Type of site | Technology news, software, forums and download links |
---|---|
Available in | English |
Owner | Jorge A. Gonzalez, Chris Hedgecock |
Created by | Jorge A. Gonzalez, Chris Hedgecock |
URL | www |
Registration | Optional (to post on forum) |
Launched | March 2000[1] |
Current status | Defunct[2] |
ZeroPaid.com was[2] a website concerning news, computer software, community, and file sharing. It offered news, software reviews, links, and a user forum. Its main news staff consisted of Jared Moya since 2005 and Drew Wilson since 2007.
ZeroPaid launched in by Jorge Gonzalez and Chris Hedgecock.[3] ZeroPaid's early focus was on the peer-to-peer space including file sharing, Napster, Gnutella, Usenet, and BitTorrent.[4]
Early popularity can be attributed to features like the Gnutella "server of the moment", which allowed users to connect to a node of the decentralized network. This feature has since been built into desktop clients.[5]
ZeroPaid gained notoriety in 2000 for its "Wall of Shame"[6] listing of IP addresses of users who allegedly attempted to download child pornography from the Gnutella P2P network.[7] The site continues to be a source of original content and analysis. The website features interviews, including those with WinMXWorld,[8] FilesTube,[9] the Open Rights Group,[10] the Pirate Party of Canada,[11] the Free Software Foundation,[12] Renaud Veeckman,[13] Russell McOrmond[14] and Michael Geist.[15]
ZeroPaid developed into a news and technology website featuring daily news on tech and copyright, a free software catalog, and user forums. The website has been mentioned and its founders quoted in The Economist,[16] E! News,[17][18] USA Today,[19][20][21][22][23] and Wired.[24][25][26]
As of 2018, the website appears defunct.[2]