VeryCD
VeryCD is a Chinese file-sharing and eD2k-link indexing brand that also developed customized eMule-based software.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
VeryCD is a Chinese online file-sharing brand centered on the indexing and distribution of eD2k links. The website began in September 2003 under the leadership of Huang Yimeng and developed into one of the best-known Chinese destinations associated with eDonkey and eMule-based file sharing. Shanghai Source Networking Technology Co., Ltd., also referred to as the VeryCD company, was established in June 2005 as a for-profit organization headquartered in Shanghai. The service primarily functioned as a searchable database of user-submitted file information and eD2k links rather than as a conventional download store. Its indexed material reportedly covered music, films, television programs, software and other digital content. At one stage, more than 150,000 content pages were available through the site's search and catalog systems. VeryCD also operated discussion and community features, first through an Invision Power Board forum and later through a groups-based community structure. Forum registration was eventually stopped, with users directed toward the newer groups function. VeryCD's software activities were closely connected to its website. The company developed eMule VeryCD Mod, an eMule-derived client first developed in 2003, and later introduced easyMule, which became its primary client. The customized applications were designed to make access to VeryCD's indexed resources easier for Chinese users. They incorporated features such as an integrated browser and filtering mechanisms, while removing or restricting some functions found in standard eMule clients. easyMule limited search to links indexed by VeryCD rather than allowing the same breadth of searching across eDonkey servers or the Kad network. The brand's software and community practices generated controversy within the wider eMule ecosystem. Critics objected to the presentation of VeryCD's Chinese-language eMule site as an official source, to the use of the Chinese term commonly associated with eDonkey and eMule, and to the treatment of non-VeryCD clients and communities. There were also disputes concerning source-code availability and allegations that later easyMule releases incorporated code from other open-source projects. VeryCD's representatives rejected those allegations. The clients also used anti-leeching protections that could block modified clients, leading to disputes with users of established eMule modifications. VeryCD described its objective as building a large, user-friendly peer-to-peer database and presented itself as resisting excessive commercial exploitation and advertising abuse. That positioning was questioned by observers who noted that the service was operated by a commercial company and carried substantial advertising. The site also promoted MP3!, a music-sharing project intended to organize a large standardized music library. The project imposed formatting and metadata requirements, including standardized MP3 tagging, archive packaging and album artwork, although the requirement that submissions participate in the project was later relaxed after user criticism. The service operated in a difficult regulatory and copyright environment. Chinese regulators raised concerns about content and licensing compliance, while the site's catalog was associated by critics and rights holders with unauthorized distribution. On 27 October 2008, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television identified VeryCD and other sites as violating regulations relating to prohibited content and the operation of a video service without the required approval. The notice did not specifically identify piracy as the reason for the warning. The website was temporarily unavailable on 9 December 2009 and returned the following day after the interruption was attributed publicly to technical problems. In January 2011, links relating to music, films and television series were removed from the site, marking a major change in its publicly visible file-sharing catalog. VeryCD also expanded beyond its original file-sharing identity. In 2010, it formed a videogame business that became associated with XD Network, the company that later launched the TapTap mobile-game distribution platform in 2016. Those later gaming activities and corporate developments should be distinguished from the core VeryCD website brand. Available reference material does not establish the present operating condition, ownership structure or corporate relationship of the VeryCD site with sufficient certainty.
History
VeryCD emerged in September 2003 as a Chinese website for sharing and indexing eD2k links. Its founder, Huang Yimeng, built the service around the idea of making peer-to-peer content easier to find for Chinese-speaking users. Rather than functioning as a conventional media retailer, VeryCD organized user-submitted descriptions and links into searchable pages covering music, films, television, software and other digital files. The service became one of the most prominent Chinese websites associated with eDonkey and eMule file sharing. In June 2005, Shanghai Source Networking Technology Co., Ltd. was established as the commercial organization behind the VeryCD operation. The company developed its own localized software, including eMule VeryCD Mod and later easyMule. The first product was based on eMule and included an integrated browser for reaching the VeryCD website. It also applied search filtering, reflecting the regulatory and censorship environment in China. easyMule, begun in 2007, simplified parts of the standard eMule experience and concentrated searching on links indexed by VeryCD rather than on the full range of eDonkey servers and the Kad network. The software strategy made VeryCD more than a catalog website, but it also caused friction with the international eMule community. Critics challenged the company's use of branding and terminology that could make its site appear to be the official eMule or eDonkey destination. Questions were also raised about the licensing and provenance of code in later easyMule releases after the software became closed source. VeryCD rejected claims that it had improperly reused code from other GPL-licensed projects. Its anti-leeching mechanisms likewise became controversial after users reported that legitimate third-party eMule modifications had been blocked or misclassified. The site combined file discovery with community functions. An earlier discussion forum was later replaced by groups, and a large indexed catalog made it possible for users to publish and locate eD2k links. VeryCD also sponsored MP3!, a project designed to impose consistent technical and metadata standards on shared music. Submissions were expected to use standardized MP3 tags, archive formats, album artwork and descriptive information. User resistance eventually led the company to stop making participation compulsory. Regulatory pressure formed an important part of the brand's history. In October 2008, China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television cited VeryCD and other websites for alleged violations involving prohibited content and the operation of a video service without appropriate approval. The site's association with unauthorized file distribution also attracted criticism, although the cited notice was not framed specifically as a piracy warning. VeryCD experienced a one-day outage in December 2009, which its representatives attributed to technical problems. In January 2011, links to music, films and television programs were removed, substantially narrowing the visible scope of the catalog. The organization later entered games. In 2010, it formed a videogame company associated with XD Network. That wider business subsequently launched TapTap in 2016 and underwent later corporate developments, including a name change after a majority acquisition in 2017 and a Hong Kong listing in 2019. Those events belong primarily to the related gaming corporate history and do not by themselves establish the current ownership or operating status of VeryCD.com. The available reference material does not provide reliable current information about VeryCD's headquarters beyond Shanghai, its present management, or whether the original service remains active.
