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story category Downhill Battle
Bit Torrent and a 'participatory culture'
(old news - 11:47AM Saturday Aug 28 2004)
tags: legal · Fileswapping
GrepLaw interviews Nicholas Reville of Downhill Battle, an anti-major music label group who recently hosted copies of SP2 on Bit Torrent - getting into some legal trouble with Microsoft. In the face of new legislative efforts to curtail p2p networks, the group wanted to show mainstream outlets how the technology could serve a useful distribution purpose. The group also discusses their creation of Blog Torrent, a tool that "dramatically simplifies" the creation, posting, and seeding of new torrents.

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Forums » Downhill Battle
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hrmhrm

@lb-cres.charterpipel

first

yea i came across this yesterday and was dissappointed that i didn't get a chance to participate.... i mean i can understand that microsoft wants to have "control" over all of the distribution but what does it really matter in the end if they're just gonna give it out to everyone anyway?

They should roll with new technologies, not try to fight them.

First Post
SaBo7Ge

join:2003-03-12
US


1 edit

Re: first

The reason is quite simple actually.. Allowing anyone to host and seed a torrent means microsoft can't always verfify the consistency of the data being shared.. This can allow for tampering of products which could place the author partly responsible if they don't try to keep control over their sources of distribution...
Goldengamego
Premium
join:2004-02-22
Okemos, MI


1 edit

Re: first

said by SaBo7Ge See Profile:
The reason is quite simple actually.. Allowing anyone to host and seed a torrent means microsoft can't always verfify the consistency of the data being shared.. This can allow for tampering of products which could place the author partly responsible if they don't try to keep control over their sources of distribution...

Then why don't they just integrate BT into BITS/AU and Windows Update? They could save millions in bandwidth.
--
Because Goldengamegod won't fit:p

jap
Premium
join:2003-08-10
038xx
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: first

said by Goldengamego See Profile:
Then why don't they just integrate BT into BITS/AU and Windows Update? They could save millions in bandwidth.
They will .... eventually. MS moves slowly toward new technology unless:

1) some new technology company has already started to remove marketshare from something MS already does,

2) they can go out and purchase a small company that already polished a new tech for them.

When they actually have to integrate a new-into-existing technology all by themselves MS tends to play the lumbering giant; big, slow, dumb. It's the nature of a large marketing entity rather than a development entity.
DB7654321

join:2004-07-15
Paris, IL

Re: first

...And when/if MS does add some BT capability to their software distribution, you can be sure it will be fscked beyond recognition.
JimmySask

join:2004-06-24
Regina, SK

Re: first

The other problem with using BT to to distribute (although only if it is integrated to the update process) is the very nature of BT. It is a "tit for tat" filesharing system, which requires you to upload in order to download. Anyone remember Kazaa? I can already imagine the number of people getting upset that MS is "stealing" their bandwidth, even if it is in a licensing agreement, just because that's the way people are. This is especially true when you factor in the lovely bitcaps some providers have, and large downloads like SP2. Allowing people to use it freely would be cool, but MS would have to keep a careful distance from it because anyone can post a torrent file, based on what they want to call it, as opposed to the actual contents of the file.
Goldengamego
Premium
join:2004-02-22
Okemos, MI


1 edit

Re: first

The protocol is open and the code is available for modification (the license allows you to modify without releasing the modified source), it could be redone so the .torrent is passed to BITS/AU without any user interaction or just remove .torrents entirely.

BT is very different from that Kazaa crap, if enough seeds available you don't have to upload. Microsoft could config it so that only BB users will use BT (that would still save lots). With BT you only upload while you are downloading, after that Windows would install the update and delete the file.

Also don't bring up the whole corprate/school/goverment networks are behind a firewall thing, they use SUS to get their updates.

--
Because Goldengamegod won't fit:p

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

said by Goldengamego See Profile:
Then why don't they just integrate BT into BITS/AU and Windows Update? They could save millions in bandwidth.

Maybe because microsoft doesnt want people to have to endure BT's speed. i sure wouldnt want to download a 300mb service pack at 8kb/s.
--
You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth

Solo_Senshi

@adelphia.net

Re: first

I got to download SP2 from this torrent before it was removed, it had plenty of seeds and I got speeds of 200Kb/s or more. If your getting low speeds it's because you don't have your firewall set to allow bittorrent the use of the ports it needs.
adelphiasux
Hope Tw Is Better

join:2003-06-29
Horseheads, NY


1 edit
QUOTE - "Maybe because microsoft doesnt want people to have to endure BT's speed. i sure wouldnt want to download a 300mb service pack at 8kb/s."

If you knew what you were doing you could just about max out your bandwidth- I use BT all the time and can get up to 320 KB/s with it.. You have to know how to configure your client, it's very easy if you take the time to read a few paragraphs and learn the basics. Don't just give up when you see it going slow for the first couple of minutes.
Goldengamego
Premium
join:2004-02-22
Okemos, MI


2 edits

Re: first

said by adelphiasux See Profile:
QUOTE - "Maybe because microsoft doesnt want people to have to endure BT's speed. i sure wouldnt want to download a 300mb service pack at 8kb/s."

If you knew what you were doing you could just about max out your bandwidth- I use BT all the time and can get up to 320 KB/s with it.. You have to know how to configure your client, it's very easy if you take the time to read a few paragraphs and learn the basics. Don't just give up when you see it going slow for the first couple of minutes.

