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AT&T Gets Patent To Monitor and Track File-Sharing Traffic

Posted by timothy on from the phone-company-is-the-isp-and-vice-versa dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Internet provider AT&T has patented a new technology that allows the company to accurately track content being shared via BitTorrent and other P2P networks. The company explains that the technology can be utilized to detect pirated downloads and combat congestion on its network. Whether the company is already using the system to track infringing content, or has plans to do so, is unknown."

6 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. Wishful thinking... by Kaenneth · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Your users are infringing our copyrights!"

    "You just infringed our Patent."

  2. Encypted VPNs FTW by maliqua · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So i guess one should just factor the cost of VPN service into there comparison when deciding which ISP to chose

    1. Re:Encypted VPNs FTW by fredprado · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Sorry my friend, but most of the VPN services used for this end do not keep records and are in places where they are not required to. Who the hell would use a VPN in US, land of the corporations?

  3. don't sell it if you can't provide it. by gandhi_2 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "combat congestion on its network" ...which is more cost-effective than... you know... actually paying for the infrastructure to handle the utilization levels you are selling to customers.

    --
    THL phish sticks
  4. Obvious by Thor+Ablestar · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The method is simple: Find a link to torrent, check it for copyright violation and try to download registering IPs of peers in process.

    The technological countermethod is simple too: I2P or VPN. I2P is a CLOSED network, and it means that you cannot download anything from ordinary Internet but VPN can be used traditionally. There are lots of other P2P networks but I just have no info about them.

    The legal countermethod is simple too: Attempt of investigators to download a counterfeit file is a provocation of crime that should not happen without it. And there is no method to ensure that the peer really contains a file except this provocation.

    1. Re:Obvious by Tyr07 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Not good enough.

      Confirmed torrent. Confirmed IP's. Did not confirm machine with content. Did not confirm owner of machine.
      Encryption is enabled. Unable to confirm actual data is being transmitted to IP address, unable to determine actual data is be transmitted from the IP address.
      Only method to confirm - Receive and or send copyrighted data to IP to confirm it has or is receiving copyrighted data.

      Crap, provided copyrighted files to people.
      Arrest self.

      There's laws that prevent entrapment etc. Special cases can get special warrents but generally.