Message that appears on openload.co after the takedown
Openload was available as anopen alpha in July 2015,[1] and fully launched as of October 2015.[2]
In 2016, Openload's domain was suspended byNamecheap due to the large number ofDMCA reports they generated. The domain was later reinstated by Namecheap.[3]
In 2017, Openload was criticized for using their users' browsers to mine thecryptocurrencyMonero, using code similar toCoinhive.[4] Openload earned an estimated $95,000 per month from the mining, while their suspected subsidiary Streamango earned an estimated $7,200 per month.[5]
In 2018, Openload was listed as anotorious market.[6] Openload accounted for more network usage than services such asHulu.[7]
In February 2019,Reddit was found to beshadowbanning links to Openload.[8] In April 2019, Openload stopped paying uploaders as part of its affiliate program.[9] In June 2019, Openload's maindomain name, openload.co, was suspended.[10]
In October 2019, Openload agreed to shut down after the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) took legal action against them in Germany.[11] ACE then acquired all of Openload's domains, which now redirect to a page stating that the site is no longer available due to copyright infringement, along with a warning against subscribing or using illegal streaming services. After a ten second countdown, the page redirects to a page on ACE's website on watching content legally.[12]
Streamango was a similar streaming website, long believed to be operated by Openload. Streamango shut down at the same time as Openload, with the same reasons given.[12] Streamango domains also redirect to ACE's website.
