Creative Commons has released a breakdown of the types of particular licenses chosen by CC users, when sampled through a search on Yahoo! of CC licenses found through the web.  Roughly 95% of licenses request attribution, 74% are non-commercial, while only 2% contribute to the public domain.  Worth nothing that these were files found through Yahoo! (webpages) so may not reflect a good sample of all works claiming CC licenses.

Scott Matthews, developer of the Andromeda digital music service and jukebox, has posted a proposal designed to manage some of the mayhem in the P2P world.  The idea, dubbed DRUMS, suggests:

Essentially, the idea is to create a central database, along with an authority (or a handful of authorities) that can add/update it. The root DRUMS database would likely include data such as author names, work titles, publication dates, types of work, file checksums, flags indicating which rights remain reserved and which rights have been granted, and so on. It would not contain the actual works themselves.

Something to think about.  A means for ascertaining the owners of creative works, knowing what rights the authors would like to pass along and so forth.  (Note: I am one of the people posted on the sidebar of the site supporting the proposal).

For those into the trials, tribulations and entertaining sidebars of the P2P phenomenon, Slyck.com has produced a good read on the life and times of Eathstation5.  For those unaware, ES5 (acronym) was a supposedly encrypted p2p networks launched with much hype a few years back.  To summarize the whole ordeal would not do the story justice.  Follow the link to Slyck. (via pho)

If you remember, last year, in response to legal motions by the RIAA, iMesh cut a deal and began work upon a "legal' p2p system.  Supposedly making use of AudibleMagic's audiofingerprinting tech for a filter, iMesh is rumored to be working on a system that filters out those files not approved for sharing.  The remaining files will probably be tracks for sale, or promotional tracks carrying some type of DRM.  The firm has been allowed to continue the functioning of its classic p2p application, with the RIAA's approval, while working on the new version.

At the same time, Mashboxx, in partnership with Snocap and Peppercoin, is working on their pay through P2P platform.  Release dates uncertain.

I wonder how popular these filtered p2p applications will really be.  What will make them diffrerent from downloadable music stores, other than the odd chance you might find a file that has made it through the filter.  Also… the RIAA probably wants this thing to launch prior to the Supreme Court case, as proof of concept on the filtering front.  We shall see.

Add Morpheus to the collection of file-sharing applications adding BitTorrent search support to their interfaces.  Like Exeem, Morpheus would appear to be aggregating tracker data to create a search network on top of the BitTorrent platform.

Andrej Preston, from Swarm Systems Inc, took some time out to answer some of our questions about Exeem.  Here is the brief interview (our questions are in bold):

1. Why build Exeem?
We made eXeem, because we felt that there was time for a new kind of P2P networks.

2. What were the reasons behind adding comments and ratings to the  Exeem network?
They were implented, to try to avoid the fakes and viruses that were flooding other networks. Although they are not 100% correct, they are in most cases.

3. What do you see as important, future features you would like to add after beta?
There are many functions that we are still working on, which are all very important to us.

4. Users are reporting some issues with the types of software bundled with Exeem.  They even use the word Spyware.  Are you afraid these bundles might affect growth?  Any changes planned?
We have heard alot of critics because of the adware inside eXeem. Those thinking that eXeem has spyware inside are wrong. eXeem does not contain any spyware, all the ads inside are adware. Mostly adware inside is going to be opt-out. And currently we are going to be testing http based ads, similar to those that the websites have. We do not yet know, what kind of ads we will include in final. We will see how this test goes.

5. How do you think peer to peer applications will change over the next few years?
I personally think, that they are going to become faster and more reliable. We shall see ;)

Thanks Andrej.  Best of luck.

We'll put this one in the sarcastic, go figure, column.  In December, the MPAA puts together a major effort to dent BitTorrent by sending out cease and desist letters.  As a result, big trackers like Suprnova shut down.  What happens?  Traffic on the network goes up, according to both Cachelogic and BigChampagne.  Let's just make things clear… when you sue file sharing applications, their traffic goes up, not down.

