Watch out Llama, you've got Muvi on your tail! That's LamaBox (cnet) and MuViBOXX (The Register) from Veritouch, a pair of home entertainment media centers connected to the Internet and P2P networks, but with very different business approaches. Such media centers offer the convenience of providing music and video throughout the home and watching video directly on your TV.

Lamabox is based on the Netherlands and incorporates open-source P2P to connects to multiple open P2P networks. Download all you want. Is this legal? Their site explains.

The P2P-client in the LamaBox is just like other P2P-software on your computer able to exchange any kind of video-/audio material. Just as with existing P2P-software it's possible to exchange copyrighted material. We cannot control or regulate this in any way. You use the LamaBox at your own risks. In the country of origin (The Netherlands) the LamaBox is legal. The Dutch supreme court ruled that downloading for personal use is always legal, even if it's from an illegal source. In some countries this might not be the case, and therefore we advise to check this carefully. If this is not legal in your country we strongly discourage downloading copyrighted material with the LamaBox.

In contrast MuViBOXX is locked with DRM on a proprietary Bit Torrent network with search. Now this isn't just device or license-limiting technology, it's human-limiting with biometrics. It uses your fingerprint to activate files. This is the most extreme form of DRM we've heard. While it certainly restricts piracy it also restricts usage to not just the device, but the authorized user. People will have even less rights to use their content as they see fit. The company claims it is already supported by one movie studio and one major recording label.

Which technology direction and product will succeed? At this early point there is one clue. LamaBox is shipping. MuViBOXX is vaporware.

Marc Freedman
RazorPop, developer of TrustyFiles, the leading multiple network file sharing software with search and download of ALL top networks.
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