University of Washington student paper about collapsing P2P networks, udpated

In response Salon’s article a couple weeks ago about Eminem’s label flooding P2P networkds with bogus files, a Slashdot reader and University of Washington student has updated his Decemeber 2001 paper about systemic collapsing of P2P networks. Here is the abstract:

Peer to peer networks have generated significant attention in the recent past, especially file trading networks such as Gnutella and Morphus. These networks allow users to easily access and exchange a wide array of digital information, potentially including pirated music and other digital media. Also, these networks are decentralized, so there is no central entity that can be held responsible for illegal actions on the network, leading some to believe that they can never be shut down.

However, in this paper we argue that these networks are potentially more vulnerable than previously believed by utilizing a modified version of the “depensation model,” commonly found in ecological models of fish and birds. If the model is accurate, one interesting implication is that P2P networks may be susceptible to “catastrophes,” situations in which the P2P network’s user base has negative natural growth. This implies that it is not necessary to take action against all the users on the network to shut it down, but rather just a subset.

In particular, our analysis of the model leads to three potential strategies, which can be used in conjunction:

1. Randomly selecting and litigating against users engaging in piracy
2. Creating fake users that carry (incorrectly named or damaged files)
3. Broadcasting fake queries in order to degrade network performance
4. Selectively targeting litigation against the small percentage of users that carry the majority of the files

Just as catastrophes can be caused in animal populations by overharvesting, it may be easier for the recording industry to solve the P2P problem than previously thought, by purposely pushing the network over this tipping point.

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