All torrent sites rely on seeders, people who effectively donate their upstream bandwidth to provide content for others. Some go the extra mile and use a seedbox, a server-based piece of kit that pumps content into torrent swarms enabling faster downloads for everyone. While this is seen as a good thing by the majority, a private tracker specializing in high definition content has just introduced a set of the toughest and most baffling seedbox rules ever to grace the torrent scene.

Private BitTorrent trackers have rules for members to abide by. They are put in place to ensure the smooth running of the community and 99% of the time a site is a better place when people voluntarily follow them.

However, while many users simply can’t be bothered to read the rules, some site staff don’t stop to think what it’s like to be a user. A couple of dozen basic rules are easy enough to follow, but make them too complex and members just switch off, rules get broken, and no one is happy as a result.

Last Monday CHDBits, a private tracker specializing in HD content, introduced a set of rules for those members who use seedboxes on the site. These server-based tools paid for by members pump bandwidth into torrent swarms, making transfers quicker for everyone on the site.

Far from seeing this as a good thing, CHDBits felt the need to regulate their use with the most bizarre and complex rules the torrent world has ever seen. They include users having to send the site proof that they paid for the seedbox, along with a “legal agreement of usage as well as any other certificate / proof of rental from the original service provider.”

In order to fully appreciate the complexity of the rules a copy can be found here. Please have a read through now and we’ll meet you back here for the next paragraph in 20 mins.


Back already? Excellent!

Perplexed that we may have somehow overlooked the need for such a complex set of rules, TorrentFreak spoke with DroidX from Underleech.org, a company that provides VPNs and seedboxes to BitTorrent users.

“Sometimes things seem like great ideas at the time, similar to when you code your website with a barking dog on every page refresh when you’re drunk at 6am. The difference between the aforementioned and CHDBits’ new seedbox policy is the policy wasn’t taken down when they sobered up unlike your barking dog surely was,” Droidx begins.

“At first glance the policy sounds normal enough: prevent hit and runs and cheating by enforcing a set of rules. Sounds like a perfectly valid reason with good intentions, unfortunately everyone but CHDBits’ has heard the story about how the road to hell is paved. Simply put, these new rules are ridiculous.”

Droidx says that the ruleset basically treats seedbox users like cheaters (people who manipulate their stats to make it appear they have uploaded more than they have) when in reality they tend to be the users that go out of their way to help a tracker.

Rule 1A states that any seedbox used on the site must have a dedicated IP address for that user’s exclusive use. This, Droidx explains, is problematic.

“Maybe CHDBits’s haven’t heard but IPV4 addresses have basically run out, all remaining blocks are owned and users are forced to rent them from their provider or buy them at high prices. This is the main reason just about every seedbox provider in the business uses a shared IP. There is no good reason to buy a dedicated IP for every user on a box and end up charging more for the seedbox plan.

“Worse, I believe the reason for this is that CHDBits’ tracker software isn’t compiled to handle multiple users seeding on the same IP and rather than invest time in fixing the issue and recompiling the tracker, they are taking the easier way out and just banning shared IPs,” he explains.

As mentioned earlier, CHDBits also want their users to send over proof that they paid for the seedbox. That anonymity users hoped for when they signed up for the seedbox in the first place? Forget it.

Other rules basically dictate the terms that a user must agree with their seedbox provider in order for it to be accepted on the site.

“Requiring a minimum rental period of not less than a calendar month rules out the one week and two week plans some users strapped for cash use to get a quick boost. What is the harm in that? The user is paying their own hard earned money to do the right thing and help their account,” says Droidx.

Furthermore, if a user purchased their seedbox in a promotion, received a discount, or even won it in a competition, unbelievably that seedbox is banned from the site.

Of course, no draconian set of rules is complete without the punishments for non-compliance which in CHDBits’ case include being barred from downloading torrents for up to four weeks or being banned completely. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the madness so far, these punishments can kick in for the most minor of infractions, such as using a seedbox for its intended use.

“No mass downloading/ uploading torrents?? HUH? REALLY? Did they not get the damn memo of what seedboxes are used for!?!?!……. MASS SEEDING! That is the whole damn point for the majority of the users. They spend their cash to seed as much as they can to get their money’s worth,” Droidx notes.

But perhaps the best one (and you may have to read this twice) is that users’ seedbox use may not “Disturb the other users download/upload experience.”

“I can see it now,” says Droidx. “CHDBits’ !!! My torrents from your site are downloading TOO FAST! It’s using up all my connection and I can’t stream YouPorn! BAN the asshole with the seedbox who is causing this disturbing situation!”

As highlighted at the start of this article, rules are put in place to make a site a better place, but if they don’t achieve that then one has to question why they are there at all. Furthermore, rules that treat contributing members in this fashion are simply ridiculous and should never have been put in place.

