Client uploading his collection of MP3s ...

[tcgwebs]

I have a customer on a reseller account that has uploaded around 1.5GB worth of MP3s on a Pakistani website on my server. The music is in Arabic so I don't really know what it means. (I am against racial profiling, but if it supports terrorism or something, I'd like to know) :D This client is a reseller customer (American) that's always been very courteous and always pays the bill on time, etc., so I really don't want to let him go.

It was uploaded on an account in which I offered unlimited space and bandwidth. I KNOW what you're going to say next, but I have very strict TOS/AUP policies that prohibit "activity that puts excessive strain on the server".

Bandwidth hasn't been an issue yet, since it's only been uploaded to httpdocs and nothing else. What do you think I should do?

(And please, don't ridicule me for offering "unlimited" hosting. That's my business model and I'm sticking to it)

[markblair]

Do you have anything in your TOS/AUP that states it's against policy to run any kind of MP3 server or to even keep them on the hosting account? That would definitely give you leverage to tell this person to stop. If the only thing mentioned is excessive strain then you would probably have to prove his uploading/downloading of those files is actually doing that.

[Chicken]

Originally posted by tcgwebs:

It was uploaded on an account in which I offered unlimited space and bandwidth. I KNOW what you're going to say next, but I have very strict TOS/AUP policies that prohibit "activity that puts excessive strain on the server".

What do you think I should do?
Bad news for you is that those MP3's aren't likely to cause an, "excessive strain on the server" -but they might chew up the bandwdith. What should you do? Unless you have (as was mentioned) a TOS/AUP policy that prohibits what he's doing... suck it up (and develop a better TOS/AUP and put some limits on those accounts while you're at it).

[tcgwebs]

I didn't think it was a problem, mainly because the bandwidth levels aren't going out the roof. Plus, I listened to one of his MP3s and the music, while in Arabic, sounded, well, peaceful enough :)

I'm not about to become a server nazi, although I might just mention something in the AUP about excessive bandwidth due to MP3 files.

[Chicken]

What about .exe files? And .jpgs and .bmp and other graphic images? I have some rather hefty .pdfs as well. What about .isos?

My point is that I really don't know what you're going to say in your TOS about mp3 files and "excessive bandwidth" (if you're even going to define what "excessive" is?), however there are many types, many of which can be large, and if you sell UNLIMITED packages, one day, someone is going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget.

[FNAPChris]

Are the MP3's even legally hosted??

[Chet]

Chicken, my suggestion was just for this host. Giving him advice is kind of like giving advice to a guy who wants to run a stable of unicorns.

[jammie]

I think I'd be more concerned whether the MP3s are his own copyrighted music, since bandwidth isn't a problem to you although I can't see how one can survive giving unlimited bandwidth. Just my 2 cents.

[Greg]

Ye i'd be concerned about making sure that the mp3's are legally hosted. If i was you i'd start to look at your tos/aup again and make people understand fully what is allowed on and not allowed.

Also i'd explain what "activity that puts excessive strain on the server" means because everyone has different views on what "activity that puts excessive strain on the server" are.

Hope that helps

Greg

[Rincewind]

One clause that I have seen on other hosts (and should really add to my own) is that any site or file with non-English content must be able to provide a translation of that content on request.

[jammie]

I agree with Rincewind and GregontheWeb.

[thei]

Originally posted by Rincewind:
One clause that I have seen on other hosts (and should really add to my own) is that any site or file with non-English content must be able to provide a translation of that content on request. This could be very limiting to clients who don't understand, or barely understand, English. Then again, if you only understand English yourself and conduct your business in English perhaps you don't want non-English speaking clients.

[Rincewind]

It would be only "on request". Not a reqirement prio to hosting but to be supplied if I have questions about content. For most content, the google translator or babelfish does fine. Just the occational media type (such as the mp3 files mentioned above) that would warrent a translation from the customer. But even then, only if I wanted the translation.