P2P

A peer to peer (P2P) computer network uses diverse connectivity between participants in a network and the cumulative bandwidth of network participants rather than conventional centralized resources where a relatively low number of servers provide the core value to a service or application. P2P networks are typically used for connecting nodes via largely ad hoc connections. Such networks are useful for many purposes. Sharing content files containing audio, video, data or anything in digital format is very common, and realtime data, such as telephony traffic, is also passed using P2P technology. Read the full background at P2P Wikipedia

Featured Blogs

No Honor Among Thieves on the Internet

Apple's Wordwide Developers Conference may have just ended, but already, the conference release of Mac's OS X 10.6 — a beta build previewed for developers — has been leaked onto torrent sites. It borders on irony: for years, Mac lovers have touted the superior security of the Mac operating system over Windows, but earlier this year, it was torrent sites — the very sites where OS X 10.6 is now being freely copied — that caused more than 25,000 Mac users to fall victim to the iServices Trojan. Some Macs never learn. more»

TWC Does the Right Thing - Again!

In response to customer feedback, Time Warner Cable has discontinued its trials of tiered Internet service. [Corporate Announcement here.] It was quite a stuff-storm, but to TWC's credit, they put their finger up, felt the howling gale, and changed course right away. This is in marked contrast to their larger competitor, Comcast... more»

What to Do with Skype?

Without rehashing the mainstream headlines, it's clearly on the table now that eBay has given up trying to create synergies with Skype, so the focus now is on making the best of things as distinct entities. The preferred route for eBay would be to keep Skype and recoup their investment via an IPO sometime next year. That would certainly bring an end to things with both parties leaving on a high note. Of course this hinges heavily on the state of capital markets... more»

IRMA Threatens Irish ISPs

I don't want to get into the entire Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) vs Eircom and IRMA vs ISPs debacle. The only reason I'm even writing this is because I'm getting a bit tired of all the "quotes" of "quotes" and other unclear and misleading things that people have been saying about ISPs over the last few weeks. more»

Dumb When They Want To Be…

David Akin pointed me to this article in the Ottawa Citizen which describes CRTC initiatives aimed at getting the cablecos to pay into a fund that would support, "the creation of high-quality, high-cost, scripted Canadian broadcasting content in the new media." In it, Ken Engelhart, senior vice-president of regulatory [affairs?] for Rogers Corp. is quoted saying... more»

Fixing the Internet Might Break It Worse Than It's Broken Now

Willis Alan Ramsey, who wrote "Muskrat Love," recorded one and only one studio album. The cognoscenti of country think it's a gem, an all time top ten. There's an apocryphal story that when Ramsey was pushed to make another record he allegedly retorted, "What's wrong with the first one?" We who use the Internet every day risk losing sight of what a miracle it is, and the openness that keeps it so miraculous... We also lose sight of the fact that even as the Internet's miracles occur, it's almost always broken or malfunctioning or threatening or worse in many places along the line. more»

What Could the RIAA's Switch in Strategy Mean?

The Wall Street Journal and others are reporting that the Recording Industry Association of America is adjusting its strategy for combating the massive infringement occasioned by the sharing of music files over the internet. Since 2003, that strategy has been to pursue copyright infringement cases against individual file sharers. The RIAA now says it will focus less on pursuing infringement litigation and more on working with internet service providers to shut down the accounts of individuals suspected of illegally trading files. more»

Comcast is Right, the FCC is Wrong

A fellow named Paul Korzeniowski has written a very good, concise piece on the Comcast action at the FCC for Forbes, Feds And Internet Service Providers Don't Mix. He manages to describe the controversy in clear and unemotional language, which contrasts sharply with the neutralists who constantly use emotionally-charged terms such as "blocking," "Deep Packet Inspection," "forgery," and "monopoly" to describe their discomfort. more»

RIAA Loses Again: No Legal Wins Against P2P File Sharers So Far

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has been taking a lot of people to court -- basically, harassing folks in an attempt to curb file-sharing. The $220,000 verdict against Jammy Thomas got a lot of news (and probably worried a lot of folks). However, on appeal (i.e., after a new court not cherry-picked by the RIAA to try the case looked things over), the RIAA lost... again. ...At its heart, the verdict reaffirms that simply making a copyrighted work available is not the same as actually distributing the work. more»

Comcast's Network Management Practices: A Brief Analysis

Late last week, Comcast officially disclosed to the FCC details of its network management practices which have been a subject of considerable discussion here on CircleID. (My thanks to Threat Level from Wired.com for providing a convenient copy of Comcast's "Attachment A" in which this disclosure is made.) There's not a lot of startling disclosure in this document, but it does provide some useful concrete facts and figures. I'll quote the more interesting parts of the document here, and offer comment on it. more»

News Briefs

Pew Reports on the State of P2P, Music Online 10 Years After Napster

Annual Global IP Traffic Will Exceed Two-Third of a Zettabyte in 4 Years

Harvard Law Professor Says P2P Filesharing is "Fair Use", Will Defend Accused File-Swapper in Court

Three Strikes Law Against Internet Piracy Approved in France

More Calls for Punishing Illegal File Sharers Through ISPs

Broad Reform of EU Telecoms Law Facing Obstacles In Dealing with Internet Piracy

Court Finds Pirate Bay Defendants Guilty, With Jail Sentence

French President Suffers Setback in His Controversial Internet Piracy Law Efforts

Sweden's Internet Traffic Drops by a Third as New Anti-Piracy Law Kicks In

U.S. Lobbyists Working on Europe's Net Neutrality Debate in Order to Influence U.S. Outcomes

New Internet Study Finds Web and Streaming Higher Than P2P Traffic

N.Y. Governor Proposes Internet Download Tax, Including Porn

AT&T, Comcast in Possible Agreement With Music Industry for New Antipiracy Campaign

US House Vote on Stimulus Package First Successful Congressional Action on Net Neutrality, If Passed

Google and Others Launch M-Lab, Allows Users Track ISP Performance

Most Viewed

Introductory Remarks from Innovation '08

It's About Connectivity Not The Internet!

Why NAT Isn't As Bad As You Thought

Whither DNS?

Privacy Alert: Watch Out For FOISA

Most Commented

Introductory Remarks from Innovation '08

Comcast is Right, the FCC is Wrong

Whither DNS?

No Fines for Comcast

Another Wrong-Headed WSJ Editorial

Industry Updates

Expanding Internet Access Driving Software Piracy, Study Says

The global software piracy rate rose to 41% in 2008 from 38% in 2007, costing rights owners an exchange-rate adjusted $50 billion, according to a joint study between the Business Software Alliance (BSA) and IDC released last week. One of the factors driving greater piracy is increased high-speed Internet access, particularly in emerging markets where piracy rates are the highest. ›››

eComm 2009 Event Next Week: Defining the Post-Telecom Era

If you can be in San Francisco next week, don't miss eComm 2009, the Emerging Communications Conference on 3-5 March. eComm is the world's leading-edge telecom, Internet communications and mobile innovation event.  ›››

eComm Conference to Showcase Leading Communications-Industry Innovators

One look at the speaker roster for the Emerging Communications (eComm) Conference 2008 being held here March 12-14 and it's clear participants can expect an intense three days of idea sharing and policy discussion on the future of the communications industry. ›››

Wireless Innovation to Be Center Stage at Emerging Communications (eComm) Conference 2008

eComm™ is a brand new telecom event for those interested in radical innovation and seizing the next opportunity wave. Skype will open day one, Google day two and Ribbit day three. March 12 to 14, 2008. ›››