Volume I

Issue : 2: July 24, 2003

• CryptoLogic Subsidiary Settles Cross-Border On-line Patent Dispute
• U.S. Court of Appeals Formulates Test For Website Operator Liability
• Newfoundlander Convicted of Trafficking in Moose Antlers On the Internet
• Australian Court Grants Damages For Invasion of Privacy In Landmark Case
• Secondary Disclosure of Subscribers Personal Information Contravenes PIPEDA
• Ontario Company Launches Suit Against ICANN Over the Wait List Service
• U.S. Federal Court of Appeals Refuses Jurisdiction Over Semi-Interactive Website
• Music Industry Subpoenas ISP Investigates Users At University
• P2P: Survey Released & Proposed U.S. Legislation With Criminal Provisions
• Original Registrant Losses Acrobat.ca

Home > Volume I > Issue 2: July 24, 2003 > P2P: Survey Released & Proposed U.S. Legislation With Criminal Provisions

P2P: Survey Released & Proposed U.S. Legislation With Criminal Provisions

A recent survey conducted by a Canadian company, AssetMetrix, found that peer-to-peer (P2P) software was installed at least once in 77% of the 560 companies surveyed. The surveyed companies varied in size, with employees in the range of 10 to 45,000. P2P software is often used to swap copyrighted works such as music and movies over the Internet.

Although AssetMetrix has a vested interest in this area (it sells software license compliance products), this survey does highlight the scale of this problem. legal consequences could arise for companies who turn a blind eye to such activity by their employees. For example, in the U.S., apart from a number of lawsuits against individuals and companies, there is proposed legislation in Congress that would make it easier to impose criminal charges including jail time on Internet users who swap copyrighted files over P2P networks.

For a copy of the AssetMetrix survey, visit:

http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-1026184.html

For a copy of proposed legislation, visit:

http://shorl.com/jadryprufejema