Hotfile shuts down permanently after settlement with MPAA

By Konrad Krawczyk Published May 15, 2018

hotfile shuts permanently settlement mpaa rest in peace3 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

First, Hotfile and the MPAA reached an $80,000,000 settlement, and as part of the agreement, Hotfile had to agree to use digital fingerprinting tech in an effort to cut down on illegal file-sharing in its service. After Hotfile reportedly removed its premium plan offers, it was unclear whether Hotfile would continue or cease operations. Now we know the service’s fate.

Hotfile has decided to shut its doors permanently.

Recommended Videos

If you head over to Hotfile.com, you’ll be greeted with a blurred out site that lacks any clickable buttons, and instead, has been replaced with a statement, which reads:

“As a result of a United States federal court having found Hotfile.com to be in violation of copyright law, the site has been permanently shut down. If you are looking for your favorite movies or TV shows online, there are more ways than ever today to get high quality access to them on legal platforms.”

Sure there are, but the lure of free stuff and the culture of piracy is so strong that sites like Hotfile will likely never, ever go away. Instead, any bodies that pursue legal action against the Hotfiles of the world will just find themselves in a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. Knock one out here, two more pop up there. It’s just a fact of life, like auto traffic or the Yankees’ bloated payroll.

Topics

Tech News

Konrad Krawczyk

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Konrad covers desktops, laptops, tablets, sports tech and subjects in between for Digital Trends. Prior to joining DT, he…

Computing

This Lenovo ThinkPad is almost $1,800 off today!

A press photo of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11.

One of the best laptops for a busy computer-heavy workplace is the Lenovo ThinkPad. For years, this tried and true laptop and 2-in-1 has delivered a fast and reliable Windows experience to many a 9 to 5 go-getter. Processor speed and power evolve year over year, and new features are added to these laptops all the time. This also means you’ll be able to find discounts on older machines, which is precisely what we came across while scouring through Lenovo ThinkPad deals:

Right now, as part of Lenovo’s doorbuster sale, you’ll save $1,800 on the purchase of a brand-new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 when you order through Lenovo.

Computing

Runway brings precise camera controls to AI videos

Gen-3 alpha advanced camera controls

Content creators will have more control over the look and feel of their AI-generated videos thanks to a new feature set coming to Runway's Gen-3 Alpha model.

Advanced Camera Control is rolling out on Gen-3 Alpha Turbo starting today, the company announced via a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Computing

Score the Dell XPS 15 for less than $1,000 during this sale

Dell XPS 15 9520 front view showing display and keyboard deck.

If you’ve been looking for laptop deals but feel disappointed with the results of your research, we know the pain. Searching for a new PC can take months, especially if you’ve got the time and energy to vet through numerous brands and models. Fortunately, there are a few tried and true PC names, one of which happens to be Dell. We see Dell laptop deals pretty regularly, but this one stopped us in our tracks:

Right now, when you order the Dell XPS 15 Laptop through the manufacturer, you’ll save $300. At full price, this model sells for $1,300.