BitTorrent Bite Back

In a classic case of "do not blame the messenger for the message", Torrentspy, the company behind BitTorrent have moved to prevent the system being declared illegal in the USA, the BBC reports.

BitTorrent has become a widely used online system to get hold of very large video files as the technology is very efficient at splitting up and sharing data. Ira Rothken, Torrentspy's lawyer said Torrentspy had cooperated with Hollywood in removing objectionable links to torrent files and did not actively promote copyright infringement. "It cannot be held 'tertiary' liable for visitors' conduct that occurs away from its web search engine ... This appears to be the first case where major Hollywood studios are suing a search engine that does not even link to any files copyrighted by Hollywood. 'The MPAA is in essence trying to outlaw the torrent file format."

Since November last year, the global recording industry the global recording industry launched its largest wave of legal action against people suspected of sharing music files on the internet, targeting 2,100 alleged uploaders using file-sharing networks in 16 nations including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. File-sharers in Switzerland, Sweden, Argentina, Singapore and Hong Kong are also facing cases.

The number of cases brought by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) outside the US since March 2004 now stands at more than 3,800. In the US, civil lawsuits have been brought against more than 15,597 people since September 2003 and there have been at least 3,590 settlements.

Several popular US podcasts use the BitTorrent system to deliver their content, including Evil Genius Chronicles. UK podcast Fetish Radio also uses BitTorrent.