<--------spOOk's art.
  • Home
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Link this site
  • Link request
  • Links to art

Blog

An industry comment. Peer to Peer like BitTorrent.

29/10/2010

0 Comments

 
Well. This is getting silly. A Hollywood Law firm has told its own staff, "Never to use BitTorrent" on its corporate network. 


BitTorrent is a peer to peer file distribution scheme. From a technical standpoint, it is very kind to the people who need to distribute large files because it allows large files to be downloaded, piecemeal, from many sources, using the combined resources of ordinary people's computers as servers. When you use BitTorrent, you can stop and start your computer and it will pick up where it left off each time your computer starts. When you have downloaded a file, your computer becomes a server to deliver parts of the file to other people who need it. 


There is absolutely nothing illegal about the bitTorrent system. However... People are known to use it to share copyright material. That IS illegal. The problem though, is how peer to peer has been made to look synonymous with illegal activity - hence the ban at said law firm.


I think this is quite stupid . Let's compare the situation with another peer to peer network known as "The post office". 


The post office is peer to peer because you can send something from one person to another. That's all "peer to peer" means. This is in contrast to a system where your mail would have to be sent to a specific hub, and then sent out again. Let's assume someone sends a movie on CD via the post office. Assuming the movie is someone else's copyright, this is an illegal act. Who in their right mind would observe this possibility, then ban all employees from using the post office? Who would label the post office as an illegal organisation? Who would demand that the post office become responsible for the content of all mail passing through it? Who would see the post office opening and inspecting every parcel and letter that passes through? 


It sound's ridiculous, and it is ridiculous. Yet this is exactly what is happening to companies that provide a peer to peer service for the Internet.


The solution? Simple. Stop illegally distributing copyright material! But don't blame the peer to peer protocol or the companies who implement these services. They are legal and useful and technically brilliant. 
0 Comments
    (C) Jeremy Lee 2010, all rights reserved.

    Note: I am allowing the blogs in the category 'Book' to be stored for personal use only, but not for distribution or commercial use. Should you wish to reproduce any material, please contact me for negotiations.

    Categories

    All
    Abstracts
    Book
    Critique
    Exercises
    Iconji
    Interview
    Joke
    Like-minds
    Links
    Philosophy
    Philosophy Tips
    Photography
    Pictures
    Poem
    Portrait
    Print-on-demand
    Rant
    Social Commentary
    The-Mona-Lisa-Curse.
    Tips
    Tutorial
    Ugly Stage
    Video

    Follow me on Twitter

    spOOk

    spOOk's art is owned by Jeremy. He has practiced drawing and painting for about 40 years, and might get good at it one day. spOOk's art is focused on graphite portraits.

    Head on over to www.spooks-art for detailed information.

    Archives

    October 2016
    May 2014
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    June 2012
    May 2012
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Link this site
  • Link request
  • Links to art