File-sharing troubles. What’s now?

Could you believe last week that most file-sharing services would be closed in 7 days? Personally I would never take this as a serious and reasonable prediction. SOPA and PIPA were dangerous preconditions; however nothing which could make file-sharing world turn upside down.

MegaUpload’s shutdown caused ‘Megapanic’. FileSonic and Fileserve were first to react. If you open those websites now, you’ll see that it is possible to download only those files which you uploaded yourself. All file-sharing activities are banned. Moreover, FileSonic didn’t give back last payoffs. All possible variants to get in touch with Hish are vain. Later it was said that Uploadstation also stopped its sharing options, however I’ve checked up it today and everything worked accurately. SOPA and PIPA had been already withdrawn, when FileSonic and Fileserve decided to finish their work, so the reason for their decision is rather obscure for me.

Leaving all those sorrow events behind, we should think about the future of file-sharing. I mean when there is a demand for something, supply will always appear. So, after those file-sharing services are closed, new ones will appear. New file-sharing giants could also emerge from the existing smaller variants. At one of the biggest forums – Digitalpoint, a few members offered Oron as a solution to problem of making money online. From my personal experince, I must say that payoff ratings of this service are low and the allowed size of the files for free uploading is also small (up to 400 MB, 5 files max), so more convenient variants must appear or maybe they already exist. I once wrote about FileTram as a prosperous file-sharing project and I still think so. High payoffs which are regularly paid, huge database of files for sharing – are the main advantages of this service.

To be sure about my predictions, I wrote to FileTram support service yesterday. They answered that they didn’t have any intentions to close the service and are going to work as well as it was before. Hope, everything will be as they promise. I have just assured my files to their service.

Stay safe,
Norman

Life after MegaUpload

It seems that US authorities started a real war against Internet freedom and try to get into their claws everything from “online world”. SOPA/PIPA discussions were just the first sign of this war. Closing of one the biggest file-sharing services MegaUpload was totally non-expectable event. All the company’s bills were seized. Its founder Kim Schmitz together with two other execs was arrested. Large amount of luxury property is going to be seized too. Taking into consideration that MegaUpload has worldwide bills for $175 million, US government got a nice compensation for inhibition of SOPA/PIPA acts.

Closing of MegaUpload has opened up important issues as for regular Internet users so as for the owners of the other file-sharing services. The latter should now somehow care about their companies, so that they do not repeat MegaUpload’s case; owners will also work and think on which service can take place of MegaUpload, because one place in the niche of file-sharing giants is free now. Users should now think where to store files, where to find necessary ones and how to make money online, being sure that affiliate program in which you are participating will not be closed tomorrow.

Speaking about online money makers (this is what I’m keen on mostly) I feel really sorry for them. MegaUpload offered rather high payoffs and it is the second affiliate program with possibility to make good money online which is closed in the last half of a year (first was Wupload’s, but service decided to close it up itself, without any pressure). So, users should think now about the services which offer enough money to earn and will not be closed in the nearest future. Taking into consideration that SOPA/PIPA or similar acts could be legitimated soon, users can choose either file-sharing giants with more-or-less positive giants such as Depositfiles or Rapidshare, or middle-rating services as FileTram or Uploadstation.

This is just my personal, but, to my mind, middle-rating services are those which could be your golden share. Why? They do not get enormous income, so their bank accounts are not so attractive to authorities. They work much on their reputation and try to satisfy all users’ demands. They often offer very high rates for their affiliates as, for example, FileTram does. So, those middle-rating services could easily take empty MegaUpload’s place. But SOPA is still a sharp question. So, everybody on Internet should look up for ways how to resist it.

Stay in good mood,
Norman