November 23rd, 2005
Ban BitTorrent if they don't comply
I know many broadband Internet users who, when you ask them their number one reason why they upgraded from dial-up will answer "because I want to use BitTorrent."
BitTorrent is a wonderful publishing distribution tool, but they have this reputation of being a facilitator for the unapproved swapping of copyrighted music and movie files.
Earlier this week, as a result of talks with the ever copyright-vigilant Motion Picture Association of America, BitTorrent creator Bram Cohen agreed to strip links to pirate movies out of his bittorrent.com search engine.
Obviously, that will take a little time to happen.
So tell me this: why, when I enter, say, "Broken Flowers" into the BitTorrent search field, do I get this? (Notice the proud "thepiratebay" moniker in the associated BT search results)
Far as I am concerned, BitTorrent is on a short leash. Let’s see how effectual they are in removing this stuff.
If time drags on, and they either show they are incapable of, or unwilling to, do the type of policing the MPAA expects, the BitTorrent site should either be taken down, or approached for some sort of fee-based access - with proceeds going to a honeypot for legitimate copyright holders.
Russell Shaw is an enterprise computing journalist, analyst and author based in Portland, Oregon. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
