Online Hosting Service Rapidshare Closing

Bad news for those who still use the hosting website Rapidshare to store and download new music (hopefully, not illegally): you’ll need to find another place to go. After thirteen years of business, the Swiss hosting service – once regarded as a titan in the file-swapping world along with rivals like Megavideo and Megaupload – will finally go offline this spring, following an extensive period of decline at the site, BBC reports. All accounts will be deleted on March 31, so if you’ve got data on Rapidshare, make sure to back it up now. We’ve reached the end of an era.

Since its inception in 2002, Rapidshare has recieved constant pressure from federal and international authorities seeking compensation for files illegally uploaded and shared on the site. There was a victory; according to BBC, a German court gave the site the go-ahead three years ago, when it ruled that Rapidshare was not responsible for managing the files uploaded and shared by its users. Nevertheless, continued lawsuits and decreasing usage forced the site to adopt a series of measures, such as requiring users to pay a usage fee and removing free downloads altogether. In 2013, the company fired 45 of its 60 employees.

Here’s the notice Rapidshare currently has posted on its homepage:

Notice
Dear RapidShare Customers

Kindly note that RapidShare will stop the active service on March 31st, 2015. Extensions of STANDARD PLUS and PREMIUM will be possible until February 28th, 2015.

We strongly recommend all customers to secure their data. After March 31st, 2015 all accounts will no longer be accessible and will be deleted automatically.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send us an e-mail to support@rapidshare.com

Thank you for many years of trust.
Your RapidShare Team

For more on the world of music and file-sharing, check out Eric Harvey’s history of Digital Album Leaks.

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