Morpheus, Kazaa and the RIAA -- The Synchronicity Arkive

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Date Posted: 07:53:56 03/21/02 Thu
Author: whytless physh
Subject:

Morpheus, Kazaa and the RIAA

Having read several articles on the recent meltdown of the Morpheus P2P file sharing network referred to on this site, I have gleaned one important piece of information: The RIAA has got to be one of the most greedy, ignorant and self-serving organizations ever to exist. This quote from one of their representatives illustrates this contention;

We have been saying all along that they control the system, and this proves it.
-RIAA Senior Vice President Matt Oppenheim

Let's examine the facts and see why this gentleman has no clue.

1. All networks, traditional client-server or P2P, rely upon transmission protocols. A protocol is simply a set of instructions that computers use to talk to each other.

2. Morpheus, Kazaa, Grokster, and all the Gnutella clients use protocols. Kazaa and Grokster implement the FastTrack protocol. Morpheus now uses the Gnutella protocol. These two protocols "speak" different "languages".

3. When StreamCast (aka Morpheus) didn't pay FastTrack for the use of it's source, FastTrack didn't send them the latest code updates.

4. The new FastTrack protocol was changed from the version Morpheus was using and became unable to talk with the rest of the Kazaa P2P network. Kazaa and Grokster did upgrade to the new protocol and, hence, were able to continue operation.

I think anyone with enough sense to come in out of the rain will realize the implications of these facts. That several million users were unable to log on using an outdated protocol proves nothing about the network as a whole other than it's protocols are not very backwards compatible. To assume a central control point in this case is ludicrous. Yes, FastTrack controls the network, but only to the extent that it controls it's own protocol stack.

Is the RIAA suggesting a corporation has no internal control or even ownership of is products? Do they imply that because some users share information considered to be copyrighted, the tool used to do so is culpable by association? By that logic, any company that produces a product that can be used in the perpetration of an alleged crime can and indeed may be subject to litigation.

These are weighty matters with several, highly technical components. I serious doubt Mr. Oppenheim has the background needed to intelligently examine the issues involved. His assertion goes a long way towards confirming that doubt. The RIAA has one goal only; to retain the stranglehold is has on the recording industry and the artists therein. New P2P technologies have the potential to replace the middleman between the artist and the consumer. Where would such a situation put the RIAA and it's kindred spirit the MPAA? Out in the cold, that's where. As these dinosaurs of a bygone era continue their legal wrestling, we new, quick, nimble and above all informed consumers will continue to evolve. When the dust settles from this technological upheaval, we will find the terrain greatly changed, in our favor.

-the whytless physh

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Replies:

Kazaa -- Evelyn, 04:18:18 06/10/02 Mon