What happens when you share copyrighted stuff on Dropbox

Try sharing copyrighted stuff stored on your Dropbox. Chances are Dropbox won't let you.

But wait! What is going on here? Is Dropbox going through all of my files to find copyrighted material? The short answer is NO. But then, how do they find this type of content?

How does Dropbox find copyrighted stuff without looking at your files?

Dropbox relies on a concept called hashing. This is a fairly standard technology used all over the web. When you upload a file to Dropbox it receives a unique hash code that looks like this:

Here is the trick — identical files receive the same hash. If you change only a tiny little piece of the file (i.e. you change a letter in a Word document), the file will receive a completely different hash.

Dropbox has a list of copyrighted material with the corresponding hash codes. Whenever you try to share stuff that is copyrighted their system kicks in and checks if the hash code of your file is identical to a code stored in their copyrighted list. If they have a match you will receive a message that looks like this:

Does Dropbox delete my file?

No, they will let you store the file on your Dropbox. But they just can't let you share it. It is also important to point out, that Dropbox does not check your files proactively — they do so only when you try to share them.

Should I be concerned about something?

Dropbox will terminate your account if you repeatedly infringe on others’ copyrights. You can find more information about this policy on their Help Page.

The hash technology is not a guarantee of your privacy. Dropbox can identify anyone who has been sharing copyrighted material (if for instance they were requested to do so by the government). So obviously, the best way to stay out of trouble is not to share copyrighted material.

Originally published at blog.cloudfender.com.