YTEpisodes is Forcing Donations

codexehow

codexehow

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From whoever runs the site:

It's been determined that you've been a member for quite some time now, taking full advantage of the YTE website, while contributing very little to the site in return. In internet terms, this is considered 'leeching'. Although the word itself might sound like a bad thing, it certainly is not, as that's what free sites expect from its members - however, free sites can only stay 'free' up until a certain point. YTEpisodes was recently moved to a dedicated webhosting server about a month ago, which costs us $175/month USD. This is a big step from the $9.95/month that it use to cost. Also, because I work on maintaining the YTE website, spending up to 16~18 hours a day adding new features and making sure the site runs smoothly, I do not have a full-time job to support myself. For the last 9 months, my full-time job has been YTE, and that is how I support myself, so I'm able to continue to maintain the website and keep it running.
Your account can be reactivated by making a $20 donation, using the link below. You'll be credited for this donation in contribution points, and will never be asked to do this again.
You may not agree with this, and that's fine, but the fact is, if I'm not able to raise $175 by December 15th, the site will be shut down. The people who have been forced into this, have had five months to contribute to the site, which I feel is ample time to "give back".
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What an entitled a$$hole! Who told him to get the fancy-spancy hosting? Who told him not to go out and get a job? Why does he EXPECT people to donate to him at all? For the record, I've submitted around 50 shorts to the site, so if that's leeching, I don't imagine the site has any users left.

To top it all off, he's trying to charge people to access other people's content.

If anyone else got this message today, I urge you to NOT pay this fool any money.
 
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Including ruin any chance that anyone will ever donate to him. Sure.
 
Geesh man, you sound like a hugely entitled jerk... not the other way around. Someone who builds a website and puts the time and energy into it has a right to ask for donations from people who utilize his hard work. If you don't like it, don't use his website. But don't come and try to defame someone's livelihood when they are asking for very little in return.

After all, you could make the very same argument against a place like BHW. You have to PAY to get access to certain aspects of this forum. No one would say that the operators of this site are entitled though. They work damn hard (despite my new registration I've used BHW often) and have a right to be paid for that work.
 
You are drawing illogical conclusions. This guy is trying to charge people for access to other people's copyrighted material. It's not the same thing at all.

Aside from being illegal, it's a huge dick move. As I said, I have contributed quite a bit to his site, and the content organization system he uses is automated. If he's spending 18 hours a day on his site it's his own fault for not knowing what he's doing.

He knows he can't legitimately set up a pay site, and he's doing it anyway.
 
If you feel sad/mad about it why dont you make a site better then his and that doesn't ask for donation ?
 
I'm not try to be a jerk but I don't think you know how the law works on this one. You CAN charge for access to other people's copyrighted material so long as it is explicitly stated in your terms of service. Facebook is an example of this. They could legally charge for access to the site, with the understanding that by agreeing to their TOS you forfeit your rights to your copyrighted material while still maintaining the copyright ownership itself. However, at any point you can choose to remove your material and thereby retain your rights. So to your point, he can legitimately set up a pay site. These types of sites actually are not at all uncommon.

To your other point, I don't agree with the modus operandi employed by the site operator in this case. It sounds like you do contribute to the site, just not monetarily. Still, I think it is worse to come here and try to ruin someone else's hard work just because you disagree with their approach. But I'm done with this, I've said my piece and it's obvious you didn't create this thread to hear other's views. So have a good one.
 
I tried logging in to YTEpisodes today and the site is locked up tight again with this message:

=================================================================
YTE is Running in Limited Resource Mode

(How to ByPass LRM)
When YTE is running in Limited Resource Mode (hereby referred to as "LRM"), the website is closed to everyone except those people who have contributed to the site.[TABLE="width: 316"]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF"] Note: This LRM will end on February 15th.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
LRM can be activated for any of several reasons. LRM is commonly used when our server resources are nearing its monthly limit, allowing us to continue to provide uninterrupted service to our most loyal and active members. LRM can also be used in security situations, such as if we suspect a person might be trying to abuse the service, is attempting to gain administrative access to the site, or while performing database maintenance or "live updates" to our software. (A "live update" is a repair, or feature addition, that occurs while the site is still running, as opposed to shutting it down completely.)

