AfterDawn: Tech news

Hotfile begins suspending premium accounts

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 21 Feb 2011 7:45 User comments (17)

Hotfile begins suspending premium accounts Hotfile has begun taking a harsh stance on copyright infringement, says TF, with the cyberlocker deleting premium accounts, along with all the files in them.
Furthermore, the company is not paying out money earned in the site's rewards program.

The MPAA recently filed a lawsuit against Hotfile and its owner, claiming that "in less than two years, Hotfile has become one of the 100 most trafficked sites in the world. That is a direct result of the massive digital theft that Hotfile promotes."

This week, hundreds of account holders are reporting that their paid-up premium accounts have been deleted, along with all their uploaded files. Many had been uploading movies and TV shows and were being paid weekly by the rewards program, using piracy as a means of income.

One account holder says he has not been paid on the $1000 Hotfile owes him for uploads.



Says Hotfile of the matter:

Recently, we have become concerned that despite these policies, some users persist in attempting to use Hotfile.com to share materials to which they do not have the necessary rights. Therefore, we have implemented a more aggressive policy of terminating the accounts of users who are the subject of repeated complaints of infringement.

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17 user comments

121.2.2011 22:37

This seems very fair and you get really argue thier reasons.

221.2.2011 23:09

They definately have the right to do this, no suprise here. It could be worst if they were too aid in bringing law suites against the uploaders.

322.2.2011 04:59

They should just delete the file, and stop rewarding, like megaupload does. No need to cancel the premium account.

422.2.2011 08:08

Originally posted by biglo30:
This seems very fair and you get really argue thier reasons.
I don't(didn't) own a premium HF account, but the way they went about it to cover their arses is bull$$##it. The only reason they became the popular site they are today, is because those people uploading tons of stuff, and expect to be rewarded. HotFile new what kind of files were trafficking their servers. They didn't become one the largest/most popular file storing site as a result of people uploading X-mas or barbecue pictures. They were right to take action, just not the way they did it. They sold a service, and when they couldn't take the heat, they reneged. Will see how their business will "flourish" from here on...with all those tons of BBQ pictures floating through those servers and being exchanged, generating revenue....

522.2.2011 08:46

They were right in what they did and as I stated before they could be even nastier then they were as the people uploading copywrite protected files, movies, or music definitely violated their agreement that the premium member is well aware of when they signup.

Sorry your honor I didn’t mean to steal the money don’t you think it’s unfair I have to return it now and you want to throw me in jail? Ya right good argument there.

Hotfile will shoot themselves in the foot doing this as most of their sharing base will now disappear.

622.2.2011 09:53

The thing is the website made their money on the traffic. Instead of paying those people that posted whatever it was that generated that money the website is just keeping it all themself? I guess I can see them not wanting to pay people for posting copywrited stuff but it doesn't sound like they are giving the money back either...


722.2.2011 10:54

Originally posted by dEwMe:
The thing is the website made their money on the traffic. Instead of paying those people that posted whatever it was that generated that money the website is just keeping it all themself? I guess I can see them not wanting to pay people for posting copywrited stuff but it doesn't sound like they are giving the money back either...


Why would they give back money these people broke their agreement and in fact could be prosecuted, fined, and possibly jailed? As others have mentioned this is going to impact Hotfiles business and will cost them money as there is litigation that could be imposed on them presently and in the future as well due to this illegal activity. You can bet lawyers have already labored over this issue with the plaintiff’s involved so they owe nothing to the premium members to blame for this action. If you read their agreement I'll bet they are fully within their rights and there is a no money back provision in it. A little common sense can go a long ways.

822.2.2011 12:14

Err just to clarify...I was assuming the website was paying this out of ad revenue or something. They aren't paying the premium members but are still keeping the ad revenue? If it's dirty money the members shouldn't get why would it be ok for the website to keep?

Also...The website knew full well what was going on. How could they not? Pictures of the kids or whatever are nowhere near the size of full movies and etc nor could they ever be imagined to generate that sort of traffic. Sure the users are at fault for posting the files but anybody that thinks the website wasn't aware isn't thinking clearly. Dumping these users is just a BS attempt to cover their a$$es. They made money off hosting the files (good or bad) and aren't likely going to be able to pass the blame on to the naughty users.