“At the end of the day, with all these rules and regulations, I fear most users will say ‘Why bother with all this bullshit? Easier to download a cheat client.’ I for one, hope CHDBits’ rethinks this assinine policy,” Droidx concludes.

1. CHDBits Seedbox rules
   
   Rules and regulations on the usage of Seedbox(es)
   
   Seedbox is like a Swiss army knife in the torrent world. While it helps seeders to do their part, it eases the process of hit and run too. Some users were even dedicated to cheat the tracker by transferring data among boxes. In order to ensure the interests of the other seedbox members as well as to further discourage the malicious usage of seeboxes, below is the new guideline for seedbox users.
   
   i) Definition of Seedbox(es)
   A Seedbox includes, but not limited to, Seedbox provided by Seedbox provider, VPS provided by IDC, dedicated server and any other datacenter facility that allows users to download and upload torrents.
   
   ii) Seedbox usage
   1>Any Seedbox used for CHDBits’ torrents should meet ALL five (5) criteria as listed below:
   a> has a dedicated IP, and the IP is being used by the particular user only
   b> has proof of payment, legal agreement of usage as well as any other certificate / proof of rental from the original service provider.
   c> Rental period of not less than a calendar month
   d> only one CHDBits member is using the box during the rental period
   e> for non-speculative purpose only
   
   Below are some examples which will help you understand in a better way:
   a> A user wants to rent two months of Seedbox with shared IP. The Seedbox is not allowed in CHDBits.
   b> A user wants to rent two weeks of Seedbox with dedicated IP. Nobody shares the IP address with the user. The Seedbox is not allowed in CHDBits.
   c> A user won a free seedbox from some service provider promotion, forum giveaway, lucky draw, etc. The Seedbox is not allowed in CHDBits.
   d> A service provider provides more than 50% discount (for first month only) on their dedicated server. A user then buy and discontinue the Seedbox on the following month. This Seedbox is not allowed in CHDBits.
   e> A Seedbox is paid for 3 months period and then resold / transferred to another user on the second month. The Seedbox is not allowed in CHDBits.
   f> A Seedbox was used for over a year or so and then resold / transferred to another user. This Seedbox is not allowed in CHDBits.
   g> A Seedbox was sold to first user from a reseller for couple of months and then sold to second user upon termination of the first user. This Seedbox is not allowed in CHDBits.
   h> A reseller bought a dedicated server and setup VPSes with dedicated IP each VPS. No VPS in this scenario is allowed in CHDBits.
   i> A reseller bought a dedicated server and setup multiple torrent clients. Each torrent client is assigned with a dedicated IP. This server is not allowed in CHDBits.
   j> User A’s dedicated server with dedicated IP was expired and returned to service provider. The server is then bought by User B from the service provider (not reseller). User B IS ALLOWED to use the said server.
   
   remarks: besides the scenario above, other boxes that do not meet the requirements as stated in 1> is not allowed in CHDBits.
   
   2> The purchase receipt and letter of assignment of the dedicated server is the only way to proof your ownership of the server. You’re required to keep it for verification purpose.
   
   3> Seedboxes should be registered via designated registration page prior to downloading/seeding torrents. Any other way of registration will be deemed void.
   
   4> Seedboxes should be deregistered once they are no longer being used for CHDBits’ torrents.
   
   iii) Seedbox registration
   1> Target audience: all CHDBits members
   
   2> Registration page: visit CHDBits :: ?? :: CHD??PT? :: ???????? - Powered by NexusPHP or via “User CP” – “Personal Settings”.
   
   3> Registration process and requirements:
   a> Seedbox’s IP: complete ipv4 address must be filled in. All information provided during the registration will not be disclosed to third party and will be kept private and confidential.
   b> URL of the service provider’s page of registration. E.g. http://www.ovh.com/u...icated-servers/ instead of their homepage (Hébergement et Solutions Internet - OVH). You must include http:// in your URL.
   c> Seedbox model: Enter the model name as provided by the service provider (e.g. KS Servers). If there aren’t any, please use any name that could distinguish the box from other boxes.
   d> upload and download speed: unit in Mbps
   e> Purchase option
   1) Select “Retail” if the Seedbox is obtained directly from service provider. All proof of purchase must be kept safely for audit purpose. The email/id used to purchase the Seedbox should be similar to your CHDBits username/registered email, if not identical.
   2) Select “Reseller” if the Seedbox is obtained from third-party and provide the details accordingly. For example, agent’s E-Bay id, website, etc. Please obtain the “URL of the service provider’s page of registration” as stated above from your agent, as well as proof of purchase, receipt, etc for audit purpose.
   f> Seedbox info may not be modified once added. Please make sure the correct information is keyed in before submission.
   g> Seedbox info will appear at the bottom of the page once the registration is successful.
   
