Comcast wants 'bill of rights' for file-sharers and ISPs

[babylonsister]

Comcast wants 'bill of rights' for file-sharers and ISPs
By PETER SVENSSON Associated Press Writer



Apr 15th, 2008 | NEW YORK -- Comcast Corp., under federal investigation for interfering with the traffic of its Internet subscribers, said Tuesday it wants to develop a "Bill of Rights and Responsibilities" for file sharing.

The announcement expands on Comcast's new policy toward file-sharing: It said last month that rather than singling out such traffic and blocking some of it, the company will move toward a system that treats all types the same.

File sharing is mainly used to illegally swap copyright works like movies, but it's also emerging as a cheap way to distribute legal video. One of the companies in this business, Pando Networks Inc., is joining Comcast and supporting the "Bill of Rights."

The document would codify "best practices" for Internet providers to deal with file-sharing traffic, which can place substantial loads on the networks of cable companies. It would also clarify what controls consumers should have over peer-to-peer (or P2P) file-sharing applications on their computers. Some of these applications are often designed to run in the background, and give the user little insight into what they're doing or how much resources they're using.

"By having this framework in place, we will help P2P companies, ISPs and content owners find common ground to support consumers who want to use P2P applications to deliver legal content," said Tony Werner, Comcast's chief technology officer.

more...

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/scitech/2008/04/15/D902GJRO1_comcast_file_sharing/index.html

[napoleon_in_rags]

1. That could be good.

Fighting against P2P in general is a sure way to centralize the Internet and vastly limit the potential of future software. Developing a sane framework for it is good news for the future, if doen right.

[TooBigaTent]

2. Does anyone really believe that Comcast is doing something for the consumer's

benefit?

This will turn out to be another corporate-personhood "right" that places the good of the company over that of people.

[Donnachaidh]

3. BINGO!

Pando must be getting worried about getting itself yanked into court. But Comcast is looking to cover it's corporate ass.

[Greyhound]

4. Glaring lie #1. "File sharing is mainly used to illegally swap copyright works".

Another pretend journalist that doesn't even bother to do the most rudimentary research before parroting the words of his corporate masters.
:puke: