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LimeWire to Block Copyrighted Work

Posted by Zonk on from the compliance dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Slyck is reporting that LimeWire is working on new code that will block non-licensed material. The new code checks to see if shared material is licensed, if it is not, the LimeWire client will politely inform the user, 'LimeWire can't determine if one or more files have been published under a suitable license. These files will not be shared.'" From the article: "Approximately 3 to 5 days ago, LimeWire developers began working on two new branches, cc_reverify_interval-branch and cc-publish-branch. The code in the first branch works to verify that every file shared has a license. If this is not the case, the file will not be shared. The second branch is for publishing one's own work without a license. According to the release notes, individuals can attach a Collective Commons license if the work is either their own or have permission to distribute the work ... According to a LimeWire beta tester who informed Slyck of this news, this feature is already complete. Developers are simply waiting for the signal to integrate these branches with the main branch, providing Mark Gorton, CEO of LimeWire, decides to go through with this."

7 of 295 comments (clear)

  1. In other news... by Stormwatch · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Limewire use will plummet.

    --
    Circumcision is child abuse.
    1. Re:In other news... by Rolo+Tomasi · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, some shady figure in a remote alley whispered into my ear one night that a program called eMule might be a good alternative for the bad people who are drawn to these vile activities.

      --
      Did you know you can fertilize your lawn with used motor oil?
  2. Message by freaktheclown · · Score: 4, Funny
    the LimeWire client will politely inform the user, 'LimeWire can't determine if one or more files have been published under a suitable license. These files will not be shared.'"
    As opposed to the RIAA's original suggestion: "ALERT! ALERT! You are engaging in CRIMINAL ACTIVITY! Stop now or we'll sue you for everything you've got!"
  3. Soon to appear in Limewire: by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 4, Funny

    the Courage - Sincere Mistake
    BetaVille - Giant in Tokyo
    Deleture - Like to dislike you
    False Medicine - Special J
    The Cops - Every inhale you take
    ... and so on...

    Filenames may vary.

  4. This is the principle of CYA by stwrtpj · · Score: 5, Funny
    Nobody panic. This is CYA, pure and simple. If the RIAA comes knocking at their door, the project can claim that they dutifully changed the code to reject sharing of unlicensed works.

    RIAA: But look, we found these modified versions that bypass it!
    LimeWire: Sorry, man, that's not our code. Go yell at them, not us.

    Or if you prefer a more geekoid version:

    LimeWire (waves hand): This is not the code you are looking for.
    RIAA: This is not the code we are looking for.
    LimeWire: Our code is clean
    RIAA: Their code is clean.
    LimeWire: Move along
    RIAA: Move along

    --
    Karma: Frotzed (mostly due to the Frobozz Magic Karma Company)
  5. Re:Freedom and privacy dying at every turn by Capt'n+Hector · · Score: 4, Funny

    But the bad news is that the pendulum has a blade on its end, and is slowly but surely coming closer and closer to our collective body that is chained to the floor in a dark pit while ravenous rats tear away at our flesh. Poe had some incredible foresight, didn't he?

    --
    Quid festinatio swallonis est aetherfuga inonusti?
    Africus aut Europaeus?
  6. Re:Maybe not by Time_Ngler · · Score: 5, Funny

    And the final -10% are often miscalculated, anyway.