Kazaa Download Spyware For Music Companies

Kazaa Download Spyware For Music Companies

April 24, 2003

U.S. court rules that Music Companies can use Kazaa download to spy on users.

From Kazaa Download Is Spyware for Music Companies

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. court said on Thursday that Verizon Communications VZ.N must reveal the names of customers suspected of downloading copyrighted songs from the Internet without permission, even as it appeals the decision to a higher court."

More on Kazaa Download Is Spyware for Music Companies

More on the Kazaa Download Spyware:

Brilliant Digital Entertainment, a California-based digital advertising technology company, has been distributing its 3D ad technology along with the Kazaa download since late last fall. But in a federal securities filing Monday, the company revealed it also has been installing more ambitious technology that could turn every computer running kazaa download into a node in a new network controlled by Brilliant Digital.

The Brilliant network is based on a piece of software called "Altnet Secureinstall," which is bundled with the Kazaa download. That technology can connect to other peer-to-peer networks, ad servers or file servers independently of the Kazaa download and can be automatically updated to add new features, according to Brilliant's filing.

Brilliant's software will be able to understand and respond to searches inside Kazaa, since it is based on the same technology. But if it is successful, Brilliant will be able to host content and run "distributed computing" applications over the new network that is entirely separate from Kazaa download or other file-sharing networks based on the same technology.

Bermeister began distributing his company's 3D advertising software along with the kazaa download last year.

- by Aimee Deep at 07:30 PM with 50 comments

Comments

use kazaalite!!! no "more from same user" no spyware get around user ranking... kazaalite rocks and helps your privacy Posted by: klite, on April 25, 2003 03:38 PM

That's why you need a firewall. Even a free one such a Sygate (I think AT&T/Comcast offers a free one off their site as well) that notifies you of any program attempting to access your network (er.. the internet - but, over a cable modem, it's virtually the same). Posted by: max, http://synapsed.blogspot.com on April 25, 2003 05:13 PM

WinMx recommended also. Just found your site through Instapundit. Damn i've been missing out on alot herre. Great work. Posted by: Brian, http://bribloggin.blogspot.com on April 26, 2003 12:24 AM

This arrangement with Brilliant is legally dangerous to Kazaa. They should read the latest court decision v e r y c a r e f u l l y . What saved Grokster and Morpheus is the fact that both companies have relinquished technical control over their program. Both networks operate entirely on client computers, with no central authority. Because the parent companies have designed the networks to have no central point of control, they have neither the right nor the ability to monitor what the users of their software are doing. This apparently shields them from contributory and vicarious copyright infringement when their end users infringe copyright. By installing this spyware on client computers, and imposing a license that permits Brilliant/Kazaa to alter end-users' computers, Kazaa is creating the technical ability and legal right to monitor and control what their users are doing, which will probably open them up to copyright infringement liability, according to the latest court decisions. Kazaa is busily weaving the rope that the MPAA and RIAA will soon attempt -- probably successfully -- to hang them with. They are prime candidates for a legal darwin award. Posted by: jms, on April 26, 2003 01:19 AM