FileSonic has disabled its public file sharing service in the wake of MegaUpload’s very public shut-down late last week. Instead, users are limited to only being able to retrieve files that they have uploaded themselves.
The surprise notice on FileSonic’s website reads,
“All sharing functionality on FileSonic is now disabled. Our service can only be used to upload and retrieve files that you have uploaded personally”.
TorrentFreak are also reporting that FileSonic’s affiliate program, which allows media uploaders to earn money as others download their files, has also been disabled. It’s unclear as to what will happen with any unpaid funds.
On Thursday last, one of the world’s largest sharing sites, MegaUpload, was shut-down in an international operation lead by the United States. FileSonic appears to be taking a cautious approach in the wake of this, potentially reducing its exposure to legal risk as Ars Technica report.
FileSonic are one of the more legally obliging file sharing services though. They actively identify copyrighted material uploaded to the service using digital fingerprinting technology and prevent sharing based on this. FileSonic also adhere to any take-down requests under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and block users who repeatedly neglect copyright.
It will be interesting to see how other file sharing services like RapidShare and MediaFire respond and whether they’ll take a similar approach to FileSonic or not.
