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| 'Piracy websites attract billions of visits' | |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| A study by anti-fraud firm MarkMonitor has offered a snapshot into the changing nature of online piracy. | A study by anti-fraud firm MarkMonitor has offered a snapshot into the changing nature of online piracy. |
| It monitored illegal traffic levels on 43 file-sharing sites and found that they generated more than 53 billion visits per year. | It monitored illegal traffic levels on 43 file-sharing sites and found that they generated more than 53 billion visits per year. |
| The top three - RapidShare.com, Megavideo.com and Megaupload.com - generated more than 21 billion visits. | The top three - RapidShare.com, Megavideo.com and Megaupload.com - generated more than 21 billion visits. |
| Such sites are becoming as popular as peer-to-peer methods of accessing illegal content. | Such sites are becoming as popular as peer-to-peer methods of accessing illegal content. |
| The study only used a small sample of sites suggesting that the problem could be in fact much bigger. | The study only used a small sample of sites suggesting that the problem could be in fact much bigger. |
| "The numbers are staggering," said Charlie Abrahams, vice president of MarkMonitor. | "The numbers are staggering," said Charlie Abrahams, vice president of MarkMonitor. |
| The study was put together following requests from the US Chamber of Commerce to identify trends and rogue sites. | The study was put together following requests from the US Chamber of Commerce to identify trends and rogue sites. |
| Very easy | Very easy |
| Mark Mulligan, an analyst at research firm Forrester, points out that the numbers of visits does not necessarily equate to the number of downloads. | Mark Mulligan, an analyst at research firm Forrester, points out that the numbers of visits does not necessarily equate to the number of downloads. |
| But it does show that commercial file-sharing sites, alongside other non-network based methods, are becoming as popular a way of sharing pirated music and films as peer-to-peer technologies. | But it does show that commercial file-sharing sites, alongside other non-network based methods, are becoming as popular a way of sharing pirated music and films as peer-to-peer technologies. |
| "These upload sites index their files. It is very easy and convenient," he added. | "These upload sites index their files. It is very easy and convenient," he added. |
| "Upload sites, alongside instant messaging and blogs, are now on a par with peer-to-peer sites when it comes to piracy," he said. | "Upload sites, alongside instant messaging and blogs, are now on a par with peer-to-peer sites when it comes to piracy," he said. |
| What is more it is "proving difficult for content owners to do much about them", he said. | What is more it is "proving difficult for content owners to do much about them", he said. |
| Users maintain that the sites are also used for legal file-sharing and that the number of visits do not give any indication of the amount of illegal content hosted on the sites. | |
| No filters | No filters |
| One of the sites highlighted by the study, RapidShare, has come under scrutiny from the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) which blames the Swiss-based file-hosting firm for carrying huge amounts of pirated content. | One of the sites highlighted by the study, RapidShare, has come under scrutiny from the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) which blames the Swiss-based file-hosting firm for carrying huge amounts of pirated content. |
| It and other content owners want the firm to install filters to police the illegal content changing hands via its site. | It and other content owners want the firm to install filters to police the illegal content changing hands via its site. |
| In Germany this week, that aim was struck a blow when the Higher Regional Court of Dusseldorf ruled that Rapidshare does not have to install such filters. | In Germany this week, that aim was struck a blow when the Higher Regional Court of Dusseldorf ruled that Rapidshare does not have to install such filters. |
| It found that the firm was taking "reasonable measures" to fight piracy. | It found that the firm was taking "reasonable measures" to fight piracy. |
| The attempts to block the content being transacted over such sites brings back memories of the early attempts to shut down Napster, said Mr Mulligan. | The attempts to block the content being transacted over such sites brings back memories of the early attempts to shut down Napster, said Mr Mulligan. |
| "It is complete deja vu and it took a very long time to close that down," he said. | "It is complete deja vu and it took a very long time to close that down," he said. |
| With legislation on dealing with peer-to-peer illegal file-sharing already looking out of date, it could be time to find other ways to crack the nut, he thinks. | With legislation on dealing with peer-to-peer illegal file-sharing already looking out of date, it could be time to find other ways to crack the nut, he thinks. |
| "Illegal file-sharing is becoming incredibly complex and it is becoming over-burdensome to try and police it," he said. | "Illegal file-sharing is becoming incredibly complex and it is becoming over-burdensome to try and police it," he said. |