Zippyshare
Defunct file-sharing website (2006-2023)
Zippyshare, also capitalized ZippyShare, was a free file-sharing website.
01Features
Zippyshare allowed users to upload an unlimited amount of files with a size of up to 500 MB each. No account registration was required to upload or download files, and there was no limitation on the number of times a file can be downloaded. However, files were deleted if 30 days passed without them receiving any downloads. Zippyshare had an integrated HTML5 web player that allowed users to listen to audio files directly in the browser before downloading. This was revolutionary at the time and made it the default tool for music bloggers.
02History
Zippyshare was founded in September 2006. Zippyshare was noted by TorrentFreak to have outlived many similar websites, such as RapidShare, Hotfile, and Megaupload.
Zippyshare was listed as a notorious market by the Office of the United States Trade Representative in 2015, noting that Zippyshare was "well-known for downloads and distribution of allegedly infringing music" and warning that the website had been known to install malware on users' computers. Zippyshare was also referenced in the Recording Industry Association of America's report to the Office of the United States Trade Representative in 2018, with the RIAA also recommending Zippyshare be listed as a notorious market, writing that while the website respected takedown notices, there was no mechanic to prevent re-uploads of infringing content.
In March 2019, access to Zippyshare was blocked for visitors in the United Kingdom, with a HTTP 403 error message displayed. No reason was given for the block, and it was unclear why Zippyshare decided to block users from the UK. Zippyshare became similarly unavailable in Germany in April 2019 and in Spain in June 2019, also with no explanation.
In March 2023, Zippyshare announced the site would be shut down by the end of the month. The administration claimed that they could no longer maintain the site. They also cited decreased activity, higher energy bills and ad blockers. Zippyshare ceased operation on March 31, 2023, and now displays a message directing users to alternative services.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Zippyshare”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
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