A proposed solution to end the P2P wars

10/02/03

In the last two and half years, I've written almost 300 of these columns on file sharing. This will be the last to appear on the Network World Fusion site. If you have any suggestions as to where these columns should appear next, let me know.

Senators scrutinize copyright law

09/30/03

In a sign that lawmakers are finally getting concerned about the entertainment industry's interpretation of the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, three more senators have spoken out against using the Act to obtain the names of alleged file traders.

Are lawsuits intimidating students?

09/25/03

According to a study released this month by the Business Software Alliance, almost two-thirds of college students surveyed said they would still download copyright software if given the opportunity. 

Court takes a close look at P2P subpoenas

09/23/03

The 1998 copyright law, cited as the basis for hundreds of subpoenas issued by the Recording Industry Association of America, is finally under scrutiny by a federal appeals court. Several months ago, Verizon tried to argue that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act did not support the RIAA's request that Verizon turn over the names of subscribers allegedly involved in trading copyrighted material.

P2P networks reject child porn charges

09/18/03

In an illustration of how desperate the entertainment industry is to destroy P2P networks, the RIAA is attempting to smear file trading sites with the charge that they support and encourage the distribution of child porn.

RIAA issues lawsuits, offers bogus amnesty for file traders

09/16/03

After filing at least 1,500 subpoenas demanding the identities of file traders, the Recording Industry Association of America carried through with its legal threats and slapped lawsuits on 261 of these people on Sept. 7. The RIAA charged them with "egregious" copyright infringement, which it claims could be worth millions of dollars.

Alleged music pirate pleads guilty

09/11/03

The alleged former leader of a music file-uploading group called the Apocalypse Crew has reportedly submitted a guilty plea to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Accused file trader fights

09/09/03

A New York woman, identified only as "nycfashiongirl," has become the first alleged illegal file trader to fight a copyright subpoena served by the music industry on her Internet provider.

Another P2P survey shows widespread file trading

09/04/03

How widespread and popular is file trading? Another P2P survey has been released indicating that about 35 million American adults use file-sharing software. That amounts to about 29% of Internet users. Earlier surveys have suggested that about another 30 million American kids use P2P networks.

Who is the RIAA suing?

09/02/03

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, recently asked the Recording Industry Association of American to explain just how it was targeting recipients for the more than 1,000 subpoenas the group has sent out in its quest to quash file trading.

P2P operations seek shelter in political conflict zones

08/28/03

The long reach of the entertainment industry's lawsuits against file trading networks may prompt future P2P operations to locate themselves in politically volatile areas - like refugee camps.

Entertainment industry fights P2P ruling

08/26/03

A landmark federal court ruling which held that P2P services were not liable for the actions of their users has been appealed by a group of record labels and movie studios.

The Spanish resist P2P lawsuits

08/21/03

A legal services firm called Landwell reportedly claims that it will prosecute 4,000 Spanish file traders whom it has identified as "serious" copyright violators. This is the largest threatened action against European file traders, and the sources of the lawsuit are clearly concerned about a backlash by users who would boycott their products.

Universities beat back RIAA subpoenas

08/19/03

A Massachusetts court has ruled in favor of an attempt by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston College to protect the identity of alleged file traders on their networks. The schools challenged subpoenas from the Recording Industry Association of America arguing that their request for user information had not been legally filed.

Microsoft P2P tools should help advance corporate file sharing

08/14/03

Microsoft recently released software tools for Windows XP that are intended to encourage the creation of P2P applications.

Backlash over RIAA's bid to identify alleged copyright infringers

08/12/03

As the Recording Industry Association of America continues its bid to track down and sue P2P users, there is evidence that the waves of subpoenas it is sending out this summer is beginning to finally generate a backlash. Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) recently criticized the RIAA's campaign and stated he was "concerned about the potential for abuse in the current system."

Are you being subpoenaed by the RIAA?

08/07/03

The Associated Press reported last month that the music industry has won at least 871 federal subpoenas against computer users suspected of sharing copyrighted music files. The AP quoted court officials as saying that 75 new subpoenas are being approved each day.

Bill aims to shelter kids from online smut

08/05/03

Discussion of outrageously bad proposals for the regulation of P2P systems is becoming a staple feature of this column. This week, we have yet another misdirected piece of P2P legislation to consider, the Protecting Children from Peer-to-Peer Pornography (P4) Act.

Bertelsmann lashes out against P2P lawsuits

07/31/03

Bertelsmann, which has tried to revivify the Napster name for its own online music scheme, is turning its legal guns against other music studios foolish enough to sue the giant German media conglomerate for investing in the now defunct file swapping service. 

Democrats propose outlandish P2P bill

07/29/03

In case there were any lingering questions as to how certain Democrats have been bought off by the entertainment industry, these legislators recently produced a handy proof of purchase in the shape of the Author, Consumer, and Computer Owner Protection and Security Act (ACCOPS).

File trading the U.S. Supreme Court recordings

07/24/03

The debate over music downloads often overshadows opportunities offered by file trading technologies to efficiently distribute historical spoken word recordings.

Tax charges to thwart illegal file trading?

07/22/03

An interesting debate stirred up recently between people who believe that a compulsory licensing system is a viable alternative to record company litigation against file traders and those who believes that such a tactic simply rewards legal bullying.

Masking the identities of file traders

07/17/03

Will file traders be willing to compromise convenience and usability in exchange for concealing their activities from litigious copyright enforcers?

P-Cube program accommodates P2P use

07/15/03

When a federal judge last month dismissed the lawsuit against file-sharing services Grokster and StreamCast Networks, it sparked the introduction of products to help broadband service providers accommodate P2P use. P-Cube has recently announced what it calls the SmartStart-P2P Program, which includes products and services to allow providers to "understand the impact" of P2P use on their networks and to optimize network usage.

P2P network operators unite in fight

07/10/03

Operators of P2P networks should have created their own trade organization some time ago to help coordinate their fight against the entertainment industry. But Kazaa has finally risen to the challenge and launched a trade group called the Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA).

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Ann Harrison is a technology reporter in San Francisco. She can be reached at ah@well.com.