Key Takeaways
- Recurbate was a website that recorded and shared live webcam shows, mainly from Chaturbate, a popular adult cam site.
- In 2023, Recurbate.com faced legal action with Chaturbate because Recurbate archived Chaturbate content without permission, resulting in its seizure and the transition to Recu.me.
- The WIPO decision on November 2, 2023, ordered the transfer of Recurbate.com and related domains to Chaturbate, citing unauthorized use of their trademark and content unfairly to make money from their reputation.
Recurbate emerged in late 2018 as a platform archiving and providing access to recorded live webcam shows, primarily from Chaturbate, a leading adult cam site. It attracted nearly 14,000 daily visitors by offering both free viewing and paid subscriptions for premium content, such as higher-quality streams and larger video libraries.
The site’s popularity came from its ability to cater to users seeking to revisit or download specific cam performances, thus making it a significant player in the niche market of adult content archives.
User reviews on platforms like Trustpilot were mixed, with some praising the paid service for its extensive content, while others criticized slow streams and unresponsive support.
The site’s operations raised concerns about consent, as it archived content without explicit permission from performers, which led to ethical and legal debates within the adult content community.
In 2023, Recurbate.com faced a sudden shutdown, with the domain seized by Chaturbate through legal action. This led to the rebranding and continuation of services under Recu.me, a new domain registered in August 2023.
As of March 2025, Recu.me remains operational, maintaining a user base primarily in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, with Semrush reported traffic of 7.48 million visits in January 2025.
Legal Challenges and Domain Seizure
The pivotal event leading to the domain change was a Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) complaint filed by Multi Media, LLC, Chaturbate’s parent company, on September 7, 2023, against Recurbate.com and related domains (.cc, .xyz) (WIPO Decision).
The complaint alleged trademark infringement, arguing that “Recurbate” was confusingly similar to “Chaturbate,” differing only by replacing “Chat-” with “Rec-.” This similarity was seen as an attempt to mislead users into believing the sites were affiliated.
The WIPO panel, in its decision on November 2, 2023, found that:
- The domain names were registered well after Chaturbate’s trademark registration in 2013 (Nos. 4288943, 4988208), indicating bad faith (Chaturbate Trademark).
- Recurbate lacked rights or legitimate interests, as it was not authorized by Chaturbate and used the domain for commercial gain by offering paid subscriptions to archived content.
- The use was in bad faith, aiming to profit from Chaturbate’s goodwill and potentially diverting traffic, as evidenced by no response from Recurbate to a cease-and-desist letter sent on August 4, 2023.
The panel ordered the transfer of the domains to Chaturbate, effectively seizing Recurbate.com. The action was not primarily about protecting performers’ intellectual property, as cam content is generally not registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, but rather about trademark protection and preventing consumer confusion.
Transition to Recu.me: Continuity and Adaptation
Following the seizure, Recurbate rebranded to Recu.me, registered on August 31, 2023, with a domain expiration date of August 31, 2026. The new site continues offering similar services. The transition was marked by minimal changes in functionality, with the backend appearing to remain the same, as per user reports.
However, users faced new challenges, such as changes in file formats from .mp4 to .ts and .m3u8, which complicated downloads. Discussions on Reddit highlighted various solutions, including:
- Using VPNs and extensions like CocoCut, HLS Stream Recorder, and Ant Video Downloader for downloading fragmented streams.
- Screen recording software like OBS Studio for capturing content, though less convenient due to storage costs.
- Alternative sites like Recordbate.com and Ctbrec, a free open-source tool for recording multiple shows simultaneously.
User experiences varied, with some reporting slow download speeds (capped at 1.2–1.4 MB/s) and others facing issues with account creation due to Cloudflare blocks.
Current Status and User Feedback
As of March 2025, users continue to engage with the platform, sharing methods to overcome download issues, such as using JDownloader for slow downloads or VLC for .ts playback and conversion to .mp4.
However, concerns persist, including safety for subscribing due to potential legal risks from Chaturbate, with users wary of providing credit card details. The site’s trust score is moderate (38.8/100 on Scam Detector), flagged for potential high-risk activity related to phishing and spamming, though it uses SSL encryption for data security.
Legal risks remain, as Recu.me’s operations mirror those of Recurbate, potentially exposing it to similar copyright and trademark challenges. The frequent content takedowns on reupload platforms like Bunkr means the ongoing tensions between content creators and these platforms.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The domain change from Recurbate.com to Recu.me was driven by Chaturbate’s successful UDRP action, addressing trademark infringement and bad faith use. Despite the legal setback, Recu.me has sustained operations, reflecting the persistent demand for archived cam content.
However, ongoing legal risks, including potential copyright disputes, suggest a precarious future, with users advised to remain cautious of subscription safety and platform reliability.
The evolution from Recurbate to Recu.me underscores the complex interplay between digital content distribution, intellectual property rights, and user behavior, with implications for both consumers and content creators in the adult entertainment industry.
