

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

I&#x27;m looking towards launching a file sharing service, and I was wondering what I&#x27;d be getting myself into, legally.<p>Am I responsible for users using my service to share illegal and malicious files?<p>What else should I be worried about?
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declan
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](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8455648)

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

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

* MegaUpload

* Kazaa

* Limewire

* Napster

* PirateBay

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ahazred8ta
(A) a lot,

(B) yes, and

(C) going any further without being an actual paid client of an intellectual
property lawyer

(D) see [https://www.eff.org/wp/iaal-what-peer-peer-developers-
need-k...](https://www.eff.org/wp/iaal-what-peer-peer-developers-need-know-
about-copyright-law)

