[OPLINLIST] Torrents & Copyright Notice

[Chad Neeper]

The problem is that torrents are not inherently a bad thing. They can be,
in fact, very useful. The problem is the user using the torrents for
illegal purposes.

Torrents are a way to download very large files in a way that is somewhat
like crowd-sourcing. As an example, let's image that the library has
created a video of a wildly popular SRP event and for some reason has opted
to put the video on the library's website rather than YouTube, etc. Being
such a popular event, hundreds of people have gone to the website and are
trying to download the video. With so many people trying to download the
video at the same time, pretty much nobody manages to download it because
the library's pipe to the Internet isn't big enough to handle that much
data at the same time.

Enter torrents. The library could put a torrent link on the website as an
alternative to downloading the large video. The torrent link is a very tiny
file and can be downloaded very quickly. When a torrent file is used via
the appropriate software, the video is not only downloaded from the
library's website, but pieces of it are also downloaded from other people
who have already downloaded the video. So the library is no longer the
single source for the file. Everyone who has already...or is in the process
of...downloading the video is now a source for the video. By using the
torrent, the library's limited pipe to the Internet isn't filled up and
everyone gets the video in the fastest way possible.

That's a very simplistic view of torrents, but should be the general
concept. It's just a tool which provides an effective solution to limited
Internet bandwidth problem.

Chad

(Looks like I'm a little late to the game here as other people have already
chimed in!)

-- 
______________________________
*Chad Neeper*
Senior Systems Engineer

*Level 9 Networks*
740-548-8070 (voice)
866-214-6607 (fax)

*Full LAN/WAN consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and schools*


On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:05 AM, Karen Jensen <kjensenmls at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Do you have public wifi access? This happened to our library when someone
> was using our wifi but their own computer to download. Depending on how
> your policy is worded ad war kind of filtering software you have, you may
> want to consider making access to torrent sites forbidden via your filter
> because - it is my understanding - these sites exist solely for the purpose
> of illegal downloads. Most library policies have a policy against illegal
> downloads so this would fit within your library rights. I would talk
> further to your IT staff. This is how they solved the problem at a previous
> job given frequent notices.
>
> Have a good day,
> Karen
>
> Karen Jensen, MLS
> Teen Librarian's Toolbox
> www.teenlibrarianstoolbox.blogspot.com
> @tlt16 on Twitter, also on Facebook
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 20, 2012, at 8:56 AM, Susan Pieper <susanhillpieper at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Please share with your IT folks, too.
>
> Hello all:
> We received a "form" letter via OPLIN this morning regarding the illegal
> attempt to download a movie via our IP address. The alleged incident took
> place on August 14th at 7:00 p.m. As we investigated, we had no laptops
> logged into our WiFi at that time. (In order to use our wireless, patrons
> must log in with their library card and pin). If anyone was going to try to
> download a movie via our public computers, they would have to know the
> password to get into an Admin profile (which we change frequently) and also
> be able to unlock our Deep Freeze (which requires another password). If
> they were able to breech these two security measures they would have to
> download the movie to a flash.
>
> Because of these two points, I investigated further the complaint and the
> responsible company. I found that there are many concerns about this form
> letter going out to people and something about downloading "torrents" which
> I have never heard of but am trying to educate myself.
>
> The company, Irdeto USA, Inc. seems legit, but I still have my suspicions
> that this was an attempt to invade or compromise our system.
>
> Has anyone else received a form letter from Osama Hussain, Esq. claiming
> to represent Irdeto USA?
>
> Inquiring minds want to know.
>
> Thanks for your help in clearing up this matter.
> Susan
> *****************************
> Susan Hill Pieper, M.S.L.S.
> Director/Editor
> Paulding County Carnegie Library
> Rural Library Services Newsletter
> 205 S Main St, Paulding, Ohio 45879
> 419-399-2032 voice 419-399-2114 fax
> www.pauldingcountylibrary.org
> ******************************
>
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