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The Commercial Future of Torrrents

Posted by Zonk on from the inrush-of-information dept.

acrid_k writes "Yahoo is covering a story from SiliconValley.com entitled BitTorrent moving uptown. From adding Ask Jeeves content in search results to investigating use of torrents for sharing bandwidth for paid downloads, the future is looking both more restrictive and more commercial. You have to wonder about a crucial part of the equation: why would internet users share their bandwidth to benefit media companies?" From the article: "BitTorrent already has struck deals with video game publishers to distribute games with its technology. Cohen's bid to commercialize BitTorrent is a measure of how far the entertainment industry has come since the late 1990s, when Napster introduced millions of people to the power of peer-to-peer technology for downloading songs -- and mobilized scores of lawyers to shut it down."

4 of 314 comments (clear)

  1. I support it totally! by rockytriton · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I would say share bandwidth for video game downloads because I hate those sites that make you pay to get a fast download or wait in line for 2 hours to download for free!

    --
    http://www.dreamsyssoft.com

  2. toRRRents? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Note to editors: please add spell-checker to your article dupe checker!

    Thanks.

  3. Grrrrrrreat by BlackCobra43 · · Score: 4, Funny

    We now have Tony the Tiger posting on Slashdot.

    --
    I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
  4. it's a network by tacokill · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Like the internet as a whole, BitTorrent is a network. Anyone (including media companies) can put stuff ON the network assuming someone is willing to host it. Having said that, however, there are a few rules to follow (MEDIA COMPANIES PLEASE PAY ATTENTION!):

    a) The network is not yours to do with as you please. It is OUR network and you are participants. Participants != owners, no matter how would much you would like it to.

    b) You don't get to choose your neighbors on the network.

    c) It is a priveledge, not a right, for you to participate on the network.

    d) You don't get to control what goes OVER the network. Yes, there may be things you don't like but deal with it.


    Thank you for your time.