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XP SP2 Torrent Shows Legal P2P's Promise

Posted by simoniker on from the come-get-some dept.

Downhill Battle writes "With Congress debating new legislation that would ban p2p networks (along with other innovations and beloved products), we thought it was important to demonstrate the huge potential of p2p software to benefit the public. So now at SP2torrent.com you can get Windows XP SP2 via BitTorrent." Update: 08/09 21:10 GMT by S : As commenters note, you can also get XP SP2 from Microsoft's site, but it's explained: "DO NOT CLICK DOWNLOAD IF YOU ARE UPDATING JUST ONE COMPUTER: A smaller, more appropriate download will be available soon on Windows Update."

6 of 529 comments (clear)

  1. Now, really... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...would I want to download a Windows operating system upgrade from an unknown source? Why not just wait for Windows Update?

  2. Go Team Go! by Short+Circuit · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It definately helps to have object examples of good, legal use.

    Though I'm not sure if the XP SP2 torrent is legal...What's in the EULA about redistribution?

    --
    tasks(723) drafts(105) languages(484) examples(29106)
  3. Imagine If... by emkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Imagine if the vaudeville and stage actors had gotten together back in the early 20th century and gotten motion pictures outlawed. Or if actresses and actors who had horrible speaking voices had gotten talkies outlawed in the late 1920's, etc. The recent legal trend to try to hold back technological progress is disturbing to say the least. Its also stupid and futile in the long run.

  4. Re:I'll Do it anyway by bob670 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How does this get modded as informative? I'll be the first to burn MS as the stake, but IBM isn't rolling out because they failed to udpate thier OWN INTERNAL APPS, not becaue there is something wrong with SP2.

  5. Maybe the wrong word. by Lord+Kano · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Perhaps this should have been titled "XP SP2 Shows Legitimate use for P2P."

    LK

    --
    "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
  6. Re:Uh...Legal? by sultanoslack · · Score: 5, Insightful
    What the hell kinda thinking is that?
    Sound thinking. Give it a try sometime.
    SP2 is a free update. If I download it, put it on a CD, and give it to someone else to install, it's not illegal.
    Yes, it is.
    There's nothing to "agree" to on the download page. The EULA is built into the setup.
    That means nothing. You don't have the right of redistribution unless it's explicitly granted.
    I'm sure Microsoft doesn't mind the fact that people on P2P networks are sharing it. It takes the load off their servers.
    Ah, so now you represent Microsoft too, eh? People, copyright law just doesn't work this way -- you're not allowed to copy it if they don't explicitly say you can't. You don't have to accept a license to not be able to copy it. You don't have a right to copy it. Period. The only way that you would have a right to copy it is if the copyright holder granted you such, which I'm pretty sure MS didn't. This was set up as a "legitimate use for p2p" but basically it's just another case of p2p being used for copyright infringement.