Peer-to-peer 'seeders' could be targeted

Found on NewScientist on Sunday, 16 January 2005
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BayTSP, based in California, US, monitors peer-to-peer (P2P) trading networks using a technique called software "spidering". The new software, called FirstSource, allows it to determine which user first uploaded a particular file for trading. It does this by mimicking the behaviour of a user on a massive scale - sending out multiple requests for a file extremely quickly. It deduces the culprits by assuming that only they will have the full 100% of the file, having uploaded the original.

Graham says FirstSource could enable copyright enforcers to focus their legal attacks against those who are at the root of illegal distribution.

Adam Langley, a UK-based P2P programmer adds that network developers could also modify their software to get around such monitoring.

"I suspect it would only require a trivial modification to render this technique useless," adds Ian Clarke, who is one of the programmers behind an anonymous file-trading network called Freenet. Freenet makes it impossible to tell who requests a file by encrypting data and communications and distributing between multiple sources.

That only leads to better and more anonymous software; it's a circle. I don't understand the reasons the MPAA/RIAA has anyway. Sales go up and more and more money comes in, despite filesharing. And it's clearly not stealing; it's all about copies. Also, the industry always says every copied file is a loss of money. That's too easy: just because someone downloaded an album doesn't mean he would have bought it. In most cases it's a "Nice to have, but not worth the money" thing. The equation "downloads = lost sales" is totally wrong.