diff --git a/defaults/yacy.init b/defaults/yacy.init
index 343a5dbf2..f7af46cf9 100644
--- a/defaults/yacy.init
+++ b/defaults/yacy.init
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ filesize.max.other = 8589934591
 # to the members of the separated network peers.
 network.unit.definition = defaults/yacy.network.freeworld.unit
 #network.unit.definition = defaults/yacy.network.intranet.unit
-network.group.definition = defaults/yacy.network.group
 
 # Update process properties
 # The update server location is given in the network.unit.definition,
diff --git a/defaults/yacy.network.group b/defaults/yacy.network.group
deleted file mode 100644
index 47455c9e1..000000000
--- a/defaults/yacy.network.group
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-# YaCy Network Group Definition
-# -----------------------------
-# This is an addition to the yacy.network.unit configuration file.
-# This file is addressed by the network.group.definition property in defaults/yacy.init
-# The purpose of a group within a network is that some parts of a network may be managed independently,
-# while the content of the network stays private for the whole network, mostly for a special purpose.
-# This file needs to be configured if someone wants to participate with several peers to the network,
-# but wants to manage the group of own peers with a single master peer.
-# One example application would be the use of computing-teams
-
-# Defintion of property domains:
-#     network.group.name = <any word, name of network>
-#     network.group.description = <any string, just informal; appears in network graphic>
-#     network.group.administration.control = 'uncontrolled'|'moderated'|'controlled'
-#     network.group.administration.manager = <a .yacy or .yacyh - domain, naming the manager peer>
-#     network.group.administration.request.authentication.method = 'salted-magic'
-#     network.group.administration.request.authentication.essentials = <any string, a secret password>
-
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------#
-# this is a work in progress. disabled properties are not yet used #
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------#
-
-# properties for group access administrator-authentication:
-#network.group.name = everybody
-#network.group.description = Our Peer-Group
-#network.group.administration.control = uncontrolled
-#network.group.administration.manager = 
-#network.group.administration.request.authentication.method = salted-magic
-#network.group.administration.request.authentication.essentials =
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/source/de/anomic/search/Switchboard.java b/source/de/anomic/search/Switchboard.java
index 19f2bacfd..3d95a9fd9 100644
--- a/source/de/anomic/search/Switchboard.java
+++ b/source/de/anomic/search/Switchboard.java
@@ -705,7 +705,6 @@ public final class Switchboard extends serverSwitch {
 
         // load network configuration into settings
         String networkUnitDefinition = getConfig("network.unit.definition", "defaults/yacy.network.freeworld.unit");
-        final String networkGroupDefinition = getConfig("network.group.definition", "yacy.network.group");
 
         // patch old values
         if (networkUnitDefinition.equals("yacy.network.unit")) {
@@ -734,11 +733,6 @@ public final class Switchboard extends serverSwitch {
         initProps = FileUtils.table(netDefReader);
         setConfig(initProps);
         
-        Map<String, String> initGroupProps;
-        Reader netGroupDefReader = getConfigFileFromWebOrLocally(networkGroupDefinition, getAppPath().getAbsolutePath(), new File(workPath, "network.group.backup"));
-        initGroupProps = FileUtils.table(netGroupDefReader);
-        setConfig(initGroupProps);
-        
         // set release locations
         int i = 0;
         CryptoLib cryptoLib;