The FTC File Sharing Conference ended a month ago. Your intrepid insider is finally writing about it now. Why the delay? There were two things that I thought were left unsaid at the conference. So I first wrote articles on them, published them here, and posted them to the FTC:

• Filtering, A Dirty Word. The entertainment industry trotted out filtering as a solution, like they normally do. But no one discussed it further. It sounds good. Hell, if it was easy I'd be happy to add it to TrustyFiles, which already features third party anti-virus software support and an IP blocklist. So I looked at it a little deeper. My conclusion - "While on the surface it may appear that filtering files for copyright infringement is just like filtering for adult content or IP addresses, this analysis shows that it is not practical. ... There is no evidence or guarantee that filtering is compatible with consumer P2P software or that it would be successful to a legal standard." Still, I'm open if anyone has a deployable solution.
• RIAA Vigilante Justice - The Article. There was plenty of talk of RIAA agents distributing bogus files to deter alleged copyright infringement on the P2P file sharing networks. One FTC presenter indicated that up to 50% of certain music files are such bogus files. I was disappointed that no one from the P2P side, including myself, called them on it. There is an attitude among many users that file sharing is illegal (nudge, nudge), so if you want to engage in your own illegal activity to try to stop it, go ahead. ... This is bullshit. Let's all grow up. ... RIAA has no problem availing itself of all remedies and suing P2P developers and users. They certainly don't need to be cut a break. Interdiction is simple vigilantism. It affects innocent users. It is ethically and legally wrong. In closing, I recalled one of those kindergarten rules that RIAA apparently forgot - two wrongs don't make a right.

The Conference was convened to review P2P consumer risks. The bottom line - from Big Champagne COO Adam Toll: "Consumer risks associated with P2P are neither different from nor greater than those associated with the Internet generally." If you want a wrap up of the conference, here's a few links:

• DCIA 1, DCIA 2
• Wired 1, Wired 2
• The Standard

Lastly, the highlight was the final panel on music with panelist Wood Newton, country songwriter and head of a national songwriters group. He wants his $.08 regardless of where/how the music is played. He went up to the podium with his guitar and played his group's anthem on the US Constitution's provision for copyrights. The song was quite good. The chorus is the actual words from the Constitution. Power to the People! Wood, I'd be happy to promote the song free over TrustyFiles. I'd even take it in Weed format.

Do you want your opinion to be heard by the FTC? Submit your comments now! Submissions must be received by Jan. 18th.

Marc Freedman
RazorPop, developer of TrustyFiles, the leading multiple network P2P file sharing software
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