Software Searches Home Computers for Bootleg Songs

Software tracks down Napster plunder...in your home           Back to NCPA Debate Home Page

Coming to a Personal Computer Near You... MacWeek's quick links reports on a new privacy invading technology: A company named Copyright.net uses its "media enforcer technology" to track through user hard drives in search of pirated songs. When it finds one, it sends a report to the users' Internet service provider, who then terminates that users' connection until the song is removed from the drive. Ironically, reports the San Jose Mercury News, the company's software robot "Copyright Agent" uses "the very search tools Napster and its clones created to help users find songs." And the culprits. Many privacy rights advocates and large ISPs think the technology goes too far; an Earthlink spokesman said "We don't see it as our responsibility ... to police what's on our members' hard drives." SiliconValley.net reports: "Nashville-based Copyright.net says it has used its software robot ``Copyright Agent'' to serve more than 1 million copyright violation notices to Internet providers on behalf of 750 song writers and performers. It launched a fresh crackdown this week, demanding that the granddaddy of all music-swapping sites, Napster, remove more than 1 million unauthorized copies of Roy Orbison songs. The notices were sent on behalf of Roy Orbison Music and Barbara Orbison Music.