The Peer-to-Peer Weblog

More Data On Digital Sales Shows RIAA Claims As False - June 16, 2006

I recently blogged about the RIAA's new public message that P2P file-sharing has been contained, and how the real truth is P2P file-sharing is still on the rise. Today, Thomas Mennecke of Slyck points out that not only is P2P use on the rise, but weekly digital sales numbers are declining as well. "According to NeilsonsicSoundscan's statistics, in January '06, 17.56 million tracks were sold. This number fell to 16.68 million in April. Although this decline is modest, it's a direction few in the.
http://p2p.weblogsinc.com/2006/06/16/more-data-on-digital-sales-shows-riaa-claims-as-false...

Big Content Eyes P2P, May Destroy Internet As Result - June 15, 2006

There is little doubt that P2P will play a huge role in our non-stop-content consuming future. According to market research firm Strategy Analytics, major media players such as Disney, Sony, Warner and Universal will harness peer-to-peer networks in order to lower cost and reap the benefits from millions of dollars in "free" bandwidth."Regular high profile coverage of disputes involving content distribution websites of uncertain legality tend to imply that P2P is inherently a "bad thing," said..
http://p2p.weblogsinc.com/2006/06/15/big-content-eyes-p2p-may-destroy-internet-as-result/

Businesses Sue Sweden Over Pirate Bay Raid Mistakes - June 14, 2006

Ten unfortunate companies who had servers in the same data-center as The Pirate Bay were caught up in the recent Pirate Bay raid. Instead of just taking The Pirate Bay's own servers police also took servers belonging to a diverse group of unconnected companies and organizations during the recent, widely publicized raid on the file-sharing giant. The businesses plan to demand compensation from the Swedish government as a result of lost business incurred during the raid and after. The companies.
http://p2p.weblogsinc.com/2006/06/14/businesses-sue-sweden-over-pirate-bay-raid-mistakes/

Pirate Bay Returns To Swedish ISP With Message For MPAA - June 14, 2006

The Piratebay is back home in Sweden again, according to Torrentspy. Forced to move due to a clean-the-place-out Swedish police raid on their datacenter. After a short stay in The Netherlands the torrent tracker site has now managed to return home to provider network "PRQ" in Sweden. "At least, that's what the ip info tells us. Another point of interest is the "reverse DNS" that sends out a clear message to the MPAA and their friends; ...
http://p2p.weblogsinc.com/2006/06/14/pirate-bay-returns-to-swedish-isp-with-message-for-mp...

Youtube Fervor Builds, UMG Urges Tougher Stance - June 14, 2006

According to ProjectOpus, UMG is urging a tougher stance on music used in viral videos. Someone must've sent them one to many links to an Elaine-from-Sienfeld-esque dancing video featuring an RIAA member artist's music as the soundtrack."Some YouTube users have reportedly received cease and desist letters from the RIAA, demanding that the posted video be taken down. YouTube, however, is confident in its copyright policy because it warns people about violation, and pulls material upon request of.
http://p2p.weblogsinc.com/2006/06/14/youtube-fervor-builds-umgurges-tougher-stance/

RIAA Claims Victory, Innovation Has Been "Contained" - June 13, 2006

According to Mitch Bainwol, who sits atop the RIAA as its CEO, illegal file-sharing via the Internet has been "contained". "The problem has not been eliminated," says Bainwol. "But we believe digital downloads have emerged into a growing, thriving business, and file-trading is flat."According to USA Today, Bainwol acknowledges that legal digital downloads are making up for long-slumping CD sales, and cites this evidence along with surveys of 12,000 households to back up his statement on...
http://p2p.weblogsinc.com/2006/06/13/riaa-claims-win-innovation-has-been-contained/

EMI Deal With Qtrax Shows Long Way To Go - June 12, 2006

I don't imagine that anyone thought EMI's deal with Qtrax would allow non-DRM files of EMI artists to run free on the Internet but, is a completely new and proprietary format the way to win over usersAccording to the Washington Post, when launched, the service will not only be ad-supported but, the free songs will be in a proprietary ".mpq" format that can only be played a limited number of times and only on the computer to which they were downloaded.Add to that the fact that tracks player will.
http://p2p.weblogsinc.com/2006/06/12/emi-deal-with-qtrax-shows-long-way-to-go/

South Korean P2P Networks Agree To Block Mp3 Format - June 11, 2006

Several South Korean P2P providers, in response to music industry requests to block illegal music sharing have completely disabled the ability to download Mp3s through their services. We held an urgent meeting last week, and eight of 11 member companies agreed to block MP3 files until we find ways to charge users,'' said Jun Hyun-sung, chairman of the association of P2P service providers. P2P services like Soribada and Purna have been widely used for file sharing, where thousands of users...
http://p2p.weblogsinc.com/2006/06/11/south-korean-p2p-networks-agree-to-block-mp3-format/

Former RIAA Chief Speaks Against Lawsuits, DRM - June 10, 2006

Former head of the RIAA, Hillary Rosen says she's against the continued litigation her former employer continues to pursue. "I don't honestly know what I would have done about the individual lawsuits had I stayed. I certainly participated in multiple planning and debate sessions about them. There were good arguments on both sides ... But for the record, I do share a concern that the lawsuits have outlived most of their usefulness and that the record companies need to work harder to implement a..
http://p2p.weblogsinc.com/2006/06/10/former-riaa-chief-speaks-against-lawsuits-drm/