   4> Deregistration
   a> If the Seedbox is no longer in use, please remove it from the registration page and fill in the reason.
   b> If deletion is required due to incorrect information keyed in during the registration process, please specify the mistake made in the column.
   c> Seedbox should never be deregistered while in use.
   
   5> Notes on registration
   a> The registration date will be treated as the first day of usage of the Seedbox in CHDBits. Please download at least 1 complete torrent for confirmation purpose. No other requirement thereafter.
   b> The deregistration date will be treated as the last day of usage of the Seedbox in CHDBits. Please download at least 1 complete torrent for confirmation purpose. As it takes time for the Seedbox to be ready for usage after registration, at least 25 days between registration date and deregistration date is accepted as 1 month usage.
   c> Users must register all their seedboxes. Selective registration is not allowed.
   d> URL of reseller where the box is purchased from (e.g. ebay.com) cannot be used as “service provider’s page of registration”.
   e> Classmates, friends, colleagues, relatives, etc as “reseller” is not allowed. Please buy directly from the service provider.
   
   iv) Violations and penalties
   1> Actions as stated below will be granted 4-8 weeks of warning, barred from downloading torrents for 2-4 weeks or disablement of account.
   a> Register the seedbox within 3 days AFTER the seedbox is being used.
   b> Mass downloading / uploading torrents (minor case)
   c> Mass transfer among boxes (different users) for credits (minor case)
   d> Disturb the other users download/upload experience with the usage of Seedbox
   
   2> Actions below will lead to immediate disablement of account:
   a> Second violation of rules as stated in 1> above
   b> Never register the seedbox after the seedbox is being used for more than 3 days.
   c> Deregister the Seedbox while it’s still in use.
   d> Use a shared IP seedbox.
   e> Share Seedbox with dedicated IP among other users.
   f> Use a Seedbox for less than a month.
   g> Modify or use the Seedbox for cheating purpose.
   h> Register a Seedbox obtained from unapproved reseller as if they registered directly from the service provider
   i> cover up where the Seedbox’s actually from.
   j> abuse the Seedbox registration page (fake data, spam fake registration, etc.)
   k> Download/upload maliciously
   l> Mass transfer among different boxes with other users / groups maliciously
   m> disturb the normal operation of the website with seedboxes
   
   v) Other notes:
   1> For those who bought the Seedbox directly from the service provider, please request for confirmation that the IP is a dedicated one, by email or ticketing system.
   2> Those who bought the Seedboxes thru a reseller are solely responsible to make sure the Seedboxes meet the criteria as stated above. Please do not buy from those who could not produce the proof of payment, letter of confirmation, etc. from the service provider. The user will be liable for all consequences that might arise from improper Seedbox usage or violation of the above rules.
   3> Due to transparency problem and potential risk from buying Seedbox via reseller, we strongly recommend members to buy Seedbox direct from the service provider.
   
   vi) Date of enforcement
   These rules will be enforced the moment this notice is announced. Users should stop using Seedboxes which do not meet the requirements as stated above immediately. All Seedboxes should be registered before 15th of April 2013.
   
   vii) Transition period
   1> Users should stop using their Seedboxes temporarily if they suspect the Seedboxes is not in conformity with requirements as stated above. Users may resume using the Seedboxes after confirmation of conformity.
   2> If the Seedbox will expire in less than a month from today (the date of this announcement is made), please renew for another month or stop using the Seedbox immediately. Thank you for your understanding.
   
   CHDBits admin team reserves the right of final interpretation and decision on all rules, as well as the modification of the rules.
   
   Disclaimer: If there is any inconsistency or ambiguity between the English version and the Chinese version, the CHINESE version shall prevail.
   
   CHDBits Staff
   
   8th Apr. 2013
   

i will say they are one site i won't be asking for a invite to.

Good thing, hdchina is back.

I think everybody's getting a bit to paranoid about this.

Quoted from CHDBits: "Proof of purchase will only be requested by the admin if users are suspected to be involved in prohibited activities. If the seedbox meet ALL five (5) criteria, the seedbox is allowed in CHDBits."

All there is to do is register Seedbox IP, state with what company and what series/type of box you have.....end of story.

Unless you trying to cheat the system there is nothing else to do or prove.

If you read this line properly: b> has proof of payment, legal agreement of usage as well as any other certificate / proof of rental from the original service provider.

It doesn't actually say you have to send them that proof ..... all you have to do is have it !! Unless of course you a caught trying to cheat the system.

Lets not get to paranoid about this ... The rules that CHDBits have published is just a long winded rambling bunch of garbage just to bring in a few simple rules.

Thats my opinion.