922.2.2011 12:42

The Ad money you mention would go towards future usage which the uploader forfeits when they break the rules and lose their rights to upload. I.E., If I sell drugs and get busted do I get to keep the money, cash, on hand I've earned from selling the drugs? No in fact I lose the initial capitol plus these days they take everything I own regardless of proof that I bought it with that drug money or not. Again the uploader is wrong here regardless if Hotfile turns their head the other way or not. Now that it is a problem for Hotfile it is a bigger problem for the violators, wrong is wrong it can't get much easier than that or can it?

Rules are rules and they are well defined in the license agreement these people must adhere to.

Again a little common sense goes a long way....

1022.2.2011 13:41

You may argue that hotfile thinks people are passing them sugar, and think people go to them to get sugar. But ignorance doesn't defend the fact they're trading cocaine.

You're argumenting that it's ok to make money with illegal business, unless you're the one who does the dirty job.

My turn: a little common sense goes a long way....

On a site note: Rapidshare didn't cancel premium accounts, but I'm not sure if they pay users or only give premium accounts you can resell. Megaupload didn't cancel premium account and they do pay users. Both rapidshare and megaupload won their case, so there's no need for hotfile to do differently.

1122.2.2011 17:50

HotFile knew exactly what kind of business was going on.

Originally posted by Mr-Movies:
Originally posted by dEwMe:
The thing is the website made their money on the traffic. Instead of paying those people that posted whatever it was that generated that money the website is just keeping it all themself? I guess I can see them not wanting to pay people for posting copywrited stuff but it doesn't sound like they are giving the money back either...


Why would they give back money these people broke their agreement and in fact could be prosecuted, fined, and possibly jailed? As others have mentioned this is going to impact Hotfiles business and will cost them money as there is litigation that could be imposed on them presently and in the future as well due to this illegal activity. You can bet lawyers have already labored over this issue with the plaintiff’s involved so they owe nothing to the premium members to blame for this action. If you read their agreement I'll bet they are fully within their rights and there is a no money back provision in it. A little common sense can go a long ways.
Of course they were "within their rights", it still doesn't make it "ethical". Action needed to be taken, but not keep the money and play innocent, blame the uploaders only, when in fact HF was well aware of what was going on. They could've deleted the files, pay their balances, and give out warnings. Even if being suspected of murder, you're still innocent until proven otherwise, you don't just get executed.
Simply put- HF "stole" the revenue and what was due to its users. The stupid "agreement" was there just to cover their legal bases anyway.They didn't care if it was respected or not, and they chose not to act until the heat got too close to their arses, and used that as an opportunity to go back on the deal and not pay out.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 22 Feb 2011 @ 5:51

1222.2.2011 21:45

See Patrick_ you were right some people just lack common sense! Anyone up for banging our heads against a wall? LOL

1326.2.2011 23:36
just_talk
Unverified new user

Liberty, who is suing Hotfile, is also including 1000 users. Hotfile is deleting hundreds of accounts. Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing Hotfile is doing?

142.3.2011 08:55
binaboy
Unverified new user

Originally posted by patrick_:
They should just delete the file, and stop rewarding, like megaupload does. No need to cancel the premium account.
yeah, i feel bad for those premium users

155.4.2011 12:10
abbiga
Unverified new user

I am a premium account holder. I don't upload files and make money, but I do download games, software and eBooks from hotfile downloads. I became a premium account holder by paying for a one year subscription (Feb 2011) purely to download files faster and since hotfile had most of the uploads. Now that almost all the uploads are removed, I feel cheated.

1619.3.2013 20:57

Attempting to locate new information regarding Hotfile's failure to pay affiliates for premium sales generated during the month of February 2013

1720.3.2013 06:38

if you get accused of murder they cant execute you without proving you guilty but they can certainly imprison you for an undefined length of time until the court case is sorted out.

if your getting paid for uploads you should still get that money as you uploaded them files.it should be up to copyright holder if they want to take legal action to recover the money made from illegal distribution of the files.

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