Peer-To-Peer Networks Unveil Code of Conduct
17 minutes ago
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By Andy Sullivan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Several Internet "peer-to-peer" networks unveiled a code of conduct on Monday to encourage responsible behavior among the millions of users who copy music, pornography and other material from each others' hard drives.
The networks also asked Congress to figure out some way that recording companies and other copyright holders can be reimbursed for the material traded online and urged users toget involved.
The recording industry, stung by declining CD sales that it attributes to widespread peer-to-peer use, has taken the software makers and more recently their users to court in an attempt to squelch the practice.
The Recording Industry Association of America (news - web sites), which represents the five largest labels, said Monday it had reached settlements with 64 of the 261 individuals they sued earlier in September, usually for less than $5,000.
In an attempt to drum up political support, the RIAA has also portrayed peer-to-peer networks as a dangerous haven for child pornographers, identity thieves and "spyware" that secretly tracks online activity.
Such charges "are not central to the relevant debate, and that debate is about how we build an online marketplace for the 21st century," said Adam Eisgrau, executive director of P2P United, an industry trade group.
P2P United members -- Lime Wire, Grokster, Blubster, BearShare, Morpheus and eDonkey 2000 -- said they would help law enforcers track down child pornographers, would make it easier for users to protect sensitive material on their hard drives, and would not secretly install spyware on users' computers.
The group also said it would encourage users to learn about copyright laws but would not install filters or otherwise limit users' ability to trade copyrighted material. Such filters would not be technically feasible and would infringe on legally permitted methods of sharing, they said.
Kazaa, the music file-sharing service that is the most widely used peer-to-peer network, is not a member of the group.
P2P United invited the recording companies to sit down and negotiate a method so they could be paid for the copies users make of their materials. Members suggested various models such as the per-song fee radio stations pay song publishers or the small surcharge levied on blank video and audio tapes, but steered clear of specifics.
As was the case with radio, the videocassette and other technologies that have eventually enriched Hollywood, content owners have more to gain from negotiation rather than litigation, they said.
"Music is what it is in big part because of radio," said Pablo Soto, chief executive of the Blubster network.
An RIAA spokeswoman said it was "refreshing" to see P2P United educate its users about copyright law and security risks.
"But let's face it, they need to do a whole lot more before they can claim to be legitimate businesses," RIAA spokeswoman Amy Weiss said in a statement.
