Openload was a popular file-hosting and streaming platform used by many to share and access a wide range of content, including movies, TV shows, and other media. It was fielding over 250 million visits per month, making it one of the most visited websites in the world. But in the blink of an eye, Openload's website displayed nothing more than a simple message: "This website is no longer available due to copyright infringement."
This article will explore the history of Openload and its rapid growth into a video streaming powerhouse. We'll then dive into the various copyright infringement controversies and legal issues that dogged the site throughout its four years of existence.
The History of Openload
In January 2015, Openload was almost functional to upload and share files, with more features in development, such as file management and a reward system. Before its official release, the Openload team had worked a lot on the server storage, the website infrastructure, and lag-free video streaming, and changed its old domain to openload.co.
In October 2015, openload.co was fully launched as a file hosting service. Within a short period, it experienced rapid growth, attracting millions of users who utilized the platform to host and share a wide range of digital files, including videos, music, and documents.
In July 2016, openload.co was suspended by Namecheap, its domain registrar, due to too many DMCA complaints. During the suspension, it purchased a mirror site oload. co. As the Openload team responded to these DMCA complaints within the required time frame, it got back quickly.
In 2017, openload.co was found to mine the cryptocurrency Monero using users' devices in the background. Together with its mirror site load.co, monthly earnings were estimated to reach $95,000.
In 2018, openload.co surpassed Hulu and HBO GO and became the eighth-largest video streaming platform in the world. However, it was characterized as a piracy site and was included in the Notorious Markets List by the United States Trade Representative.
In June 2019, Openload operators said that they could not finance themselves from internet ads because massive Kodi users utilized special add-ons to access its content and bypass its advertising.
In October 2019, openload.co was shut down by ACE (Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment) due to copyright infringement. Its long-believed subsidiary site Streamango was closed at the same time.
Features and Services of Openload
Openload was designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. And it offers a range of features. These features collectively contributed to the appeal of Openload, making it a preferred choice for users seeking a versatile file hosting service.
File Upload and Download
Openload.co provided users with a seamless and efficient platform for uploading and downloading files. The platform's high-speed servers allowed for quick file transfers, enhancing the overall user experience. The maximum file size is limited to 1 GB. And it can be up to 10 GB without any restrictions if users let Openload convert the file. Streamable files will be deleted after 60 days inactivity (nonstreamable files after 30 days of inactivity).
Specifically, it supported the following types of files.
- Audio: MP3, AAC, OGG, Opus, WAV-PCM
- Video: MP4, WebM, Theora
- Document: TXT, HTML, PHP
Video Streaming
It allowed users to directly stream or access a wide range of file types and codecs without the need for additional software or plugins. This feature made it convenient for users to view or listen to various types of content directly through the Openload platform.
Customizable Sharing Options
Users had the ability to customize sharing options for their uploaded content. This included the option to set access permissions, create private links, and embed files on websites or blogs.
Integration with Online Platforms
Openload provided an API for developers to integrate its services into their own applications or websites. Thus it was integrated well with various online platforms, allowing users to easily share content on social media, forums, and other digital channels. This integration facilitated the widespread distribution of content hosted on the platform.
Revenue Model: Advertising and Affiliate programs
A key factor that enabled Openload's massive growth was the revenue generated by advertisements and affiliate programs.
As a free file hosting site, Openload was dependent on ad revenue. Video streaming on Openload was monetized through commercial advertisements inserted before and during videos. As traffic skyrocketed, so did ad revenues. Openload utilized multiple online advertising networks to serve banner ads across its site.
Openload also generated commissions through affiliate programs. The site recruited "uploaders" who could earn money by driving traffic to files hosted on Openload. These affiliates received a percentage of revenues earned from ads displayed alongside their uploaded content. It paid a fixed amount per 10k downloads/streams. Each payment amount per download/stream depends on the country the actions come from.
- The minimum payout threshold is $20 USD.
- Downloads/Streams are tracked up to 3 times every 24 hours per IP address.
