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TorrentSpy, ISOHunt to Begin Search Filtering

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

June 26, 2007, 2:34 PM

Two major torrent sites have announced plans to start filtering their search results in an effort to block copyrighted content. Both would use technology from FileRights, a company that produces software that helps content owners automatically remove their content from torrent sites around the world. Participating sites include ISOHunt and TorrentSpy.

By using the system, TorrentSpy will likely be able to show that it is making efforts to end illicit use of its site. A judge has ordered the site to start tracking users, although it has appealed and indicated it will shut down first, before identifying users. That decision is under appeal. FileRights uses a hash-based system in order to identify any copyrighted material, the company says on its website.

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By bigsexy022870

posted Jun 27, 2007 - 6:26 PM

This isn't good. But at least i know what sites to not goto anymore

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Jun 27, 2007 - 4:39 AM

There fighting a lost cause.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Jun 27, 2007 - 12:54 PM

So did your English teachers.

Score: 0

By XiND

edited Jun 27, 2007 - 9:03 PM

 :)

Score: 0

By Alex Stevens

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 9:29 PM

The site is called ISOHunt. I mean come on...

Score: 0

By Mystiqq

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 8:28 PM

I wonder whos the lucky one who has to go through each indivitual torrent, download it and identify the content.

Score: 0

By Diam0nd

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 6:05 PM

WeezulDK
Under ALL I meant illegal torrent use, thats one. Two, dont start with all that "there ARE some legal uses for torrents", this tale is WAY too old. Yes there are, but how many people/companies use torrent for legal downloads?

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Jun 27, 2007 - 6:45 PM

http://www.legaltorrents.com/index.htm

Score: 0

By khetos

posted Jun 27, 2007 - 11:15 AM

hahaha blizzard uses torrents to update their game content and its soo effin slow.. i quit WoW because 3/4 of the time for a minamal mmorpg games like myself is spent paying for downloading content that will never be seen...

Score: 0

By Mystiqq

posted Jun 27, 2007 - 11:32 AM

Seriously, i dont think it would get any faster if they used something else. If anything, using bittorrent type of p2p system makes it faster, not slow it down.

Score: 0

By The MAZZTer

edited Jun 26, 2007 - 9:42 PM

Linux distros have always used torrents as far back as I've seen them. Major mod releases nowadays always provide a torrent.

When the Vista public beta was released some guys tried to help MS' server loads by putting a torrent up. MS shut it down. It's legality may be questioned but it should be noted you'd still have needed to get a key from MS to use the beta.

Of course I usually find normal download links faster... but if people would stop capping their upload speeds when they're not using their connection for anything important, and if ISPs would be more generous with upload bandwidth as well as download (should it become a problem), I don't see why torrents couldn't become a far superior way to distribute files.

Heh, all we need is MS to make a background P2P service for the next windows with no controls on upload speed to share windows updates and service packs and such. Not likely to happen since bandwidth isn't free and people would rightly complain, but it's still an interesting thought.

Score: 0

By Mystiqq

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 8:33 PM

What differences does it make?

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By saint.alpha

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 5:13 PM

One starts blocking stuff, 10 more unfiltered systems will appear...

Score: 0

By LRN

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 4:12 PM

"FileRights uses a hash-based system in order to identify any copyrighted material"
OK...What if i put copyrighted file in archive? With password (password is given away for free). How could you identify content as copyrighted then? I could also reencode content (for video/audio) to change it's hash.
No, this won't work.

Score: 0

By Antichrist

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 3:40 PM

I hope they close down the RIAA. They deserve to have their copyrighted content stolen....uh-oh, are they going to sue me for saying that?

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 4:44 PM

Nope. I can say that you shouldn't justify bad behavior by pointing out another's bad behavior, though.

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By Antichrist

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 5:18 PM

True. It wouldn't be justified. I just wish bad things on the RIAA. And according to their point of view, that is a very bad thing.

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By Diam0nd

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 3:27 PM

Amen to this. I hope they close ALL torrent sites.

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By Mystiqq

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 8:18 PM

oh snap!

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By WeezulDK

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 3:34 PM

Dude that's a little shortsighted and closed minded, considering the legitimate torrents of linux distros and open source software that a lot of us wouldn't be able to get without bittorrent trackers.

What you're describing (closing all torrent sites) is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 4:28 PM

More like burning down a prison full of inmates when a few of them might have actually been innocent...

Score: 0

By dhjdhj

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 10:24 PM

But don't forget that the concept behind our justice model is "supposed" to be that we would prefer to free lots of guilty people rather than jail one innocent person!

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jun 27, 2007 - 12:51 PM

Innocence is over-rated.

They just need to get out more. :p

Score: 0