Openload, one of the largest file-hosting sites on the Internet, has lost control over its main domain name. The Openload.co domain is been suspended, presumably by the registrar Tucows, and is currently marked with a serverHold status code. On top of that, Openload's official status page is unreachable as well.
With millions of regular visitors, file-hosting site Openload generates more traffic than popular streaming services such as Hulu or HBO Go. While the site has plenty of legal uses it is also a thorn in the side of many copyright holders, due to the frequent appearance of pirated content. This pirate stigma most recently resulted in a mention on the US Government’s list of “Notorious Markets”. While the site has been spared from any legal action, that we know of, it suffered a major setback this week. As of a few hours ago the site’s main Openload.co domain is no longer responsive. Instead of the regular homepage featuring the browser uploader, users see an error message in their browser, explaining that the site’s IP-address can’t be found.
