Massive File Host Rapidshare: "Not Concered" about Megaupload takedown

[$5 submissions]

RS is the twin of MU when it comes to download forum link saturation. Here's what they have to say. Interesting analogy re banks. Do you agree? Gideongallery, get in here, dude

Courtesy of: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/n...d-takedown.ars

"We're not concerned or scared about the raid," Daniel Raimer, a spokesperson for RapidShare, told Ars in a phone interview. "File hosting itself is a legitimate business."

If a manager of a bank got arrested for money laundering, he said, it wouldn't lead to the shut-down of all banks. And he said Microsoft's SkyDrive and other cloud data storage and backup services," from a technical standpoint are doing what we do."

[SykkBoy]

basically "we're not stupid enough to chronicle our piracy with emails confessing to the act"

[Mutt]

well Rapidshare long ago went semi-legit - they aren't part of the porn piracy world - visit any of the blogs and forums with the file locker links, none of the big ones have used Rapidshare in a long time.

[spunky99]

i wish they were, they always took down links faster then alot of these others

[Dirty F]

Rs deletes illegal content quite fast usually.

[$5 submissions]

Originally Posted by Mutt

well Rapidshare long ago went semi-legit - they aren't part of the porn piracy world - visit any of the blogs and forums with the file locker links, none of the big ones have used Rapidshare in a long time.

Considering their speed of deletion based on complaints (as claimed above) as well as their general responsiveness and how they have positioned their product they appear to be LESS SUSCEPTIBLE than MU. You do have to admit, there are quite a bit of RS links out there. Thankfully, most of them are dead or will be dead links.

[Failed]

I've learned a valuable lesson in my short time here. Of course, I have no plans to act upon the lesson, but here it is in my (perhaps warped) perspective.

- start a tube, or file storage that actively seeks out pirated content to upload and store
- take down some content when requests come in, just not enough to bother the users
- continue to build and pirate until you become the "go to" source for pirated content or at least a competitor
- when reaching the spotlight, start becoming a legitimate operation, enough so to shine the spotlight elsewhere, but still reap the mega profits associated with our core model

Then I see a split as to what happens next. I need to pay better attention, perhaps.

Either:
- continue operating and seek out the up and comers to destroy them by all means necessary while buying all legitimate sources of content and traffic you can

Or:
- cash the fuck out, take all profits and either sell it, go completely legit, or shut it all down and retire

Or I guess the MU way:
- get drunk with money and power and just say fuck it until the shit hits the fan

[signupdamnit]

Let em keep talking shit and we'll maybe see about that.

[DWB]

Kim Dotcom was probably thinking the same thing.

We'll just have to wait and see how it all pans out. My personal guess is there will be no more arrests and it will be business as usual before long.

[signupdamnit]

Originally Posted by DWB

Kim Dotcom was probably thinking the same thing.

We'll just have to wait and see how it all pans out. My personal guess is there will be no more arrests and it will be business as usual before long.

But we know the MU investigation wasn't just something which started last week. My guess is they have all sorts of information on all the major players. They are waiting for the orders to strike or otherwise some sort of provocation. It may or may not come but they probably know a lot more than some think they do. That's the way the government works. It waits like a snake to strike.

Oh and I wouldn't want to be a company which had a run in with the government not too long ago over money laundering. Especially not if there were questions as to the legality of my operation. That would keep me up at night for sure.

[seeric]

Rapidshare does it all right. That's why.

They remove.
They suspend repeat infringers.

Nothing like the way MU operated.

[Nautilus]

Originally Posted by seeric

Rapidshare does it all right. That's why.

They remove.
They suspend repeat infringers.

Nothing like the way MU operated.

And they also remove the master file, not only generated links.

[raymor]

Publicly rapidshare says they aren't worried because they properly take down files, they don't pay you to upload popular content, etc. In other words, "we're not worried because we're not guilty." Internally, I'd bet a million dollars they are sending around emails like this:

URGENT ** Attention all employees

It is imperative that any DMCA complaints or similar take down requests are handled IMMEDIATELY and handled CORRECTLY. To review proper take down procedures, ALL employees are required to attend the take down review meeting at 4:00 PM today. Also at the meeting we will discuss our new policy regarding removing users who generate multiple complaints.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Failed

I've learned a valuable lesson in my short time here. Of course, I have no plans to act upon the lesson, but here it is in my (perhaps warped) perspective.

- start a tube, or file storage that actively seeks out pirated content to upload and store
- take down some content when requests come in, just not enough to bother the users
- continue to build and pirate until you become the "go to" source for pirated content or at least a competitor
- when reaching the spotlight, start becoming a legitimate operation, enough so to shine the spotlight elsewhere, but still reap the mega profits associated with our core model

You have learned well grasshopper.

[Fletch XXX]

the analogy of hosting and backups is dead on.

[Nasty]

RS has already been spanked and modified its program as a result

[PiracyPitbull]

Originally Posted by Failed

I've learned a valuable lesson in my short time here. Of course, I have no plans to act upon the lesson, but here it is in my (perhaps warped) perspective.

