RSSComcast invests in P2P provider GridNetworks, despite torrent delaying
By Jacqueline Emigh | Published May 19, 2008, 7:57 PM
Comcast, an ISP already suspected by many of either blocking or throttling BitTorrent's P2P technology, today announced it has made an investment of an unspecified amount in GridNetworks, another P2P provider.
In a statement released today, Tony Werner, Comcast's CTO, said the company plans to work with GridNetworks to "improve the efficiency of P2P on ISP networks."
Just last week, however, a study by Germany researchers pinpointed Comcast and Cox as the leading culprits of BitTorrent blocking in the US.
The study by the German-based Max Planck Institute for Software Systems looked only at hosts whose torrent transfers to the institute's servers were blocked, as opposed to throttled or rate-limited.
But Werner implied today that Comcast views GridNetworks' technology as belonging in a more broadband- and DRM (digital rights management)-oriented category than BitTorrent's, which has sometimes been accused of use in pirating films and music over the Internet.
"We are interested in the application of P2P concepts in a manner that puts the quality of the consumer experience first, and enables lawful distribution of copyrighted content," according to Werner's canned statement.
In FCC hearings, Comcast has defended itself against insinuations of torrent blocking by insisting that the ISP does not block any Web site, application, or protocol.
But David L. Cohen, Comcast's executive VP, has admitted to a "limited form of network management," in which requests for BitTorrent file uploads are "delayed" but not "blocked."
So if they are caught blocking any more bit torrent, hopefully the ftc can go after them for anti-competitive practices.
Score: 0
"...than BitTorrent's, which has sometimes been accused of use in pirating films and music over the Internet."
sometimes?
Score: 0
Yeah, sometimes. Its used for plenty of legit purposes these days.
Score: 0
Heh...
Plenty?
That'd be what? 10%? 5%? .001%?
Don't get me wrong, it's a great technology. Grabbing Linux CD's from BT couldn't be a more pleasant experience, but lets not fool ourselves as to it's primary (even if unintended) use.
Score: 0
I don't agree PC_Tool..
Yes we all know that bit torrent is used a lot for illegal stuff, but there is also a big percentage of legal use..
The open source community uses it a lot for distributing their software, games, etc..
Also for example here in Portugal a lot of Bands use it for showing their new albums freely..
Another example movie trailers..
But without a good study I can't backup my opinion :)
But nether can you ;)
Score: 0
But without a good study I can't backup my opinion :)
But nether can you ;)
Heh..
Wanna bet?
Unless you want to argue that less than 15% of the software market uses the majority of BitTorrent traffic?
...I don't think so.
I know first-hand the legitimate uses of BT. I play WoW. I have recently tried 2 Linux distros Installed Ubuntu, and tested the Fedora LiveCD), and will likely be grabbing OpenSUSE 11 when it hits final.
I just cannot bring myself to believe that such use makes up anywhere *near* the majority of BT traffic.
Score: 0