PCMag has posted a review of Mercora, an application that enables a wide-array of radio streams via a peer-to-peer platform.  This network is not your classic P2P experience.  Rather than download files, you are connected to streams from other users machines.  And we all know we can't download streams right (wink).  I (personally) think this idea is a dud until webcasting stations with sufficient bandwidth start dropping their station links into Mercora.  We'll have to see if you can link to a server location from within the app, or can simply choose a folder on the resident machine.  Of course, if you happen to have a T1 or T3 connected to your PC, you are now a webcaster.

Some of the WeblogsInc crew is blogging up a storm from this year's Sundance Film Festival.  Reviews of films, rumors on outcomes and all that.  We will also let you know if any footage from the festival shows up on file-sharing networks.  For those with an inclination towards Indie films, check it out and see what films are upcoming.

I guess you can chalk this one up in the legitimate use of peer networks column.  Home Computer Magazine is using BitTorrent to more efficiently deliver their monthly digital version of the mag.  The mag is free, in case you were wondering.  This seems to me to fit with the intentions of the BitTorrent design - links on web pages to swarmed file downloads.

Grouper is a sharing application focused upon the community aspects of file-sharing - you share stuff within private groups rather than the entire network at large.  As far as music goes, you can also stream music from the collections of your friends in playlist form, creating your own personal web radio experience.  Worth a look for those wanting a more personal side to the P2P experience.

The MPAA has released "Parent File Scan Tool" from their RespectCopyrights.org (warning: flash interface) website.  The application is designed to "help consumers check whether their computers have peer-to-peer software and potentially infringing copies of motion pictures and other copyrighted material."  After about six click-throughs on the way to the software, reminiscent of the old porn banner on the way to the music file days, you finally get to a page describing the software:

The program does not distinguish between legal and illegal copies, as it is up to the user to determine, whether the files found by the program have been acquired legally, or whether the material should be deleted. Information generated by the program will be made available only to the program's user and will not be shared with or reported to DtecNet Software or any other body.

So apparently, all the application does is identify just about every media file on your PC, tag it and let you decide whether you want to keep it.  Not very sophisticated, or time-saving for that busy parent trying to keep their machine clean of naughty things.

Awhile back, those crazy Californians were able to get a piece of legislation signed by the governor that required anyone who sends copyrighted files to more than ten people to provide an email address.  Now they are moving forward in the suggestion of legislation that would require P2P companies to filter copyrighted works from their networks.  Here is the jist of the proposal:

This bill would provide that any person or entity that sells, advertises, or distributes peer-to-peer file sharing software, as defined, that enables the user to electronically disseminate recordings or audiovisual works over the Internet who fails to exercise reasonable care in preventing use of the software to commit an unlawful act with respect to a commercial recording or audiovisual work, or a violation of provisions related to production, possession, distribution, or advertisement of obscene matter depicting a minor under 18 years of age, or tampering with, interference with, damage to, or unauthorized access to computer data or systems, is punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,500, by both that fine and imprisonment.

Unlikely to be broadcast like a pay-per-view heavyweight title fight, but nonetheless significant for those who care, March 29th will be the day the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the file sharing issue through MGM vs Grokster.  An early brief on the merits of the case before the court was filed by the Video Software Dealers Association can be found here.  More to follow as the day gets closer.

Over the years, we have seen a small smattering of p2p platforms based upon the premise that only those things "published" by their rightful owners into the sharing space can be shared, or at least easily acquired.  In fact, the latter versions of Napster, prior to implosion, seemed to be going in this direction.

We are starting to see a new crop of these "legal" p2p apps - bear in mind decentralized p2p applications are legal in the US - forming around different business models.  Mashboxx is being run by a prior head of Grokster (Wayne Russo).  PlaylouderMSP, in the UK, combines a broadband ISP with access to licensed music.  Another network, Fasteer, as apparently about to launch out of beta shortly, allowing publishers to set commerce terms for their digital goods.

What are the future prospects of "walled gardens" like these, where within the bounds of the platform you can share and/or acquire any files you want, according to the limits of the various business models?  What say ye?