While running in Limited Resource Mode, all member registrations are disabled.

There is no predetermined length of time that YTE will be running in LRM. Depending on the reason for us initiating it, it could take a few days, or several weeks. YTE will never remain in LRM permanently.

To avoid being locked out of the site due to an LRM in the future, you only need to contribute to the site. There are many ways to do this, which are outlined on the Contribution Points page. Your contribution points are what helps us to identify you as a loyal and active member.
Get back on YTE Now: Optionally, you may choose to make a donation to the site if you'd like to regain access BEFORE the LRM is completed. Making a donation will raise your Contribution Points level, allowing you immediate access to the site again, once the donation has been processed (which is anywhere between 10 minutes and 8 hours).
=================================================================

My problem is that I am receiving this message from YTEpisodes in contradiction to their the terms as stated in the message, " ...the website is closed to everyone except those people who have contributed to the site." I have 10 submissions that have been accepted and are still active and have 180 contribution points for my participation.

I have spent an hour trying to contact the site to point this out and they have made it impossible to do so. I have previously noticed that there is definitely a sense of arrogance in the way the site creator communicates. His general messages are often demeaning in nature and have often been displayed in huge font. Some general messages have made various passive/aggressive threats in an effort to coerce action from the community.

I first started following this guy on YouTube when he had a couple of channels using various versions of the name "PrisonFaces" and continued to follow him when he launched YTEpisodes as an open access site. I was obviously disappointed when he suddenly locked the site down and began to require a hard to find invitation code to sign up. It took weeks to find someone who had one and was willing to let me have it. Since finally becoming a member to the new closed community, I have complied with the rules and participated. Even so, I was locked out in December and now again in January.

I do not like bait and switch schemes and this is close to being one. I have followed the EULA that I agreed to when signing up for YTEpisodes, yet they are still trying to coerce me into paying for their service. This is a change in terms to which I will never agree to and will therefore discontinue my use of and support of the community. This guy has never asked the community for help, he has always demanded it. Poor customer service and poor community leadership will likely kill this site if this is not addressed.

I would have gladly communicated this to YTEpisodes directly but they have made it impossible. Apparently, they do not care. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to voice my experience and opinion here in this forum. Thank you!​
 
JilliGlaspol12 said:
I'm not try to be a jerk but I don't think you know how the law works on this one. You CAN charge for access to other people's copyrighted material so long as it is explicitly stated in your terms of service. Facebook is an example of this. They could legally charge for access to the site, with the understanding that by agreeing to their TOS you forfeit your rights to your copyrighted material while still maintaining the copyright ownership itself. However, at any point you can choose to remove your material and thereby retain your rights. So to your point, he can legitimately set up a pay site. These types of sites actually are not at all uncommon.

To your other point, I don't agree with the modus operandi employed by the site operator in this case. It sounds like you do contribute to the site, just not monetarily. Still, I think it is worse to come here and try to ruin someone else's hard work just because you disagree with their approach. But I'm done with this, I've said my piece and it's obvious you didn't create this thread to hear other's views. So have a good one.
Click to expand...

The people who submit content to this particular site don't own the rights to what they submit, so yeah it's actually illegal for this site to even exist never mind to charge for it.
 
cro-mag said:
this is his website , he worked on it, payed for it , and he can do whatever he wants.
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Actually ytepisodes is not a real site. all it is is a listing of mostly unindexed (hidden) files hosted on youtube. and his "site" constantly has videos get deleted by youtube for copyright violations etc. also the movies are converted to flash thus degrading the quality of the videos on his "site" once again not a real site..in basic its multiple accounts "prisonfaces etc.. stealing bandwidth from youtube. if you like a show watch it..ive seen the "site" looks like he raided his moms tivo. so dont waste your bandwidth or money u will just get ripped off.
 
bitcomet..utorrent thousands of sites with real content not twice converted files. not that i dont like the "site" i dont use or plan to use it. just hate seeing people who don't know gettin ripped off. i love youtube tho its greatness :)
 
No need to, just found watchtvfree.eu, its only youtube videos. this is from there front page.

Over 700 TV Shows...


Over 33,000 Episodes...


Over 2,500 Movies...


Over 1,500 Documentaries...
 
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