Ask HN: Legal implications of launching a file sharing service?

3 points by mantazer 11y ago ↗ HN

I'm looking towards launching a file sharing service, and I was wondering what I'd be getting myself into, legally.

Am I responsible for users using my service to share illegal and malicious files?

What else should I be worried about?

3 comments

[ 3.7 ms ] story [ 34.4 ms ] thread

ahazred8ta 11y ago ↗

(A) a lot,

(B) yes, and

(D) see https://www.eff.org/wp/iaal-what-peer-peer-developers-need-k...

declan 11y ago ↗

Yes, you should know what you're getting into. Especially after the U.S. Supreme Court's Grokster decision. I posted a pseudocode liability IF-ELSEIF-ELSE tree here a few weeks ago (replace "distributing" with "offering"): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8455648

Note the above only discusses copyright liability, and not other potential legal issues.

MalcolmDiggs 11y ago ↗

I'm no attorney, but here are some stories you should look into:

* MegaUpload

* Kazaa

* Limewire

* Napster

* PirateBay