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No, as far as I know, I'm not having issues. However, I do hear that now, instead of taking down files with no notice, they're taking down files with a letter about copyright infringement and a notice of 'strikes' against your account. It's driving a lot of Simmers to places like Box.net or Dropbox, and that's your right, but if you KNOW that the files removed don't violate copyright law, PLEASE submit a ticket or otherwise inform Mediafire that they deleted your files without cause, especially if you have a paid account.
This is why. A quick google search suggests that no other online group is having this much trouble with Mediafire lately, and if it's targeted at free Sims uploads, widespread, and annoying, then there's really only one person's MO it fits.
I haven't received one of the new copyright notices; the one I did recieve included a link. I clicked the link, filled out the form, and waited. Mediafire didn't get back to me immediately, in fact I had to get back to them. What happens is, someone files a claim against the file, the uploader files a counterclaim, and the claimant then has ten days to respond. If you don't hear back from Mediafire after ten days, contact them again, and if the claimant didn't respond or didn't adequately respond, they'll restore the files.
When my sexyfeet baby clothes were removed without notice, I first tried re-uploading with altered file names (which were still blocked), I tried submitting a ticket. You do this by logging into Mediafire, clicking Help, filling out the form (I used the 'general questions' flag) and waiting. They say they'll get back to you in 24 hours, but they took six days to get back to me, two weeks to get back to Quintcia, and only two days to get back to G-Knee.
The point is, they DO get back to you. And I haven't heard from anyone who has contacted Mediafire and hasn't had their files restored. (So at least they actually do care about copyright law, even if they're also scared shitless of the FBI.)
If you choose to submit a ticket or file a counterclaim, here's what you need to include when you write to Mediafire:
0. Before you even start writing, stay calm. Be professional, adult, and friendly. (That your files were removed is not Mediafire's fault. They can't police every download, so when a file gets taken down, it's because someone complained. That they take down files instead of contacting the uploader isn't because they don't respect the uploader's rights, it's because Mediafire is scared shitless of becoming the next Megaupload.) People paid to handle complaints do not often see the civil side of their customer base. Be The Nice One.
1. If you're submitting a support ticket, you will need the original file names of all your removed uploads. This is so Mediafire can find them to fix them. If they've removed a lot of files, this might be a pain in the ass... but it's still necessary.
2. Whether you're submitting a ticket or filing a counterclaim, assure Mediafire of the actual copyright of Sims 2 custom content; this may mean quoting the relevant part of the EULA. Here is the full text of the EULAs for Sims 2 and Sims 3. COPY from there; please don't link to the Booty, it doesn't look professional. ( Behind the cut are the relevant parts. ) At the very least, you'll need to demonstrate that you know the legality of your right to share custom content for Sims games.
3. Here's the one I didn't think to do, but will if any of my files go down again-- Ask who submitted the copyright complaint. You have a right to know this and Mediafire should tell you. (I thought it was an honest mistake, and the first file that kept going down was complained about by CBS or someone claiming to be CBS.)
4. Thank Mediafire for their time, and be patient about getting a response.
5. DO NOT RE-UPLOAD THE FILES under different names or in a different folder. Wait until Mediafire gets back to you.
I completely respect the choice to move to another free filehost besides Mediafire, but the rash of take-downs lately very likely isn't the fault of any human being at Mediafire. Any file host, free or not, as long as it's based somewhere in the US or just afraid of US copyright law, is vulnerable to false reporting of copyright infringement. They'll all react the same way-- by taking the files down, no questions asked-- because there are too many files to check each and every one and ask the uploader if they're sure they have the legal right to share it.
This is why. A quick google search suggests that no other online group is having this much trouble with Mediafire lately, and if it's targeted at free Sims uploads, widespread, and annoying, then there's really only one person's MO it fits.
I haven't received one of the new copyright notices; the one I did recieve included a link. I clicked the link, filled out the form, and waited. Mediafire didn't get back to me immediately, in fact I had to get back to them. What happens is, someone files a claim against the file, the uploader files a counterclaim, and the claimant then has ten days to respond. If you don't hear back from Mediafire after ten days, contact them again, and if the claimant didn't respond or didn't adequately respond, they'll restore the files.
When my sexyfeet baby clothes were removed without notice, I first tried re-uploading with altered file names (which were still blocked), I tried submitting a ticket. You do this by logging into Mediafire, clicking Help, filling out the form (I used the 'general questions' flag) and waiting. They say they'll get back to you in 24 hours, but they took six days to get back to me, two weeks to get back to Quintcia, and only two days to get back to G-Knee.
The point is, they DO get back to you. And I haven't heard from anyone who has contacted Mediafire and hasn't had their files restored. (So at least they actually do care about copyright law, even if they're also scared shitless of the FBI.)
If you choose to submit a ticket or file a counterclaim, here's what you need to include when you write to Mediafire:
0. Before you even start writing, stay calm. Be professional, adult, and friendly. (That your files were removed is not Mediafire's fault. They can't police every download, so when a file gets taken down, it's because someone complained. That they take down files instead of contacting the uploader isn't because they don't respect the uploader's rights, it's because Mediafire is scared shitless of becoming the next Megaupload.) People paid to handle complaints do not often see the civil side of their customer base. Be The Nice One.
1. If you're submitting a support ticket, you will need the original file names of all your removed uploads. This is so Mediafire can find them to fix them. If they've removed a lot of files, this might be a pain in the ass... but it's still necessary.
2. Whether you're submitting a ticket or filing a counterclaim, assure Mediafire of the actual copyright of Sims 2 custom content; this may mean quoting the relevant part of the EULA. Here is the full text of the EULAs for Sims 2 and Sims 3. COPY from there; please don't link to the Booty, it doesn't look professional. ( Behind the cut are the relevant parts. ) At the very least, you'll need to demonstrate that you know the legality of your right to share custom content for Sims games.
3. Here's the one I didn't think to do, but will if any of my files go down again-- Ask who submitted the copyright complaint. You have a right to know this and Mediafire should tell you. (I thought it was an honest mistake, and the first file that kept going down was complained about by CBS or someone claiming to be CBS.)
4. Thank Mediafire for their time, and be patient about getting a response.
5. DO NOT RE-UPLOAD THE FILES under different names or in a different folder. Wait until Mediafire gets back to you.
I completely respect the choice to move to another free filehost besides Mediafire, but the rash of take-downs lately very likely isn't the fault of any human being at Mediafire. Any file host, free or not, as long as it's based somewhere in the US or just afraid of US copyright law, is vulnerable to false reporting of copyright infringement. They'll all react the same way-- by taking the files down, no questions asked-- because there are too many files to check each and every one and ask the uploader if they're sure they have the legal right to share it.
