MS Uses DMCA to Stop SP2 File Sharing Demo

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [DMCA_Discuss] MS invokes DMCA to stop SP2 file sharing demo
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2004 15:58:58 +0400
From: Vladimir Katalov <[email protected]>
Organization: ElcomSoft Co.Ltd.
To: [email protected]


MS invokes DMCA to stop SP2 file sharing demo
By John Leyden
Published Monday 16th August 2004 11:36 GMT

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/16/sp2_p2p_legal_block/

Legal threats have stopped P2P activist group Downhill Battle from
continuing to offer Windows XP Service Pack 2 through BitTorrent.

Downhill Battle set up the SP2Torrent.com site to illustrate how file
sharing technology can help distribute large files as an alternative to
centralised distribution. It offered the 272MB file designed to allow SP2 to
be installed on a network of multiple machines, not the smaller file for
installing SP2 on single machines, due to become widely available from
Windows Update today.

Microsoft lawyers were not amused and within days issued takedown notices
against SP2Torrent.com and a second site (which linked to a torrent file on
another server), citing the the US's Digital Millennium Copyright Act
(DMCA).

Downhill Battle has fought the DMCA before, but this time around it is
complying with Microsoft's request. The group reckons the demo has already
served its purpose.

In a statement issued on Friday, Downhill Battle said: "At this point I
think we've made a pretty good case for the helpful role p2p can play in
distributing major software releases, and so, for the moment, we've taken
down the BitTorrent links. The site has been a huge success in demonstrating
P2P technology - we've had over 100,000 visitors in the past few days."

Visitors to SP2Torrent.com are being redirected towards Microsoft's official
SP2 download site. Meanwhile, searches on BitTorrent reveal that Windows XP
SP2 continues to be available.

Microsoft's actions have shut down one high profile server; but it is naive
to think that people will stop exchanging the file through unofficial
channels.

_______________________________________________

USC Title 17 Sec. 107. - Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use 

This material is distributed to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

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