No kidding, I have seen 622KB/s downloading Knoppix off BT

It all depends on 4 things,

1. Good config (not firewalled, low packet loss).
2. Good tracker (powerfull CPU, lots of RAM, decent upload bandwidth).
3. Ratio of seeds to leaches.
4. Number of firewalled leaches (lots of these will really slow things down).
--
Because Goldengamegod won't fit:p
adelphiasux
Hope Tw Is Better

join:2003-06-29
Horseheads, NY


1 edit

Re: first

quote:

"No kidding, I have seen 622KB/s downloading Knoppix off BT

It all depends on 4 things,

1. Good config (not firewalled, low packet loss).
2. Good tracker (powerfull CPU, lots of RAM, decent upload bandwidth).
3. Ratio of seeds to leaches.
4. Number of firewalled leaches (lots of these will really slow things down).
yeah and before I got my router I used Sygate personal Firewall 5.5 pro and still got great results- using a software firewall is not a problem for me. Now I'm going through a router and haven't even tried BT download yet. Azureus is the way to go for configurability- it works great.
--
Adhellphia --> WTF!
public

join:2002-01-19
Santa Clara, CA
Ever heard of MD5 or SHA?
ksuderman

join:2001-10-21
Poughkeepsie, NY

Re: first

Ever heard of Microsoft security holes and/or uneducated/unknowing users? BT may have lots of potential, but distributing critical OS updates likely isn't the place to start.
--
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is.
jedidude

join:2004-02-21
Apo, AE
From public:
Ever heard of MD5 or SHA?
Looks like MD5 and SHA will need an overhaul:
»Crypto Flaws Exposed

BonezX
Basement Dweller
Premium
join:2004-04-13
Canada

Re: first

not only that, but if you ever work tech support you will learn, people (atleast a large percentage of them) when it comes to computers are as dumb as sh** on the ground and less useful

Desi
Premium
join:2002-05-05
Kanata, ON
clubs:

Battle Torrent

Its called "Battle Torrent", not "Blog Torrent"...
--
Sala Kala Kuta Mod!
Jonbo298

join:2004-01-12
Council Bluffs, IA

HL2 & BT

Bit Torrent has tons of potential legally. Just recently Valve partnered up with Bram (creator of Bit Torrent) to help distribute the gcf file for things like the HL2 preload, CS:S Beta, etc...to help alleviate server load on the Steam servers.

The only problem is that BT is known for piracy and companies don't like to mess with software that has been used in illegal manners.

Combat Chuck
Too Many Cannibals
Premium
join:2001-11-29
Erie, PA

Re: HL2 & BT

BT has not as of yet been integrated into steam, nor have their been any announcements that it will be, nor does steam exhibit the behaviors of BT distribution. That steam uses BT is a rumor that was started by people who hate steam and needed something else to hate about it (ie:valve stealing their bandwidth to distribute files).
--
Windmills do not work that way! Good Night!
adelphiasux
Hope Tw Is Better

join:2003-06-29
Horseheads, NY


1 edit
said by Jonbo298 See Profile:


The only problem is that BT is known for piracy and companies don't like to mess with software that has been used in illegal manners.

Yeah that is ridiculous- Windows has been used illegally to write spyware/ viruses/ etc- People use everything and anything "illegally", that doesn't make whatever they use bad, it's just how they use it.

"Guns don't kill people, people kill people.."
--
Adhellphia --> WTF!

Vamp
5c077
Premium
join:2003-01-28
MD
·Verizon FIOS

should be legal!

It is being used more and more for legit stuff, I see bit torrent game demo links more and more now. Just because it is being used illegally doesn't mean it should be illegal. Car's are used illegally to, so are kitchen knives, fire, and any other object that can be used as a weapon, should those be illegal to??
--
:: My current desktop ::
joebear29

join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL

Re: should be legal!

Who said BT was illegal?
Leynos

join:2001-05-20
Somerville, MA

Valve.Torrent

Valve has not incorporated BT into Steam. There is no proof that BT will be incorporated into Steam. Valve hired Bram to, most likely from my guess, incorporate something like BT into Steam. Why would Valve pay him to incorporate something that's free domain? I bet they'd rather pick him up, create a good central distributing with a bit if the p2p sharing and then try to license it out to other companies. Much like the same way MS buys out small companies with good products, Valve is doing the same. I believe it's a good step forward cause... well, does anyone remember when Steam was first launched? Imagine going through that for EVERY new game release. I'd rather share some of my bandwidth to help keep the servers intact so I can PLAY the darn game I payed for. Just my .02s.

Deaths advocate

@sfldmi.ameritech

Re: Valve.Torrent

"Valve hired Bram to, most likely from my guess, incorporate something like BT into Steam. Why would Valve pay him to incorporate something that's free domain? "

Blizzard Hired Bram to do just that for there world of warcraft beta Distribution.
Troy Brown

join:2004-04-10
New Albany, IN

Linspire uses BT...

I downloaded a copy of Linspire and they (Lindows) used a BT file with a link to BitTornado.
My download speed was 160kbps on my DSL.:D
cambit69

join:2003-09-22
El Cerrito, CA

BT already being used in file distribution

I just wanted to add my little bit of tidbit info. BT distribution has already been integrated into WoW (World of Warcraft's Beta distribution system and will most likely be used in the final release as well. For those who dont know what WoW is, its a an mmorpg that is currently being beta tested and the client is about 1.5GB's
Forums » Downhill Battle


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