Talking of P2P type things, Kazaa have agreed to release a new restricted version of their file sharing software in a bid to meet that previously reported deadline set by the Australian courts.
Earlier this year judges in Sydney ruled that Kazaa were guilty of copyright infringement by allowing and encouraging their customers to illegally share music using their P2P software. The courts ordered Kazaa owners Sharman to adapt their software so that it prevented it being used to share copyrighted content. Sharman had so far not acted on that, instead launching an appeal against the original warning.
However, last week the Australian courts told Kazaa that it must have some kind of filter in place by 5 Dec or face closure. In a bid to placate the courts Kazaa has agreed to launch a new version of its software which will prevent any file sharing related to one of 3000 keywords chosen by the record labels. By doing that the courts have extended the deadline for Sharman to develop wider controls to prevent the sharing of copyrighted content through its network. It is unlikely that will now happen before Sharman's appeal to the original ruling reaches court next February.
The record labels asked for a filter that blocked out sharing related to 10,000 key words, but eventually that was reduced by the courts to 3000, although that list can be changed on a fortnightly basis according to what artists are being most shared via the P2P networks at any one time. As part of the compromise Kazaa must ensure there is no easy way around the filter system, and encourage as many of its subscribers as possible to upgrade to the new restricted software.
That last point is perhaps crucial. Insiders question how many file sharers will upgrade their P2P software when to do so restricts the service available to them. Others point out Kazaa is no longer the most popular P2P platform anyway, so even if Sharman were to completely comply with court demands it would have little effect on overall P2P usage.