- start a tube, or file storage that actively seeks out pirated content to upload and store
- take down some content when requests come in, just not enough to bother the users
- continue to build and pirate until you become the "go to" source for pirated content or at least a competitor
- when reaching the spotlight, start becoming a legitimate operation, enough so to shine the spotlight elsewhere, but still reap the mega profits associated with our core model

Then I see a split as to what happens next. I need to pay better attention, perhaps.

Either:
- continue operating and seek out the up and comers to destroy them by all means necessary while buying all legitimate sources of content and traffic you can

Or:
- cash the fuck out, take all profits and either sell it, go completely legit, or shut it all down and retire

Or I guess the MU way:
- get drunk with money and power and just say fuck it until the shit hits the fan

Pretty much ;)

and why, even if Sopa stays on that shelf....there better be something in the pipeline that includes cutting of the money supply quickly.

[Dirty F]

Originally Posted by raymor

Publicly rapidshare says they aren't worried because they properly take down files, they don't pay you to upload popular content, etc. In other words, "we're not worried because we're not guilty." Internally, I'd bet a million dollars they are sending around emails like this:

URGENT ** Attention all employees

It is imperative that any DMCA complaints or similar take down requests are handled IMMEDIATELY and handled CORRECTLY. To review proper take down procedures, ALL employees are required to attend the take down review meeting at 4:00 PM today. Also at the meeting we will discuss our new policy regarding removing users who generate multiple complaints.

And? Anything wrong with that?

[raymor]

Originally Posted by Dirty F

And? Anything wrong with that?

No, nothing wrong at all. I'm just pointing out that just because they SAY they aren't worried doesn't mean they aren't actually awefully nervous, or that they won't be making changes in the coming days and weeks.

[porno jew]

that is just aweful.

[bronco67]

"We're not concerned or scared about the raid," Daniel Raimer, a spokesperson for RapidShare, told Ars in a phone interview. "File hosting itself is a legitimate business."

If a manager of a bank got arrested for money laundering, he said, it wouldn't lead to the shut-down of all banks. And he said Microsoft's SkyDrive and other cloud data storage and backup services," from a technical standpoint are doing what we do."

The key phrase here is "from a technical standpoint."

[Jakez]

Originally Posted by signupdamnit

My guess is they have all sorts of information on all the major players. They are waiting for the orders to strike or otherwise some sort of provocation. It may or may not come but they probably know a lot more than some think they do. That's the way the government works. It waits like a snake to strike.

Too true. Doesn't Walmart somewhat allow shop lifters to build up a known list of items taken until it reaches a certain $ amount so they can seek a harsher penalty once convicted?

[Zarathustra]

this is a telltale sign that they are scared (it would be ignorant not to be concerned at the very least) and that they are going down

they are more diligent than others in taking down stuff yes,
but one can also say that 1 thief is not as bad as the other thieves which doesn't really mean much in the end as they are all theives

Their foundation is pretty marshy. What percent of their files stay up (meaning legit or not yet reported) as opposed to being taken down? Is it like 1%? Can also be argued against the legitimacy of the service

[NetHorse]

Rapidshare seems more legit than others. They weren't mass downloading copyrighted works directly from youtube onto their servers. They also don't have the huge cash incentives megaupload, filesonic, fileserve, oron and others have.

They will go first.

[lucas131]

rapidshare is not driven by assholes, there is nothing else about it

[kane]

The first sign that you are worried is when you tell everyone you are not. It is kind of light in a boxing match when a guy gets hit hard and it hurts him and he smiles and shakes his head "no." You know for sure then that the punch stung.

These guys might not be ready to close up shop and might have their shit lined up better than others, but if they aren't at least a little nervous than they are dumb.

[kane]

Originally Posted by lucas131

rapidshare is not driven by assholes, there is nothing else about it

Just in case you were interested if you follow the link in your sig to the wordpress themes the domain all of the samples are on is expired.

[DWB]

Got 99 problems and Megaupload ain't one.

[Barry-xlovecam]

rapidshare's servers are in Germany ...

[lucas131]

Originally Posted by kane

Just in case you were interested if you follow the link in your sig to the wordpress themes the domain all of the samples are on is expired.

thank you i know it is not my sig. but thank you

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by DWB

Kim Dotcom was probably thinking the same thing.

We'll just have to wait and see how it all pans out. My personal guess is there will be no more arrests and it will be business as usual before long.

Unless pressure is kept up, that will be the future.

The amazing thing here is how people are standing up for RS as"Not being so bad"

[$5 submissions]

Originally Posted by kane

The first sign that you are worried is when you tell everyone you are not. It is kind of light in a boxing match when a guy gets hit hard and it hurts him and he smiles and shakes his head "no." You know for sure then that the punch stung.
.

interesting observation

[pornguy]

So when I DMCA FileSonic I will CC DOJ for good measure.

[seeric]

Originally Posted by pornguy

So when I DMCA FileSonic I will CC DOJ for good measure.

Not a bad idea. I think we will start doing that when we DMCA Leaseweb too.