tamarisk
November 2nd, 2003, 04:34 AM
http://www.slyck.com/news.php?story=285
Ever since early 2002 Brilliant Digital and Kevin Bermeister have had a serious role to play in the FastTrack network. They were involved in the infamous stealth network episode, were believed to have been instigators in the removal of Morpheus from FastTrack and are keen to purge more and more user content on kazaa with their DRM product. Now Kevin Bermeister and Altnet want their content to be piggybacked on every P2P network and they have a plan to achieve it.
In recent months Kevin Bermeister announced that Altnet intended to enforce a doggy patent it had on the creation of hash links. They claimed ownership of hash link technology. Altnet is mainly owned by Brilliant Digital who are quoted on the US stock exchange. As such when they announce that they intend enforce a patent then that is what they are legally obliged to do so.
Almost all P2P networks use hash links and Altnet are obliged to pursue them all for 'patent violations' up to and including lawsuits. As lawsuits would be a messy and complex strategy to peruse against the global and diverse nature of P2P companies they have another plan. It is Slycks understanding that Altnet are trying to force P2P operators to carry Altnets DRM product in exchange for a commitment not to enforce their patent.
Altnet in co-operation with other FastTrack parties are also perusing other methods to try and force their DRM product on P2P operators. Some P2P insiders believe that Altnet are hoping to monopolize the distribution of DRM content via P2P networks. Adam Eisgrau, head of P2P United, confirmed this to Slyck recently by saying Altnet “would like to become "the" means by which copyrighted content is distributed to the public for a fee in the future. P2P United's members feel strongly that no one technology or algorithm should be chosen over another”.
Altnet is distributed via Kazaa and is now an enforced part of their product and has gained more prominence with each release in a self-admittingly push for “DRM to 'crowd out' free content”.
Ever since early 2002 Brilliant Digital and Kevin Bermeister have had a serious role to play in the FastTrack network. They were involved in the infamous stealth network episode, were believed to have been instigators in the removal of Morpheus from FastTrack and are keen to purge more and more user content on kazaa with their DRM product. Now Kevin Bermeister and Altnet want their content to be piggybacked on every P2P network and they have a plan to achieve it.
In recent months Kevin Bermeister announced that Altnet intended to enforce a doggy patent it had on the creation of hash links. They claimed ownership of hash link technology. Altnet is mainly owned by Brilliant Digital who are quoted on the US stock exchange. As such when they announce that they intend enforce a patent then that is what they are legally obliged to do so.
Almost all P2P networks use hash links and Altnet are obliged to pursue them all for 'patent violations' up to and including lawsuits. As lawsuits would be a messy and complex strategy to peruse against the global and diverse nature of P2P companies they have another plan. It is Slycks understanding that Altnet are trying to force P2P operators to carry Altnets DRM product in exchange for a commitment not to enforce their patent.
Altnet in co-operation with other FastTrack parties are also perusing other methods to try and force their DRM product on P2P operators. Some P2P insiders believe that Altnet are hoping to monopolize the distribution of DRM content via P2P networks. Adam Eisgrau, head of P2P United, confirmed this to Slyck recently by saying Altnet “would like to become "the" means by which copyrighted content is distributed to the public for a fee in the future. P2P United's members feel strongly that no one technology or algorithm should be chosen over another”.
Altnet is distributed via Kazaa and is now an enforced part of their product and has gained more prominence with each release in a self-admittingly push for “DRM to 'crowd out' free content”.