- 2011
Media links removed
[1]eD2k links for music, films and television series are removed from the website on 23 January.
- 2010
Entry into videogames
[1]The organization forms a videogame company later associated with XD Network.
- 2009
Temporary website outage
[1]VeryCD goes offline briefly on 9 December and returns the following day.
- 2008
Regulatory warning and community transition
[1]Chinese regulators cite VeryCD in October, while the site's traditional forum is replaced by a groups-based community system near the end of the year.
- 2007
easyMule development begins
[1]VeryCD begins developing easyMule, a simplified and more tightly integrated eMule-based client.
- 2005
Shanghai Source Networking Technology is established
[1]The commercial company associated with the VeryCD brand is established in Shanghai in June.
- 2003
VeryCD website begins
[1]VeryCD is started in September as a Chinese website for sharing and indexing eD2k links.
Products and positioning
A Chinese peer-to-peer content discovery and eD2k-link platform emphasizing a large searchable database, localized eMule software and community access to user-submitted digital content.
File-sharing website · 2003
VeryCD.com
The core VeryCD website indexed user-submitted eD2k links and associated descriptions. Its catalog covered multiple types of digital content and was supported by search, publishing and community functions. The service was positioned as a large, user-friendly peer-to-peer database for Chinese users. Its catalog and business model became controversial because of regulatory concerns, copyright criticism and disputes over advertising and commercial operation.
Peer-to-peer client software · 2003
eMule VeryCD Mod
eMule VeryCD Mod was a localized eMule-based client developed from 2003. It included an integrated browser for reaching the VeryCD website and applied search-word filtering. The software used anti-leeching protections and became involved in disputes with users of other eMule modifications after some third-party clients were blocked or misidentified.
Peer-to-peer client software · 2007
easyMule
easyMule was developed from 2007 as VeryCD's primary peer-to-peer client. It removed or restricted several standard eMule functions and focused searches on links indexed by VeryCD rather than the broader eDonkey and Kad networks. Version 1 was open source and eMule-based; later versions were closed source, prompting controversy over their technical origins and relationship to other open-source clients.
Music-sharing project
MP3!
MP3! was a VeryCD music-sharing initiative intended to create a large, consistently organized music library. It required standardized MP3 metadata, archive packaging, album artwork, explanatory text and sufficient seeding capacity. The project initially imposed participation requirements on music submissions, but those requirements were later relaxed following user opposition.
Controversies
2009
easyMule source-code controversy
After easyMule version 2 became closed source, an aMule developer alleged that it incorporated code from a GPL-licensed project and requested the corresponding source code. VeryCD's owner rejected the allegation as irresponsible. The available reference does not establish a legal finding.
2008
Dispute over misleading eMule and Dianlv branding
Critics argued that VeryCD's eMule-related website and use of the Chinese term commonly associated with eDonkey or eMule could mislead users into believing that the service was the official eMule source. The company also attempted to register related terms as Chinese trademarks, but the applications were reportedly not approved at that time.
Brand decisions
2011
Remove links to music, films and television programsStrategyBackground
VeryCD operated under regulatory and copyright pressure associated with its user-indexed file-sharing catalog.
Action taken
On 23 January, the website removed eD2k links for music, films and television series.
Aftermath
The change narrowed the publicly visible scope of the site's media catalog, although the available material does not quantify its commercial or audience impact.
2008
Move community activity from the forum to groupsStrategyBackground
The original discussion forum was no longer used as the principal community venue near the end of 2008.
Action taken
VeryCD stopped forum registration and directed users toward its groups feature.
Aftermath
The change coincided with user dissatisfaction surrounding client bans and contributed to criticism of the site's community management.
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