DepositFiles Steals from Rapidshare

Rapidshare is the largest file sharing service, with more files and traffic being shared through it then any other site on the web. They are amongst the first successful sites to carve up an audience in this industry and still manage to survive, where others had encountered difficulty. With that said, it's understandable that many sites have sprung up trying to fill the gaps and voids that Rapidshare is unable to extend itself to.

However, one such site Depositfiles has taken the opportunity to create a very similar service based very obviously around RapidShare's premium and free user system. Of main importance to note is that Rapidshare recently changed the interface of their site so that when a user visits the download page they are shown a screen asking them whether they wish to download as a free user (which has limits) or unfettered as a premium user (no limits, but requires payment).

To indicate the difference between the two, Rapidshare had created and displayed two images depicting the speed odometer of a car, the free odometer is slowly bobbing towards the slower speed, while the premium odometer is quickly bobbing between the fastest speeds. Below is a screenshot of Rapidshare's interface set up:

Figure 1 - Rapidshare Download Interface

Notice the overall structure of the page, free user on the left side and premium on the right and the usage of odometers and buttons as opposed to just a link. Now take a look at DepositFile, which has an uncanny resemblance (to say the least).

Figure 2 - DepositFiles Downloader Interface clearly copied from RapidShare

DepositFiles download interface is nearly identical, except for the colour scheme, and the fact that the images are different. The odometers are animated as well, and on the following download page after having select 'free' or 'gold' (aka premium) mode, DepositFile features an almost identical download page featuring a countdown timer, which Rapidshare had previously used to start downloads.

Overall it's quite obvious that DepositFiles is devoid of creativity and instead relies on the design and structuring of Rapidshare to come up with features and presentation for its site. The similarities between the sites don't end there, but there is no need in going through a full list of site-by-site comparisions as its very clear that this is an industry where creativity doesn't stretch too far and that most of those involved in this sector are jumping on the bandwagon with the belief that outright copying will lead to easy riches.