ecomcity
January 13th, 2004, 12:13 PM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An adult-video company has complained to the U.S. Congress that the owners of the Kazaa Internet file-trading service have not blocked users of the network from downloading its films, even though they have the technology to do so.
Pornography producer Titan Media said Kazaa's owner, Sharman Networks, can closely monitor activity on the network through "spyware" installed on users' computers and could use that capability to block its users from downloading copyrighted files.
But Titan said in a letter to Congress that Sharman has not cooperated with a request to stop unauthorized copying of Titan's adult videos over its network.
Titan's letter, released late Monday, is the latest blow to Sharman as it battles charges that it facilitates widespread copyright abuse and the spread of child pornography over its Kazaa network. Millions use Kazaa to copy music, movies and other computer files from each others' hard drives, without paying royalties for copyrighted material.
Like other movie studios and record companies, Titan has sought to stop unauthorized copying of its products by Kazaa and other "peer to peer" networks.
Sharman has long maintained that it cannot control what users share over Kazaa, though it told a Senate committee last fall it would try to improve its content filters to help users avoid offensive material.
Titan said it had asked Sharman to block 1,400 of its movies last month but had received no response.
"Sharman Networks does not want to interrupt the flow of adult materials through its network because its existence is a primary factor in the growth and profitability of (the) company," Titan vice president Keith Ruoff wrote the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Pornography accounts for more than 40 percent of the material on Kazaa, he said. A Kazaa spokesman declined comment as he had not seen the letter.
Mike & Charlie ... http://abw.infopop.cc/smilies/parrot.gif
If they won't adopt and feed a bird ..flip them one! BBQ some Gator and remember to flush WhenU..
Pornography producer Titan Media said Kazaa's owner, Sharman Networks, can closely monitor activity on the network through "spyware" installed on users' computers and could use that capability to block its users from downloading copyrighted files.
But Titan said in a letter to Congress that Sharman has not cooperated with a request to stop unauthorized copying of Titan's adult videos over its network.
Titan's letter, released late Monday, is the latest blow to Sharman as it battles charges that it facilitates widespread copyright abuse and the spread of child pornography over its Kazaa network. Millions use Kazaa to copy music, movies and other computer files from each others' hard drives, without paying royalties for copyrighted material.
Like other movie studios and record companies, Titan has sought to stop unauthorized copying of its products by Kazaa and other "peer to peer" networks.
Sharman has long maintained that it cannot control what users share over Kazaa, though it told a Senate committee last fall it would try to improve its content filters to help users avoid offensive material.
Titan said it had asked Sharman to block 1,400 of its movies last month but had received no response.
"Sharman Networks does not want to interrupt the flow of adult materials through its network because its existence is a primary factor in the growth and profitability of (the) company," Titan vice president Keith Ruoff wrote the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Pornography accounts for more than 40 percent of the material on Kazaa, he said. A Kazaa spokesman declined comment as he had not seen the letter.
Mike & Charlie ... http://abw.infopop.cc/smilies/parrot.gif
If they won't adopt and feed a bird ..flip them one! BBQ some Gator and remember to flush WhenU..
