clean up their act, if it is actually needed, it is NOT good that legitimate users across the board suffer.

As filesonic and Uploaded.to have also gone dark:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01/23/virtual_chop_shops_carry_on/

 

[Limith]

Mediafire still works for me.......their stance hasn't changed.
http://blog.mediafire.com/

 

[LiamRiordan]

Megaupload – Closed

Fileserve – Stopped filesharing. You can only download your own files. Deleting multiple files. Banning Premium accounts. Closed Affiliate Program.

Filesonic – Stopped filesharing. You can only download your own files. Closed Affiliate Program. Changed server location Jan 22, 2012. Taken down it's Facebook page Now using Digital fingerprinting. Files are being deleted as soon as uploaded (as Hotfile did).

VideoBB – Closed Affiliate Program.

Filepost – Started suspending accounts with infringing material (as Hotfile did)

Uploaded.to – Blocked U.S. access.

Videozer – Closed Affiliate Program.

Filejungle – Owned by Fileserve (same as above). Testing USA IP addresses
blocking.

Uploadstation – Owned by Fileserve (same as above). Testing USA IP addresses blocking.

4Shared – Deleting multiple files

EnterUpload - Down (Redirect)

 

[JRHINDO]

Megaupload – Closed

Fileserve – Stopped filesharing. You can only download your own files. Deleting multiple files. Banning Premium accounts. Closed Affiliate Program.

Filesonic – Stopped filesharing. You can only download your own files. Closed Affiliate Program. Changed server location Jan 22, 2012. Taken down it's Facebook page Now using Digital fingerprinting. Files are being deleted as soon as uploaded (as Hotfile did).

VideoBB – Closed Affiliate Program.

Filepost – Started suspending accounts with infringing material (as Hotfile did)

Uploaded.to – Blocked U.S. access.

Videozer – Closed Affiliate Program.

Filejungle – Owned by Fileserve (same as above). Testing USA IP addresses
blocking.

Uploadstation – Owned by Fileserve (same as above). Testing USA IP addresses blocking.

4Shared – Deleting multiple files

EnterUpload - Down (Redirect)

Carp!! Thats actually quite a lot of filesharing sites down!

Luxor a close affiliate of the DH dev team and original maker of the Compedium once owned a website to upload mods and such, the YW mod used to have its base of work over there, before it was shut down because of its too low use (and so maintenance costs outweighted its usefulness). But now that the hammer is going down on lots of sites and instead of asking Paradox to make a hosting site, maybe Luxor could be contacted to recreate his upload site?