P2P taking over downloads....

http://torrentfreak.com/p2p-statistics-080426/

Just found an article on the site above, stating that from 2007 - 2008 the total downloads of download software such as Limewire, moved towards torrent software, because of the more advanced searching capabilities, safety from viruses and speed.

"Unsurprisingly, P2P applications are more frequently installed on home computers versus PCs at the workplace. Nevertheless, almost one out of five PCs at work (18%) have at least one P2P application installed. For home computer this is little over 1 in three (36%)"

It is clear that there is competition between these developers to become the hosts for these illegal downloads. Of course it is not anything to do with these companies, because they only create the software and don't offer downloads themselves, just the ability to download these hosted torrents, however there continuous updates, must trouble the people concerned with law enforcing illegal downloads :

"Up until today, LimeWire’s BitTorrent functionality has been rather limited, especially compared to the full-featured BitTorrent clients such as uTorrent, Transmission and Vuze. However, this is all about to change according to the LimeWire team.

LimeWire’s lead developer Sam Berlin told TorrentFreak that they’ve done a complete overhaul of their BitTorrent implementation. The newest release is already available in Beta and now uses Arvid Norberg’s Libtorrent under the hood, which is a significant improvement."

CASE:

"STOCKHOLM — A Swedish appeals court on Tuesday overturned a landmark file sharing ruling that forced an Internet service provider to reveal an Internet user's identity to five publishers.
The ruling was the first one to be rendered on the basis of Sweden's new so-called "Ipred" law, which came into effect April 1 and gives copyright holders the right to require Internet service providers to reveal details of users who share files, paving the way for legal action.
The five publishers had sued the Ephone Internet service provider in order to obtain the IP address of a server which stocked 27 audio books to which they held the rights.
The Stockholm court of appeals said in its ruling that it had not been proven that the server was accessible to the public at large.
The court's chief judge had to intervene for the decision to be rendered because the court's four other judges were split on the affair.
In June, a lower court had ordered Ephone to reveal the identity of the person whose computer was connected to the IP address concerned.
Swedish Internet users have significantly cut down on illegal downloading since the Ipred law came into effect. The practice was so widespread that overall Internet traffic has plunged by 30 to 40 percent since the law came into force.
Ipred has been lauded by the music, film and video games industries but staunchly criticised by the Pirate Party, which wants to legalise Internet file sharing and beef up web privacy." -http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gHgZHQUJAgcIYNuG3OEOmCw4r-7Q

Sweden's approach to scaring the community with court cases and real life situations into punishment seems to have an effect.

The Independent, who released and article found here : http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/illegal-downloading-what-happens-if-youre-caught-1736013.html, describes the effects of illegal downloading and how it can effect you legally. Some good points:

- "distributing unauthorised files is a fine of up to £5,000 or six months' imprisonment"
- "Crown Court, which has the power to impose an unlimited fine and up to 10 years' imprisonment."
- "In some US states the online infringement of copyrighted music can be punished by up to three years' jail and £150,000 in fines."
- "You wouldn't go into a record shop and run off with a bag of CDs, the executives complain."

The British version appears to be called "digital britain", and is set up to crack down and protect the entertainment economy.

"While this debate has run back and forth for years, the Government has done little more than keep a watching brief, neither coming to the rescue of the music and film business by enforcing sanctions against illegal downloaders nor offering an amnesty to the guilty. That changed last month with a report from Digital Britain, an organisation set up by the Government to ensure that the nation exploits the internet to its full economic capacity. Launched last year, its aim was to establish a pattern for digital growth in the UK economy.

One of the biggest challenges Digital Britain had to look at was how to balance the interests of the internet user and the industries. The Government now promises to crack down on illegal file-sharing and supports sending warning letters to those making illegal downloads of music and films. Ofcom will also be allowed to release the identities of serial infringers to make it easier for music and film companies to sue them. Lord Carter, the communications minister, said: "We think online piracy is wrong. Creative companies, rights owners and individuals have a right to protection. We wish to put in place a legal framework that provides those protections."