Microsoft works on own BitTorrent

[Steve]

Microsoft, big fans of using the ideas of others, are developing their own version of the BitTorrent protocol, to be called Avalance, which will have a bit of DRM thrown in for good measure.

Microsoft says that the system stops people re-distributing content because it will only forward files that have been "signed" by the publisher.

The researchers say they are in talks with other companies about Avalanche and it could be turned into a product soon.

The movie, music and TV industries are keen to clamp down on file-sharing programs because they say they are responsible for much of its lost revenue.

[BBC News]

I must say, hats off to the BBC for cunning use of pictures in the article. Take a picture of five attractive women, from a TV show, and through a clever caption make it almost relevant to the article. Good work!

[Jonny M]

Take a picture of five attractive women

Erm . .

In all seriousness though, if I pay for a product, I wouldn't expect the publisher to steal my bandwidth in an effort to lower their costs.

[Steve]

In all seriousness though, if I pay for a product, I wouldn't expect the publisher to steal my bandwidth in an effort to lower their costs.

Now THAT'S an interesting point.

For community efforts, pathces, upgrades, demos and such, I'm happy to share on bittorrent and get up to a ratio of at least 1, often seeding for much longer.

However, add in DRM and I'd be less willing to "contribute".

[Dougal]

Anyone read bram cohens take on this? Or seen the powe****** presentation microsoft have done?

Here's Brams Blog: http://www.livejournal.com/users/bramcohen/

And here's the MS whitepaper and PP: http://research.microsoft.com/~pablo/avalanche.htm
http://research.microsoft.com/~pablo...stribution.ppt

That presentation is something is worse then what i can do!