- Engaging in misleading or unethical methods to generate revenue, such as spamming, will lead to an immediate ban.
- If advertising is blocked, rewards will be calculated at a rate of 0.1.
- No rewards will be given for automated downloads.
The Pay per Download Program incentivized users to upload as much content as possible, legal or not, to maximize views and earnings. It further fueled the vast amounts of copyright-infringing media content available on Openload and boosted its profits.
Between online advertising and the affiliate program, Openload was able to build an impressive revenue stream based heavily on pirated media and content. However, this business model also contained the seeds of Openload's downfall once rights holders began to take notice.
Comparison with Other File-sharing Services
Unlike many file-hosting sites, Openload did not require users to create an account to upload or download files. This distinguished it from services like Dropbox and Google Drive which need registration. The lack of login made sharing content fast and anonymous.
Openload was more focused on streaming video content directly from its servers, similar to YouTube. However, YouTube complies with DMCA takedown requests while Openload was known for ignoring them.
Other user-generated video sites like Dailymotion and Vimeo are legal but don't allow copyrighted material. Openload openly welcomed it, like the infamous Pirate Bay torrent site.
For downloading files, Openload functioned similarly to Rapidshare and Megaupload before their demises. But users could also stream videos on Openload, like on Netflix and Hulu, except Openload streamed pirated shows and movies.
Overall, Openload occupied a unique niche between major user-generated sites like YouTube, illegal torrent sites like Pirate Bay, and older direct download cyberlockers. It blended streaming and downloads while turning a blind eye to copyright laws, allowing it to profit off an enormous library of unlicensed media.
Legal Issues and Copyright Infringement
Openload had managed to keep operating for years despite criticism that it was built on mass copyright infringement and pressures from entertainment industry groups. It was mentioned on the US Government's list of "Notorious Markets" and got shadowbanned from the popular social discussion platform Reddit.
In 2019, its legal situation began intensifying to unsustainable levels. In March, Openload was hit with a major lawsuit from the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) - a coalition including major Hollywood studios, Netflix, Amazon, and more. The lawsuit directly named individuals believed to be operating Openload and sought over $150,000 for each pirated video streamed through the site.
Facing escalating legal attacks, with rising financial liabilities and the threat of being unable to reach users, Openload ultimately had to surrender. Likely realizing prolonged legal battles stood little chance, the operators agreed to permanently shut down the site in October 2019.
What Then Happened to Openload.co
The shutdown message cited "copyright related matters" and detailed Openload's agreement to cease operations immediately as part of a settlement deal. After years of uncertainty about its future, the combination of lawsuits and court-ordered blocks in 2019 spelled the end for Openload as it opted to close rather than fight.
Many Openload-related domains were offline in this action, including oload.cc, oloadcdn.net, oload.download, oload.club, and openload.pw. Meanwhile, Streamango, a video streaming site long believed operated by Openload was closed as well.
Now visit openload.co and you can see a banner saying that Openload is no longer available due to copyright infringement and it will redirect you to allience4creativity.com.
The Impact of Openload's Shutdown
In the initial period, a large number of redirects caused a lot of trouble for the ACE website, slowing down the website speed and leading to frequent errors. ACE said in its press release that:
"Prior to this ACE action, Openload alone had more than 1,000 servers in Romania, France, and Germany, provided pirated content to 72% of the top 50 illegal video streaming and linking sites in the world, and generated more traffic than many leading sources of legal content."
With its domains seized and servers apparently shut off by site operators complying with authorities, there was no indication that Openload would return. Moreover, no clear public statement emerged from Openload operators on what would happen next. The abrupt closure of Openload had far-reaching consequences for its user base. Users lost access to their uploaded files, had to find alternative platforms for hosting and sharing their content, and looked for new sources for streaming.
Additionally, the shutdown of Openload was part of a broader trend of increased enforcement of copyright laws and regulations on online content-sharing platforms. This event highlighted the legal and ethical challenges associated with file-sharing and online streaming, and it prompted discussions about copyright infringement and intellectual property rights in the digital age.
