A service for storing and sharing files
A cyberlocker is an online file-hosting service that lets people share stored files, often through links. Access controls, prices, and terms vary. File hosting has legitimate uses; a service name or a sharing feature alone does not establish copyright infringement.
A file URL is different from a linking page
A page describing a work may point to a download hosted elsewhere. The page and the file host are separate targets when investigating unauthorized distribution.
| Target | What to record |
|---|---|
| Linking page | Work title, description, and outgoing links |
| File host | Shared URL, filename, and the material being distributed |
| Search result | The page’s visibility in a search service |
Removing a search result does not necessarily remove the underlying file. Removing a file may leave the linking page in place. Track each target separately.
What rights holders should check
Confirm that the material is your work and that the distribution is unauthorized. Record the exact page and file URLs, then find each service’s official reporting channel. A contact address or response time described in an old article may no longer apply.
The original article included host percentages from PiracyTakedown’s historical URL collection. Those figures were neither market shares nor a current list of supported services, so this revision does not present them as a current comparison.
See preparing a DMCA notice. For the notice-and-takedown framework, consult the US Copyright Office’s Section 512 resources.